Twitter Has Began Beta Testing For Bitcoin Lightning Tipping Service

Micro-blogging platform, Twitter, has began beta testing a feature that will allow users to tip using Bitcoin.

Leaked tweets show that the feature will be coordinated using Jack Maller’s wallet service, Strike, which is powered by the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

As reported by MacRumors, Twitter’s latest beta update introduces support for providing content creators with Bitcoin tips using the “Tip Jar” feature that was introduced earlier this year. The report stated that Bitcoin is not yet available to select as a tip option in the release, but closer inspection of code suggests that Twitter is in the process of rolling it out to beta users and maybe eventually all users. 

Mobile developer Alessandro Paluzzi also leaked an image of what the service will look like. Details in the leaked image indicate that users will be directed through a Bitcoin tutorial that includes details on the Bitcoin Lightning Network and custodial and non-custodial Bitcoin wallets.

Based on the image, Twitter is clearly working closely with Bitcoin Lightning App Strike and will use the service to generate bitcoin invoices. As a result, Twitter users will need a Strike account to receive tips over the lightning network. 

The addition of a Bitcoin tipping option is in keeping with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s promise to investors in July that Bitcoin was important to the company and would be coming to the Tip Jar in the future. Currently, Twitter allows users to add Bandcamp, Cash App, Patreon, PayPal, and Venmo links to their Twitter profiles.

The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a layer 2 scaling solution that is applied to Bitcoin. It uses micropayment channels to scale its blockchain capability to conduct transactions more competently, making them much faster, less costly, and more readily confirmed than those conducted directly on the Bitcoin blockchain. It is no surprise then that it is being considered at Twitter. Jack Dorsey has always been a vocal promoter of Bitcoin and has stated his commitment to driving its adoption. He has said that he considers Bitcoin to be the native currency of the internet.

Dorsey also considered the notion of receiving Bitcoin as a form of payment for advertising. He was asked by Elon Musk, during their panel discussion back in July, whether the platform would accept Bitcoin as payment for advertising. While he didn’t exactly agree, he also did not entirely rule out the possibility. He expressed that if users want to pay in Bitcoin, the company would consider it.

Right now, we’ll have to wait and see what the eventual outcome will be when the time comes.

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