Payment Chip:
A Bitcoiner installed a tiny payment chip into his hands to enable NFC contactless payments, thus taking the Lightning Network into his own hands.
The Bitcoin community is still in shock over the Lightning Network. F418, a Swiss IT specialist who went by another name, had a Lightning Network (LN) payment chip surgically implanted into his right hand.
F418 admitted in an interview with Cointelegraph that he dabbled with LN payments and body modification for fun. He does not advise Bitcoin enthusiasts to do what he did and take control of the layer-2 payments network or LN. “The purpose is to demonstrate that such things are feasible and attainable.” He noted that while most people carry cards, his hand stands out because of its impressiveness:
It’s funny if you’re giving a presentation like I occasionally do when I talk to individuals who work in banks about payments, and they make “Big Eyes” when they see that [my hand]. You are not required to get the implant.
F418 and Cointelegraph originally met at the LN-friendly Plan B Lugano Conference in F418’s native Switzerland. His attempts to pay were unsuccessful since F418’s initial implant was “Defective.” F418 was unfazed and went to a doctor to have the implant surgically removed before attempting again.
The second effort was successful. He no longer needs to reach for a Bolt Card or a smartphone to make LN payments because the chip is conveniently positioned in his right hand. However, Cointelegraph questioned if it hurt. He said that even when I work out in the gym, I don’t feel anything.
Bolt card:
F418 does, however, highlight several hazards associated with the operation. The procedure is medically safe, but “the only issue with the implants is that you can’t truly make them safe. You can only withdraw via LNURL. Therefore it’s not as secure as the Bolt Card.
Additionally, removing the chip from the body is not smart if you make a mistake during the implantation process. F418 said it’s best to get it right the first time because doing it incorrectly could injure or infect someone.
In short, F418 may make LN payments without using a tangible object, like a smartphone or card, thanks to the NFC chip implanted in his hand. To start a payment, he only needs to place his palm next to a compatible NFC reader. It’s the most practical way to pay using bitcoin because it enables rapid and simple transactions without needing extra hardware.
Use cases for NFC technology, also known as near-field communication, have emerged in the Bitcoin community. Since the debut of the Bolt Card, which was originally tested at lunch on the Isle of Man and is now accessible in “Bitcoin Country,” otherwise known as El Salvador, NFC payments over the LN have grown in popularity.
F418:
Setting up an NFC card, sticker, or even a sock to accept payments is simple (see below Twitter video). The NFC implant into a human by F418 is the first of its kind; it should be noted. F418 made the entire procedure accessible and open-source on GitHub, along with any health precautions. He has given the method the name “Lightning Paw.”
On top of the Bitcoin blockchain, the LN is a second-layer payment system that processes payments. Allowing users to make repeated payments without waiting for the transactions to be completed on the blockchain enables close-to-instant and close-to-free transactions. In essence, the LN establishes a network of payment channels between users, enabling them to conduct transactions without recording each one on the blockchain.
Paying for a coffee with #Bitcoin Lightning NFC and a pair of @mtsocks ⚡️🧦
ANOTHER WORLD FIRST?!?! 👀 pic.twitter.com/E4c0eei3v1
— Molly Spiers 🧡 (@CoinCornerMolly) December 10, 2021
Lightning Network:
Regarding F418, he keeps tinkering with Bitcoin and the Lightning Network more and more. He works as an IT professional and enjoys extreme activities during the day, and at night he plays around with Bitcoin. He joins the legions of Bitcoin hobbyists who are still investing in the currency despite the harsh bear market.
He spoke to Cointelegraph from his home in Switzerland and said:
“If you have a closed system where only a small number of people can work on it, it will always have the advantage over an open network where everyone can do innovative things.”
Please, Anon, don’t try this at home.
