Tagged: Lightning Network

Bitcoin (BTC) Taproot Upgrade Will Lead to Lower Fees, Improved LN Efficiency, Smart Contract Functionality: Report

On November 14th, 2021, block height 709,632, Bitcoin’s (BTC) Taproot upgrade was activated. This critical update brings with it several important enhancements to the overall flexibility, security, and efficiency of BTC transfers. And as Bitcoin’s first protocol upgrade in more than 4 years, it’s a… Read More

Blockchain Platform Qtum Discusses Benefits of Decentralization

Decentralization is one of the core tenets or value propositions of blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT). As explained in a blog post by Qtum (QTUM), decentralization is the process by which the “governance activities of an organization are distributed or delegated away from a… Read More

OKCoin, the First US Licensed Exchange to Support Lightning Network Deposits, Withdrawals, Introduces LN API

OKCoin is reportedly the only US-licensed exchange to provide Lightning Network (LN) enabled deposits and withdrawals, and they’re doubling down on their commitment to the LN with their support for the recent ShellHacks hackathon and with the introduction of their Lightning API. As noted in… Read More

Bitcoin (BTC) Improvement Proposals Schnorr Signatures, Taproot, Tapscript Ready for November 2021 Launch: Report

Digital assets firm Kraken notes that one of Bitcoin’s (BTC) biggest and most significant upgrades of all time is “just around the corner.” However, Kraken also mentions that very few people really understand its “potential impact.” Kraken Intelligence’s most recent report, titled “Taproot Primer: An… Read More

Bitcoin App Fold to Move To Lightning Network

Bitcoin rewards and payments app Fold has committed to moving to Lightning by the end of 2022 to support the growth of the Lightning Network. The Lightning Network (LN) is a second layer scalability protocol added to Bitcoin’s network that allows off-chain transactions, enabling near-instant,… Read More

Caleb James DeLisle: Co-founder at PKT Explains how they’ve Used Blockchain Tech to Pay Users for Contributing Unused Internet Bandwidth

CJDNS SASU, a French software R&D start-up in the PKT ecosystem, recently announced its funding agreement with NGI-LEDGER, a European Commission’s initiative that aims “to shape the development and evolution of the Internet.” The agreement secures funding for SafePKT, an initiative that aims to bring… Read More

Lightning Protocol Mitigates Bitcoin Network’s Deficiencies as High-Cost, Slow Settlement System like Visa does for Fed Reserve: Report

Bitcoin’s (BTC) usage growth during the last 10 years has been “strong” and “steady,” and on this journey, from its “humble” beginnings, the flagship crypto has progressed through various phases of “differing usage,” according to a new report from CoinShares. Starting as a “worthless geeky… Read More

Bitcoin and Blockchain focused Blockstream Introduces Latest Lightning Network Service, Greenlight

The team at Blockstream, which claims to be the global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain tech, notes that they’re pleased to introduce Greenlight, which is their latest Lightning Network (LN) service. Blockstream, which aims to make financial markets more efficient by reducing reliance on trust… Read More

Remittance Payments to El Salvador can be Improved by Using Bitcoin or Other Crypto Rails Instead of Regular Money Transfers: Report

Nate Maddrey and the other researchers at Coin Metrics have shared their latest State of the Network Report. Published on June 15, 2021, the report from Coin Metrics notes that on June 9, 2021, the El Salvador Congress introduced a bill that officially made Bitcoin… Read More

UK Fintech Bottlepay to Allow European Consumers to Perform Instant Bitcoin, Euros, GBP Payments

Bottlepay, an international payments app provider, has introduced its services across Europe, enabling clients to perform instant, cost-effective cross-border transactions with Euros and Bitcoin (BTC). The Bottlepay app leverages the Lightning Network (LN), a layer-2 Bitcoin payments scalability solution, in order to conduct faster transfers…. Read More

Elizabeth Stark from Lightning Labs Reveals how her Firm Is Developing Second Layer Scalability Solutions for Bitcoin

Crypto exchange OKCoin confirms that they recently became one of the first digital asset trading platforms to implement the Lightning Network (LN), which is a layer-two scaling solution enabling the faster and more efficient transfer of BTC. OKCoin has awarded a new grant to Bitcoin… Read More

Digital Asset Yields or Interest Rates are Significantly Higher on Centralized Finance Platforms Compared to DeFi: Report

As the digital asset market approaches the end of 2020, Kraken Intelligence (part of US-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken) has released a report titled, “Crypto Yields – A Simple Breakdown.” The report notes that interest rates on “risky opportunities” are a function of a “risk-free” rate… Read More

Microtransactions or Small and Quick Payments with Bitcoin (BTC) Can be Made via Lightning Network, OpenNode Team Explains

Ryan Flowers from OpenNode notes that the value of a single Bitcoin (BTC), the flagship cryptocurrency, keeps increasing and there will be more businesses that will accept BTC payments. Flowers points out that this has been the case in the past with larger corporations taking… Read More

Ethereum Dominated DeFi Space Experiences Steady Growth with Increasing Adoption of Compound and Other Lending Protocols: Report

Three key events defined the Ethereum (ETH)-dominated decentralized finance (DeFi) space during Q2 2020. As mentioned in ConsenSys’ Q2 2020 DeFi Ecosystem Report, these events included: Bitcoin on Ethereum overtaking BTC on the Lightning Network (LN), three critical security incidents that led to $26 million… Read More

River Financial Closes on $5.7 Million Seed Round Led by Big Name Blockchain Investors, Reports 80% Volume Increase Each Month Since January

River Financial, a financial service firm focused on Bitcoin investing, has closed on a sizeable $5.7 million seed round, according to a note from the company. Big name investors in the blockchain sector participated in the round, including Polychain Capital, Slow Ventures, Castle Island Ventures,… Read More

Bitcoin Adoption: Nearly 8,000 BTC ATMs Installed Worldwide, Lightning Network Adoption Growing Steadily

There are now almost 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC) ATMs, or BTMs, installed worldwide, according to data from Coin ATM Radar. A Bitcoin ATM is a kiosk that lets users buy Bitcoin with cash or their debit card. Some BTMs also allow people to sell the pseudonymous… Read More

Jack Dorsey’s Square Crypto Awards Grant to Talaia, Developer of FOSS Lightning Network Watchtower, called Eye of Satoshi

Square Crypto, a Bitcoin (BTC) focused initiative launched by Jack Dorsey’s payments company Square (NYSE:SQ), has awarded a grant to Talaia (pronounced “Talaia”), a project-based in Spain and developed by Sergi Delgado, a distributed networks specialist from Barcelona. Square Crypto noted via Twitter: “Talaia is… Read More

Nearly $1 Billion Now Locked into Ethereum-Dominated Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Ecosystem

Nearly $1 billion is now locked up into the evolving decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, according to data site DeFi Pulse. The site tracks major Ethereum-based lending protocols including Maker, a projected managed by the Maker Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the MakerDAO initiative, which… Read More

Bitcoin (BTC) Lightning Network Developer Lightning Labs Secures $10 Million in Investments from Craft Ventures, Ribbit Capital, Others

Lightning Labs, a company focused on the development of the Lightning Network (LN), a second-layer scalability solution for expediting small Bitcoin (BTC) payments, has reportedly  finalized a $10 million Series A investment round – which was led by Craft Ventures. Ribbit Capital, RRE Ventures, Slow… Read More