Submitted via IRC for SoyCow9427
Messaging app Kik shuts down as company focuses on Kin, its cryptocurrency – TechCrunch
Kik Interactive CEO Ted Livingston announced today that the company is shutting down Kik Messenger to focus on its cryptocurrency Kin, the target of a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's team will be reduced to 19 people, a reduction that will affect more than 100 employees, as it focuses on converting more Kin users into buyers.
"Instead of selling some of our Kin into the limited liquidity that exists today, we made the decision to focus our current resources on the few things that matter most," Livingston wrote in a blog post, adding that the changes will reduce the company's burn rate by 85%, enabling it to get through the SEC trial.
Kin launched two years ago, raising nearly $100 million in its ICO, one of the first held by a mainstream tech company.
But in June, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Kik Interactive, claiming the ICO was illegal, as part of the Commission's wider crackdown on companies it alleges are issuing securities illegally.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 25 2019, @09:32PM (2 children)
A third tier cryptocurrency has less liability than a messaging app.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Wednesday September 25 2019, @11:45PM (1 child)
more like "a third tier cryptocurrency has more chance of profitability than a messaging app."
anything number greater than zero is still "more".
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 26 2019, @01:58AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kik_Messenger#Controversies [wikipedia.org]
It had a reputation for child pornography and exploitation.
(Score: 1) by RandomFactor on Wednesday September 25 2019, @10:20PM (2 children)
So Kik's in jeopardy, baby.
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 26 2019, @12:49AM (1 child)
Not many will get your pun, but well done :-)
(Score: 2) by Bot on Thursday September 26 2019, @07:41AM
A solid evergreen for mobile DJs BTW.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Wednesday September 25 2019, @11:01PM
... I think the last line on Wikipeda is telling, "By 2019 the value of Kik had fallen by 99%.[13]" That doesn't count the SEC being on their case.
Translation: flash in the pan now dying. Film at 11.
This sig for rent.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 26 2019, @07:09AM
Yet another successful SoylentNews FrontPage article that no one cares about? Even those who are loosing their asses (freeing their donkeys) are loath to comment, out of justified embarrassment.
Could we not have had a very nice, any other submission?
Signed: aristarchus
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 26 2019, @07:50PM
KIK seemed to be a small market, with a lot of better alternatives. In sure their c(k)rypto business will be in the same situation.