Kik Messenger app to shut down to focus on cryptocurrency Kin

Written over 1 year ago by Ugotsta

Kik Interactive, the company behind the very popular Kik messenger, is tentatively shutting down the app. CEO Ted Livingston explained in a blog post, the company will turn to focus on its cryptocurrency Small KIN iconKIN in response to a legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Part of that focus entails the shut down of the Kik app and downsizing to a 19 person team. No date was provided for exactly when the shut down would occur.

Kik has enjoyed a significant ranking among messaging apps, one that's clearly fueled Kin's traction as a cryptocurrency. Kin will still be able to operate across a marketplace of apps like Small Rave iconRave and Small Tapatalk iconTapatalk. Time will tell how that stands against pressure from competing tools like Small Telegram iconTelegram with its forthcoming Gram cryptocurrency and even Small Instagram iconInstagram with parent company Facebook's Libra on the way.

Further coverage:
Official announcement
TechCrunch