Sirin Labs, a tech startup working to build an open source blockchain smartphone, has secured $121 million in an initial coin offering (ICO) so far.

The startup recently made headline when it recruited soccer megastar Lionel Messi as its brand ambassador. Messi wrote on Facebook (as quoted by Bitcoin.com):

“I am usually busy trying to decentralize defences and after digging deeper into Blockchain and decentralized systems, I’m excited to join SIRIN LABS as an ambassador to make blockchain more friendly with their upcoming operating system for smartphones.”

According to Reuters, Sirin raised over $100 million from 5,600 people globally within the first 24 hours. The ICO has still 8 days to go.

“These are our potential clients. We think they will be the first to buy the phones,” Moshe Hogeg, CEO and founder of Sirin, told reporters.

The amount raised through the token sale would be used to fund the development of the blockchain phone and a blockchain personal computer. The company expects the phone to enter market by the end of 2018.

“SIRIN LABS - the developer of SOLARIN, an ultra-secure mobile phone - is holding a crowdsale event. Funds raised will support the development of FINNEY the first open source blockchain smartphone and all-in-one PC,” the website reads.