Lightning Network

‘Bit-tendo’ prototype offers Bitcoin retro games for bars, conferences

The prototype software allows players to earn Bitcoin by playing retro games.

Play-to-earn retro games with Bitcoin (BTC) payouts may soon be making their way to a bar, conference or meetup near you, according to a Feb. 12 tweet by Zebedee founder Christian Moss. The software is tentatively called “Bit-tendo.”

The tweet includes a video of someone playing Super Mario Bros. 3 on a small old-school tube television. The TV displays a QR code at startup and asks for a Bitcoin payment. The game only starts running once the payment is sent.

During gameplay, a “sats” counter is displayed that apparently counts the number of satoshis the player has won as a reward so far. Satoshis, or sats, are Bitcoin’s smallest divisible unit, representing 0.00000001 BTC each. The display also shows a timer that counts down from 90 seconds to zero. When the timer goes to zero, the game ends, and a new QR code is displayed. A statement at the bottom and top of the image implies that the player can use the QR code to withdraw their sats.

In the post, Moss said that the software will eventually “be a free retro game bitcoin infuser for bars, conferences, meet ups etc.”

Cointelegraph reached out to Moss for an explanation of how the software works. He said that it runs on a PC or other device that is able to accept a video feed. The game itself is produced by a real Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) console, but the video is altered en route to show the sats counter and timer. The software tracks movements in the video feed to determine if the player has collected a coin and updates the sats counter each time a coin is collected.

Moss said that in order to fund the payout wallet, the bar or club needs to sign up for a custodial wallet with Zebedee or LNbits. The wallet is connected to the Lightning Network in order to enable low transaction fees and fast payments.

Related: Nigerian innovator launches first active Bitcoin Lightning node in the country

The Zebedee app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Screenshots reveal that it has a “top up” (deposit) and “cash out” (withdrawal) function that can be accessed after the user completes a Know Your Customer verification process.

Moss also explained how he came up with the idea for “Bit-tendo.” He said that he tried to get people interested in Bitcoin play-to-earn games at Bitcoin conferences but found that participants preferred to play games they already knew rather than “in-house” designed games. Moss said he hopes to make the software work with any game, not just Super Mario Bros. 3:

“I want to also let the user be able to train the software to recognize events in any game they may have, ultimately making it game-agnostic.”

In his tweet showing off the software, Moss states that he would integrate Sonic The Hedgehog 2 with it if the post got 200 retweets, which it has since received.

Moss has been an innovator in the blockchain gaming space since its inception. In 2014, he created Sarutobi, a game that allowed players to collect Bitcoin by controlling a monkey that swung across a jungle landscape. Because it predated the release of EverdreamSoft’s Spells of Genesis beta by approximately one year, Moss’ Sarutobi is considered by some to have been the first blockchain game.

Nigerian innovator launches first active Bitcoin Lightning node in the country

A new Bitcoin lightning node in Nigeria could inspire individuals to take “control of their financial future,” node runner Megasley told Cointelegraph.

The Lightning Network has struck the earth in one of the most challenging operating environments. Lagos, the capital of Nigeria — Africa’s most populous country — welcomed a new Bitcoin Lightning Network (LN) node this week, a vital step to better connect the continent to the layer-2 payments network that sits atop Bitcoin.

The node runs on an old laptop powered by a diesel generator, as Lagos regularly experiences energy and electricity blackouts.

Megasley’s diesel generator and laptop running the node. Source: Megasley 

In a discussion with Cointelegraph, Megasley, who operates the first Nigerian Lightning node of 2023 and the first active Lightning node in the country (other nodes are dormant), shared his vision for bringing instant, low-cost payments to Africa thanks to the LN.

”Light takes 50 milliseconds to cross the earth. This is quick, but with many hops, these milliseconds can add up. And when you’re standing at a point of sale waiting for your payment to clear, it can be frustrating.”

Megasley explained his wish for Africans to have payments that are instant and as close to free as possible. “If a Nigerian Bitcoiner and a Nigerian retailer are both connected to a node in Nigeria, it will give them the best Lightning experience,” Megasley added.

According to the explorer services Mempool and Amboss, the operator is currently the only active node on the map in Nigeria. By spinning up the node, the operator aims to make Lightning payments as accessible as possible to Africans.

Nodes, Lightning Network, Lightning, Nigeria, Africa
Cast your vote now!

When asked about the importance of building out an extensive network of nodes across the globe to facilitate Bitcoin payments, the node runner explained, “If Bitcoin is to succeed, it must become a better, easier, faster medium of exchange than the incumbents. To get there, we need to build out an extensive network of nodes across the globe to facilitate these payments.”

Megasley also touched on Bitcoin  (BTC) price volatility and its perception in Africa: “People talk about the problem of volatility, but this is nothing when you live in a place where your money could easily lose half its value in a year.”

“Africa has rotten money controlled by rotten people, and this is why we need Bitcoin. We will take the power of money away from them so that the enormous potential of the African people can thrive.”

Indeed, there has been a surge in Bitcoin adoption among the countries that use the Central African franc, bolstered by Bitcoin conferences and forums in Senegal and Ghana. Although Nigeria has shown promising signs of Bitcoin adoption, such as legal tender discussion, the legacy financial system has imposed further restrictions in 2023.

For example, Nigerians will only be allowed to withdraw $44 dollars per week per individual and a maximum of $11,000 for businesses in 2023, as per the government’s efforts to phase out cash. As a reminder, Bitcoin has no limits or restrictions for its use. To transact freely on the Bitcoin network, users require only a phone and an internet connection.

Related: Bitcoin, Sango Coin and the Central African Republic

The establishment of a Bitcoin Lightning node in Nigeria is a significant step toward increasing accessibility and adoption of the cryptocurrency in the country and the continent as a whole. Ultimately, Megasley hopes to empower individuals and businesses in Africa to take control of their financial future.

Less than 100 Bitcoin ATMs added worldwide in the second half of 2022: Data

Over the last six months, between July to the end of 2022, just 94 Bitcoin ATMs were added to the global network.

While Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs were an afterthought to Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of sound money, they are now considered one of the main pillars of Bitcoin’s mainstream adoption. However, the global Bitcoin ATM network, which used to add thousands of machines each month in 2021, recorded a net addition of just 94 Bitcoin ATMs over the past six months since July 2022.

A year-long bear market in 2022 — accompanied by geopolitical tensions and global inflation — hindered various initiatives aiding the growth of the entire crypto ecosystem. As a result, efforts to install new Bitcoin ATMs dipped in many countries that once spearheaded the initiative.

Chart showing the number of bitcoin machines installed over time. Source: CoinATMRadar

Over the last six months, between July to the end of 2022, just 94 Bitcoin ATMs were added to the global network. In contrast, a modest 4,169 ATMs were added during the year’s first six months, confirms data from CoinATMRadar.

Despite the global slowdown, countries such as Spain and Australia have taken the lead in crypto ATM installations. The United States and Canada retain the top two positions for hosting the highest number of ATMs. El Salvador, the country that once held the third position, has now moved down to the fifth position after Spain and Australia, respectively.

Number of cryptocurrency machines installed over time per each top manufacturer over time. Source: CoinATMRadar

During this timeframe, Bitcoin ATM manufacturer BitAccess saw a relative drop in its ATM installation while others reported a comparatively steady increase.

As crypto investors shake off the negative sentiments from the past year and dive back into the game, sub-ecosystems like Bitcoin ATMs remain well-positioned for a recovery.

Related: Florida best-prepared US state for widespread crypto adoption: Research

Australia, just after overtaking El Salvador to become the fourth-largest crypto ATM hub, got its first Bitcoin ATM with integrated Lightning Network (LN) capabilities.

Using LN, Bitcoin ATMs can process transactions immediately without having the operator batch the funds. As Cointelegraph previously reported, this development can potentially lower transaction fees compared to an on-chain payment.

Crowdfunding gets leg up from Lightning Addresses on Bitcoin

Lightning Addresses allow individuals to crowdfund on Bitcoin at the speed of the Lightning Network and without a node.

The Lightning Network strikes again. In a small yet significant development for Bitcoin (BTC), a new type of BTC address has been introduced: the “Lightning Address.” These unique identifiers are specifically designed for use on the Lightning Network, a layer-2 payment protocol that operates on top of the Bitcoin blockchain.

A user-friendly addition to ways in which Bitcoin users can send, receive and even raise money, Lightning addresses can be custodial, or users can connect to their own nodes. Crowdfunding is among the most popular real-world use for Lightning Addresses.

Cointelegraph spoke to MetaMick, the chief executive officer of Geyser Fund, and Stelios Rammos, CTO, to better understand how to use Lighting Addresses and why crowdfunding is a low-hanging fruit for this technology. Geyser Fund is a crowdfunding platform similar to GoFundme but using Bitcoin and Lightning.

Lightning Addresses are “Email-like identifiers that make it possible for users to send value to each other via lightning. They are easy to memorize and are reusable (unlike bolt11 lightning addresses),” explained MetaMick, the chief technology officer of Geyser Fund. Cointelegraph tried out the service and managed to raise money in no time:

First developed by Andre Neves and Fiatjaf (the developer behind Nostr), Lightning wallet addresses can be created on custodial solutions such as Wallet of Satoshi, CoinCorner or BitRefill, and quickly synced to Geyser Fund:

“You just link up your wallet to Geyser, and all donations go through directly in your wallet.”

Crowdfunding has long been an area of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency interest. Thanks to Bitcoin’s censorship-resistant and self-sovereign properties, it is one of the most efficient ways of sending money online.

There are over 20 plug and play Lightning Wallet address types available. Source: Geyser

The first widespread use case for using Bitcoin to raise money was the 2011 Wikileaks campaign, where Julian Assange raised thousands of Bitcoin when access to banking services was cut off.  More recently, the Canadian Trucker Protests used Bitcoin when the Canadian government shut down USD-based crowdfunding solutions; it was a similar story with protestors in Nigeria.

However, Lightning Addresses take funding a step forward in terms of both speed and see of use. Transactions on the Lightning Network can be completed almost instantly, compared to the 10-minute average for regular Bitcoin transactions. Lightning is ideal for small frequent payments, such as those made in brick-and-mortar stores, or for sending small donations to creators around the world.

And thanks to Lightning Addresses, Bitcoin users can now raise money even quicker and with a straightforward user experience. Plus, Geyser avoids acting as a custodian as all funds are forwarded directly to creators’ Lightning Addresses thanks to “hodl invoices.” The result is a trustless and non-custodial process, a key tenet of Bitcoin philosophy.

Related: Not medical advice: Bitcoiner implants Lightning chip to make BTC payments by hand

Ultimately, while there are still some hurdles to overcome with the Lightning Network, such as the need for more user-friendly wallets and better integration with existing payment systems, it is clear that the Lightning Network has the potential to revolutionize the way payments are made, and money is raised online.

As more users adopt the Lightning Network and take advantage of the benefits of these new addresses, it is possible that we will see a significant shift toward more efficient, cost-effective, and censorship-resistant payments online.

Not medical advice: Bitcoiner implants Lightning chip to make BTC payments by hand

A Bitcoiner has literally taken the Lightning Network into his own hands, installing a tiny payment chip into his hands to make NFC contactless payments.

The Lightning Network continues to shock the Bitcoin (BTC) community. A swiss IT Professional called F418 (not his real name) surgically implanted a Lightning-enabled chip into his left hand to make Lightning Network (LN) payments.

An X-Ray demonstration of the chip implanted into F418’s hand. Source: Youtube

Speaking with Cointelegraph, F418 said he experimented with body modification and LN payments for fun. He does not recommend that Bitcoin enthusiasts take the layer-2 payments network, the LN, into their own hands as he did. “The use is just to show that it is possible and you can do stuff like that.” He added that most people carry cards, it’s just his hand has the wow factor:

“It’s funny if you are doing a presentation as I sometimes do presentations about payments and talk to people that are working in banks, and they make ‘Big Eyes’ if they see that [my hand]. You don’t need to have the implant.”

Cointelegraph first met with F418 in his home country of Switzerland at the LN-friendly Plan B Lugano Conference. His attempts to pay failed as the first implant F418 used was “Defective.” Undeterred, F418 visited a medical professional to surgically remove the implant before trying again.

The second attempt succeeded. The chip sits neatly in his left hand and can now make LN payments–without reaching for a Bolt Card or a smartphone. But does it hurt, Cointelegraph asked. “I don’t feel anything–even when I go to the gym,” he replied.

F418 taps his hand on the back of his phone to pay for two beers and some crisps. Source: Youtube

Nonetheless, F418 brings up certain risks to the procedure. While the process is medically safe, “The only problem with the implants is that you can not make them really safe. It’s not the same security as the bolt card–you can only do LNURL withdraw; it’s not safe.” 

Plus, if you make a mistake during the implantation process, it’s not a good idea to take the chip in and out of the body. It could cause harm or infection, F418 explained, so it’s best to get it the right the first time.

In brief, the NFC chip works identically implanted in F418’s hand, enabling him to make LN payments without the need for a physical device such as a smartphone or card. He can simply hold his hand near a compatible NFC reader to initiate a payment. It’s arguably the most convenient Bitcoin payment, allowing for quick and easy transactions without the need for any additional equipment.

NFC, or Near Field Communication technology use cases have bubbled up in the Bitcoin world. Indeed, NFC payments over the LN have surged in popularity since the introduction of the Bolt Card, first trialed over lunch on the Isle of Man, and now available in “Bitcoin Country,” or El Salvador.

F148 shows the tiny raised insert of the chip to Cointelegraph during a call. Source: Google Meet

It’s straightforward to set up an NFC card, sticker or even a sock to work for payments (see below Twitter video). However, it’s worth noting that F418’s NFC implant into a human is the first of its kind. F418 has made the entire process open-source and accessible–including health warnings–on GitHub. He has called the process “Lightning Paw.”

The LN is a second-layer payment protocol that operates on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. It allows for near-instant and near-free transactions by enabling users to make multiple payments without having to wait for the transactions to be confirmed on the blockchain. In essence, the LN creates a network of payment channels between users, allowing them to transact directly without the need for each transaction to be recorded on the blockchain.

Related: Subway accepts Bitcoin, so users can get a sandwich on the Lightning Network

As for F418, he continues to tinker with Bitcoin and, increasingly, the Lightning Network. IT professional and extreme sports enthusiast by day, he’s a Bitcoin hobbyist “who likes to try stupid stuff” by night. He joins thousands of Bitcoin hobbyists around the world who continue to build on Bitcoin despite the brutal bear market. Speaking from home in Switzerland, he told Cointelegraph:

“If you have an open network where everyone can do innovative things; it will always have the advantage of a closed system that only a couple of people can work on it.”

Just don’t try this at home, anon.

Bitcoin Lightning Network to be used in fiat transfers between EU and Africa

CoinCorner and Bitnob teamed up to create cross-border transactions between the UK and Europe to Africa via the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

The ongoing crypto winter is not stopping the industry from pushing for global adoption and accessibility. A new partnership between CoinCorner and Bitnob opens a way for users across continents to perform cross-border transactions involving multiple fiat currencies.

Typically transfer of funds between Europe and Africa requires a third-party facilitator like Western Union, which rely on centralized entities. These transactions often have processing times of multiple parties prior to approval and are known for their expensive cuts. World Bank estimates that remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa went upwards of $40 billion yearly as of 2020 —with Nigeria receiving almost half of the sum alone.

Now, users can transfer funds via the Bitcoin (BTC) Lightning Network from the United Kingdom and Europe to select countries in Africa. The application, Send Globally, allows British pounds (GBP) or Euros (EUR) to be transferred to the local currencies of Nigeria (NGN), Kenya (KES) and Ghana (GHS).

Through the Lightning Network, the funds are automatically converted into BTC, then instantly converted to the local currency and deposited straight into the bank account or mobile money wallet of the receiver.

Sending remittances to Africa, especially from the U.K. and Europe, is known for its high cost. Source: IFAD

Danny Scott, the CEO of CoinCorner, said the remittance market is a big opportunity to highlight the utility of BTC.

“The borderless nature of Bitcoin has always made it a great tool for sending money around the world, but now with the Lightning Network, sending Bitcoin is instant and very low cost.”

In 2021, data from Statista placed Nigeria in the top 10 countries for remittance payments. Additionally, the World Bank reported tha in the last year Sub-Saharan Africa made up 14.1% of global remittances.

However, nearly 80% of African countries restrict the type of institutions that are able to offer local banks remittance-related services. Such exclusivity creates barriers to entry, therefore, access to finance for the people who need it most. 

Related: Remittances drive ‘uneven, but swift’ crypto adoption in Latin America

The prevalence of cryptocurrencies in Africa has been a hot topic in the space, as the continent is rife with emerging economies and practical use cases.

Particularly in North Africa, growth in the crypto industry continues to grow. A report from Chainalysis revealed the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to be the fastest growing in the world.

In September, the Nigerian government held meetings with Binance to potentially negotiate a special economic zone posed to support crypto and blockchain-related businesses in the region.

A later report from Chainalysis also highlighted Ghana’s rise to prominence in the crypto space. It said the country could potentially catch up to Nigeria and Kenya in terms of crypto adoption.

Bitcoin advocate dishes out sats over Lightning Network to raise BTC awareness

A Twitter user from the United Kingdom spent hours sending micropayments to strangers on the internet to demonstrate the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

A Bitcoin (BTC) advocate on Twitter known by the name of ShireHodl, or simply Shire, sent over 110 micropayments to first-time Bitcoin Lightning users in response to Michael Saylor’s Lightning Network poll. 

Shire asked those new to Lightning to download a Lightning wallet from the App Store or Google Play Store and to send him a QR code invoice. To pay the invoice, Shire scanned the code with his camera, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network did the rest. In the tweet, Shire said he’d send 1,000 sats to as many people as he can be bothered to before going to sleep.

Speaking with Cointelegraph, Shire said that he has “sent out about 110 payments of 1000 sats.” Sats are short for satoshis, the smallest Bitcoin denomination. There are 100 million satoshis in 1 Bitcoin. Shire said:

“It’s not much, maybe $20 in total, but the total fee is less than a penny. Using a credit card or debit card, the fees would have been more than the value transferred, so it would have been impossible.”

In all, Shire sent over 110 micropayments — effectively onboarding 110 new users to the Lightning Network. The business owner took Bitcoin Lightning’s adoption into his own hands because he recognized that many Bitcoin users had not used Lightning before.

Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Microstrategy, asked over 60,000 people if they had used Bitcoin Lightning in a poll:

Source: Twitter

More than 60,000 people replied, with the results inspiring Shire to take action. He told Cointelegraph, “60% of respondents in his poll said they have never used a Lightning wallet, so this was a small incentive to give it a go.”

“Also, I knew the fees would be minuscule and that people taking part would be all over the world, demonstrating how LN is borderless and will enable micropayments for all kinds of future applications.”

Indeed, the Lightning Network has recently been used to facilitate cross-border payments across Africa.

Related: Bitcoin without internet: SMS service allows sending BTC with a text

Shire, a Bitcoin maximalist, added that his experiment and onboarding masterclass only works with BTC: “This can’t be done with shitcoins. […] Fees are higher, settlement takes longer.”

“You need instant settlement on an asset with deep liquidity to be able to scale this to the world and its applications. Only Bitcoin is capable of fulfilling this role.”

Shire plans to continue sending satoshis over Lightning to demonstrate that Bitcoin might become global money someday.

Strike partners with Bitnob to facilitate cross-border payments into Africa

On stage at AfroBitcoin, Strike CEO Jack Mallers announced plans to improve remittance payments into Africa thanks to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.

The Lightning Network has struck Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. During a conference in Ghana, Strike CEO Jack Mallers announced that the Bitcoin (BTC) payments company has partnered with the mobile app Bitnob to facilitate payments into Africa. 

Mallers made the announcement on stage at AfroBitcoin, a Bitcoin conference in Ghana’s capital city of Accra. He stood alongside Bernard Farah, the Nigerian CEO of Bitnob, following a short presentation on how it works.

Money transfers into Africa take advantage of the Lightning Network, the layer-2 payments network built atop Bitcoin. The feature is called “Send Globally,” and it enables instant, low-cost payments to Africa.

Diagram of the money transfer from Alice in Nigeria to Bob in the United States. Source: Facebook

The feature does not require people to use Bitcoin themselves, Bitnob CEO Bernard Parah explained on stage. The no-transaction-fee feature is currently available to Americans sending funds to Africans in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. By comparison, remittance services such as Wise take a small commission, while Western Union can charge upward of 10% for money transfers.

Dollar payments are instantly converted to Nigerian naira, Ghanaian cedi or Kenyan shillings and are deposited directly into a recipient’s bank account, mobile money wallet or Bitnob account.

Solving cross-border payments into Africa using Bitcoin would be a major boost to local economies. In Nigeria alone, $17.2 billion was sent in remittances to the country in 2020. However, according to World Bank data, “for every $200 sent in 2020, it cost the sender $17.8 (8.9 %).” That equates to roughly $1.5 billion lost in fees, or roughly the gross domestic product of Samoa.

If Nigeria were to eliminate remittance fees by using Bitcoin payment rails, Nigerians across the country would benefit financially. In Kenya and Ghana, the situation is similar. Thousands of Ghanaians and Kenyans live in the United States and regularly send money overseas. Crypto in Africa has surged in recent years, and remittance is one of the many reasons why. 

Related: Subway accepts Bitcoin, so users can get a sandwich on the Lightning Network

Mallers compared the instant peer-to-peer payment service to PayPal’s Venmo app, which allows rapid, frictionless payments between United States customers. Mallers said the Lightning Network has “just achieved dollars to Naira, Naira to dollars.”

The advancement is currently only available to Americans sending money to those living in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria–English-speaking countries in Africa, although the rollout is set to continue across Africa.

This story is developing and will be updated with new info.

Bitcoin mining revenue lowest in two years, hash rate on the decline

The total Bitcoin mining revenue — block rewards and transaction fees — in U.S. dollars fell down to $11.67 million, a number last seen on Nov. 2, 2020, when Bitcoin’s trading price was around $13,500.

The revenue earned by Bitcoin (BTC) miners fell to two-year lows owing to poor market performance and a heavier computational demand amid rising network difficulty. However, an ongoing downturn in the Bitcoin hash rate over the past month has allowed miners to recoup losses.

The total Bitcoin mining revenue — block rewards and transaction fees — in United States dollars fell down to $11.67 million, a number last seen on Nov. 2, 2020, when Bitcoin’s trading price was around $13,500.

While the current market price of around $16,500 suggests an obvious increase in mining revenue, factors including greater mining difficulty and rising energy prices contribute to lower income in dollar terms.

Adding to the above, the difficulty of mining a Bitcoin block has skyrocketed to an all-time high of almost 37 trillion — forcing Bitcoin miners to spend more energy and computational power to stay competitive.

Over the past three months, however, the hash rate of the Bitcoin network witnessed a steady decline. The hash rate stands at 225.9 exahash per second (EH/s), which fell 28.6% from its all-time of 316,7 EH/s on Oct. 31, 2022.

The hash rate is a security metric that helps protect the Bitcoin network from double-spending attacks. However, considering the grand scheme of things, temporary measures taken by the community include acquiring cheaper mining hardware and resettling in jurisdictions with low energy prices.

Related: Bitcoin miners look to software to help balance the Texas grid

New York City mayor Eric Adams believes that goal to make New York a crypto hub can be combined with statewide efforts to curb environmental costs related to crypto mining.

“I’m going to work with the legislators who are in support and those who have concerns, and I believe we are going to come to a great meeting place,” said Adams while revealing that the city will work with legislators to find a balance between the crypto industry development and legislative needs.

Subway accepts Bitcoin, so users can get a sandwich on the Lightning Network

The largest franchise in the world, Subway, is testing out the Lightning Network layer-2 Bitcoin payments solution and receiving encouraging results in Berlin, Germany.

No, it’s not Groundhog Day. Subway is accepting Bitcoin (BTC), again — but this time it’s using the fast, nearly free Bitcoin Lightning Network.

The world’s largest franchise by number of restaurants is trialing Bitcoin payments at three Subways in Germany’s capital, Berlin. Subway first experimented with Bitcoin almost 13 years ago in Moscow, Russia. 

Over the past few months, Daniel Hinze, the Berlin Subway franchise owner, recorded over 120 Bitcoin transactions. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Hinze explained his desire “to help Bitcoin become money.”

“Five years ago, I started to deal with cryptocurrencies; and in the last two years, I have dealt very intensively with the topic of Bitcoin. With that in mind, I’ve decided that [Bitcoin] could be the better money system.”

Bitcoin is not a popular means of exchange in Europe, despite the efforts of merchants, retailers and even Lightning-enabled conferences. Hinze has encouraged Bitcoin payments by offering a 10% discount on all footlongs, meatball marinaras and sucookies paid for with BTC.

To kick off the campaign, Hinze offered a 50% discount on all Bitcoin payments for one week:

“Around the week, there was, of course, extremely high demand. Our three restaurants were frequently visited by people who liked to pay with Bitcoin.”

German-speaking social media was buoyed by Subway buys as the hashtag #usingBitcoin took over. Hinze partnered with Lipa, a Swiss-based Bitcoin company, to enable an easy-to-use point-of-sale solution.

Bastien Feder, CEO of Lipa, told Cointelegraph that its mission is to make Bitcoin “basically irresistible to use because Bitcoin is currency.” Lipa kitted out the Subways with merchant devices that allow customers to quickly scan a Lightning-enabled QR code that allows for fast, frictionless, low-cost payments.

Lipa charges merchants 1% for the service, as opposed to Visa or Mastercard payment rails, which charge double or more. Feder explained:

“It’s 2.5% to 4% depending on the contract from the merchant. If it’s a business card, there’s 0.5% on top of that. […] And if it’s a foreign business credit card, you pay up to 7%, and you don’t know until the end of the month.”

The experience of paying over the LN differs greatly from when Subway franchises first accepted Bitcoin payments in 2014. Before the arrival of the LN, customers would have to wait for around for several minutes.

Miners would mint the next block on the blockchain, with the transaction confirmed by Bitcoin nodes around the world. The process was inconvenient for retail payments due to the wait time as well as the sometimes high fees. With the LN, customers enjoy faster settlement times than Visa or Mastercard and lower fees thanks to a peer-to-peer network of payments.

Nonetheless, due to the fact that Bitcoin has for most of its history been a speculative vehicle — sparing a few use cases for purchasing — encouraging Bitcoiners to spend BTC can be a challenge.

Nonetheless, retail examples are popping up, such as in Berlin or San Salvador. Nicolas Burtey, CEO of Galoy Money, told Cointelegraph that the adoption of Bitcoin in El Salvador was the tipping point for the Lightning Network. He joked that the Bitcoin Law “should have actually been called the Lightning Law!”

Related: McDonald’s, pizza and coffee paid in Bitcoin: The Plan B for crypto payments

Lipa and Hinze expect a steady increase in demand for Bitcoin payments. Feder told Cointelegraph that it’s due in large part because of the ”exponentially rising Bitcoin community in Germany, in Switzerland, basically all over the world.”

Indeed, the LN is enabling communities keen to trade, from Senegal to Guatemala and Switzerland. Hinze told Cointelegraph that for the moment, the Subway restaurant only accepts the world’s most recognizable currency, as he and his business partners “firmly believe in Bitcoin.”