HERE Wallet and HAPI Launch Joint Venture — HOT Labs
In a groundbreaking move, HERE Wallet and HAPI have joined forces to create HOT Labs, a joint venture set to redefine the future of crypto wallets and blockchain infrastructure. For over a year, the two companies have collaborated on developing HOT Wallet, an innovative, next-generation wallet within Telegram, while also establishing a robust crypto infrastructure. HERE focused on wallet development, while HAPI contributed by enhancing various internal services and expanding the ecosystem as a whole. The results of their efforts speak volumes: HOT Wallet has now amassed over 30 million users, demonstrating the unparalleled synergy between the two teams.
The formation of HOT Labs represents a fundamental partnership, with a mission to revolutionize user experiences in blockchain and make crypto solutions more accessible and seamless for the average user. This collaboration highlights HERE’s expertise in user-centric wallet development, combined with HAPI’s strength in building secure, decentralized services. Together, they have not only expanded their reach but have laid the foundation for a transformative new chapter in crypto infrastructure.
The Visionaries Behind HOT Labs
HOT Labs is the brainchild of Petr Volnov and Yuriy Olentyr, both highly respected figures in the blockchain space. Petr Volnov, known as the founder of HERE Wallet, has established himself as a leader in the NEAR blockchain ecosystem. With a background in computer science from ITMO University and business education in Los Angeles, Petr founded his first company, FORA Vision, in 2020 — an AI coach designed for remote training. After successfully exiting FORA Vision, Petr dove deeper into crypto research and the development of sharded smart contracts.
In 2021, Peter turned his attention to creating smart contracts for fair gaming, and in 2022, he founded a non-custodial wallet for NEAR Protocol — ”HERE”. The HERE Wallet has secured two rounds of funding and grown to over 600,000 active users, establishing itself as the leading wallet in the NEAR ecosystem. Peter is also a major Twitter Influencer with over half a million followers.
HOT: An Experimental Step Forward
At the start of 2024, HERE Wallet and HAPI launched HOT — an experimental, non-custodial wallet embedded in Telegram. Featuring a revolutionary user interface and experience, HOT was developed to offer a more seamless and integrated crypto solution. This technical feat was made possible by Chain Signature technology, which enables smooth cross-chain swaps, link drops, and even lays the groundwork for a unified currency that can be used for gas payments.
Petr Volnov on the Future of HOT Labs
“We are now ready to unite our teams into a single structure, HOT Labs, which will take over the entire group of products related to HOT Wallet. This long-awaited decision will allow us to work even more closely together and move forward towards new achievements and greater goals,” said Petr Volnov.
HOT Labs: A New Standard in Blockchain Wallets
The establishment of HOT Labs is a defining moment for blockchain wallets and infrastructure. The venture aims to make digital assets more accessible, secure, and user-friendly for millions of people. With the combined power of HERE and HAPI, HOT Labs is positioned to become a major player in the crypto industry, leading the charge towards a more decentralized and inclusive financial future.
