Pretty cool stuff, and neat news for the crypto sphere in Japan.

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I've talked about the ALIS coin and platform a bit before, but today, April 23rd, 2018, just a few hours ago, the closed Beta platform was launched!

ALIS is essentially a "Steemit for Japan," but also so much more than that, and very different from Steemit as well.

• Only one iteration of the ALIS token, as compared to Steem's three iterations of Steem (Steem, Steem Power, and Steem Backed Dollar)
• Focus on Japanese niche markets related to crytpo, anime, and manga culture.
• Blockchain/token-economy-based platform which rewards curation and quality content/reputation

ALIS is to be released globally in coming years, but for now, a Japanese SMS-capable phone number is required for participation in the closed Beta release. There are already a few Steemians over there as well!

Is ALIS a threat to Steem?

I don't see ALIS as an oppositional competitor with Steem, really. I think a great synergy can be developed here which will increase the quality and value of both platforms! My expectation is that, as already seems to be happening, users will migrate across both platforms, and utilize both to capitalize on their respective strengths. The upcoming release of SMTs (Smart Media Tokens) will also likely provide interesting ways for the two blockchain-based social media platforms to integrate with one another, and complement each other, in myriad innovative, and beneficial ways, still yet to be seen.

Excited!

~KafkA

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Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DLive and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)