The Request Network team has released a new bi-weekly project update on their blog. I thoroughly recommend that you read the update in its entirety but you can find a summary of the key points below. If you're not familiar with REQ scroll to the bottom of this article to find out more.

1. Main net, smart contracts

• The team is still on track with their roadmap (attached below for reference).
• The code is done
• The GitHub Smart contract branch audit-mainnet-0.0.3 is being fully audited and when the audits are done, they will launch a bug bounty program

Roadmap progress

• Main net release: The code is done, and the audit is currently ongoing.
• Management of other cryptocurrencies: Code for ERC20 and Bitcoin are currently being implemented.
• Pay with Request: Tutorials/landing page/examples being implemented
• External audits: Currently ongoing
• Partnerships: Going well and they will announce asap what they already achieved, don't want to go against “underpromise & overdeliver” policy

2.Online payments

Please note that everything shown here are some inspirational resources to help you build new projects using the Request Network protocol. We just provide you with the materials needed, and you are free to create and use your own applications.

• Detailed documentation on setting up and accepting cryptocurrencies in an online store is being finalized
• Members from the Request Hub are already working on Shopify and WooCommerce plugins

Pay with Request buttons (design draft/proposal)

3. Exchange listings

• Lykke - mobile gateway
• Bancor (DEX) - listed
• Koinex - fiat gateway, India

4. New Projects

• WooReq: way to accept cryptocurrency payments on a WooCommerce store, work in progress, demo available
• Chango: aims to unchain money transfers with friends and family using the Ethereum blockchain, visit their website to learn more

5. New team members

• The team hired 4 people recently: one focuses on strategic partnerships, one on branding, one on developing on the protocol and one on developing apps
• Two of them introduced in this update

Strategic Partnerships — Christophe Fonteneau

• based in Geneva
• will work partly remotely and with the team in Singapore once a monthly basis
• Role: look for strategic partnerships for the Request Network
• Background: startup industry

Brand Management — Robbin Mazurel

• based in the Netherlands
• will work partly remotely and with the team in Singapore once a monthly basis
• Role: make sure the core values of the team  is embodied in all marketing and communication efforts of the Request Network Foundation
• Background: "marketing experience in the entertainment industry at The Walt Disney Company and sports industry at Jobe Sports International" - this could mean various things to be honest

6. Partnerships

• Team is lookig for and engaging with potential partners
• They already have at least one partnership that is going to be revealed sometime in Q1 - not neccessarily in a bi-weekly update blog post.

7. Other

• The main net does not depend on Kyber and can collect/convert/burn fees asynchronously
• The team is considering using ChainLink and are in talks with them
• Staking plans are being worked on - depending on need, these may or may not be implemented in the future

New landing page preview

A bit about Request Network

Request Network is committed to develop a financial platform for payment requests with the ambition to become a standard for invoices, accounting, audit, and payments in crypto and fiat assets. Request allows people and businesses to get paid in any cryptocurrency in a cost-effective, simple, and secure way.

Learn more on their website and blog.

Disclaimer

I am invested in the REQ cryptocurrency.