Eco, the developer behind the Beam wallet, has announced its acquisition of the Web3 shopping app Join, as revealed in a statement on January 25. This acquisition is expected to lead to the integration of Beam and Join, enabling Beam wallet users to make purchases on platforms like Amazon and Shopify. The Beam wallet operates on the Optimism and Base networks.
An announcement on X notes that Eco has initiated a waiting list for the upcoming feature, scheduled to be launched in February. The Beam wallet's current user-friendly features include the ability to sign up using only a Twitter login, eliminating the need to manage seed words. The wallet utilizes stablecoins for transactions and gas payments.
Join's CEO and co-founder, Tom Dean, expressed his belief that the integration will contribute to making Web3 stablecoin payments mainstream. He emphasized the goal of enabling cryptocurrencies to function as currencies without waiting for broader global adoption. The partnership with Beam aligns with this vision, creating a seamless and consumer-friendly crypto payment experience.
Join, founded by Dean, Jawad Ayoub, and Brad Crook, initially garnered support from investor Balaji Srinivasan and received funding from Base. Eco, the acquirer, has backing from venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase Ventures, Founders Fund, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Pantera Capital. Beam Wallet is part of a new wave of user-centric wallets aiming to eliminate gas fees associated with mnemonic phrases or native tokens. Other wallets with a similar focus on user experience include Immutable Passport (allowing sign-ins with Google or Apple), Kresus (enabling sign-ups with an email address), and Worldcoin, which introduced a wallet covering users' gas fees.
