Recently leaked internal documents from Microsoft have unveiled a surprising plan to integrate crypto wallets into its popular Xbox gaming console.
These confidential documents, which were inadvertently disclosed due to the Federal Trade Commission’s legal action against Microsoft related to its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, have sent ripples of excitement through the cryptocurrency community.
The leaked documents first shared on the gaming forum ResetEra, indicate that Microsoft had crypto wallet support on its Xbox roadmap for May 2022. However, the specific details of this integration were not included in the leak.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, acknowledged the leak and attributed it to the ongoing legal proceedings. He noted that the plans revealed in the documents may have evolved or changed since then.
Spencer remarked, “It is hard to see our team’s work shared in this way because so much has changed, and there’s so much to be excited about right now and in the future.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the leaked plans, the cryptocurrency community has embraced the news with optimism.
Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, emphasized the enormous scale of the gaming industry and its potential synergy with cryptocurrencies.
“Crypto is gamer money, and gaming is a bigger industry than Hollywood and the music industry combined,” Winklevoss commented.
The leak has triggered speculation about the potential use cases for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) within the Xbox ecosystem.
While no official confirmation from Microsoft has been provided regarding the integration of crypto wallets, the enthusiastic response from the crypto community underscores the significance of established tech giants exploring opportunities in the emerging cryptocurrency industry.
In August, Microsoft announced a partnership with Aptos Labs, the developer of the layer1 blockchain network Aptos (APT). This collaboration is aimed at advancing the capabilities of the web3 ecosystem.
Microsoft’s growing involvement in the crypto sector suggests that the tech giant is actively exploring ways to leverage blockchain technology and digital assets in its products and services.
