Cash App Integrates Lightning Network for Bitcoin Payments

Lightning Network is a decentralized protocol that uses smart contracts on top of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like bitcoin

article-image

Source: Shutterstock

share

key takeaways

  • Cash App is a mobile money transfer service that allows people to send and receive money as well as bitcoin
  • Block (formerly Square) developed Cash App; Block’s CEO is Jack Dorsey

Mobile payment service Cash App has added a layer-2 payment protocol Lightning Network to help users transact with bitcoin, according to reports by users. 

The feature was rolled out to a handful of users and the Lightning Network feature can be used as “the fastest, free way to pay anyone in bitcoin,” according to screenshots

At the time of publication, it was not clear how users were selected and how many users have received the new feature.

Cash App was not available for immediate comment requested by Blockworks. But Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and CEO of Block, which developed Cash App, has been acknowledging and liking tweets on Twitter by Cash App users posting screenshots of their Lightning Network transactions on Cash App. 

Dorsey is the former co-founder and CEO of Twitter. Block, formerly known as Square, owns Cash App, TIDAL and TBD54566975, a platform for decentralized bitcoin exchanges being developed by Dorsey. 

The Lightning Network

Lightning Network is a decentralized protocol that uses smart contracts on top of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Through the network, participants can instantly send, receive or transact payments without creating an on-blockchain transaction for individual payments, according to its website

In February 2019, Dorsey said during an interview that rolling out the Lightning Network on Cash App, is “not an if, it’s more of a when.” Nearly three years later, his plans have come to fruition.

Dorsey has recently been an outspoken advocate for crypto and said that bitcoin will replace the US dollar. He has also that bitcoin will “unite a deeply divided country (and eventually world).”


Don’t miss the next big story – join our free daily newsletter.

Follow Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial with the latest news from the courtroom

Tags

Upcoming Events

MON - WED, MARCH 18 - 20, 2024

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will take place March 18-20, 2024 at The Hilton London Metropole. Why London? Momentum.  London has become one of the world’s hottest crypto hubs.  Innovation is thriving, new institutional investors are flocking in, and regulators like […]

recent research

l1 cover.png

Research

This analysis focuses on financial metrics for general-purpose L1 blockchains. In many ways, L1s should be viewed as an entirely new asset class more comparable to digital economies than traditional businesses. L1s are the core infrastructure enabling the creation of new-age businesses like onchain protocols.

article-image

If the market wasn’t quite so boring, perhaps BitBoy’s flameout would have been a little less fiery

article-image

Developers have a new testnet running, but devnet testing the Dencun upgrade is running behind schedule

article-image

A handful of Democrats are joining the anti-Gensler and pro-crypto movement

article-image

The Bank of International Settlements conducted the project in partnership with central banks from France, Singapore and Switzerland

article-image

Helium Foundation CEO Abhay Kumar details the Helium Mobile platform as an example of a crypto-based product with mass market appeal

article-image

The bloc aims to explore the possibility of setting sustainability standards for crypto assets, potentially guiding future financial regulations in the sector