The Lightning Network continues to rock the bitcoin (BTC) community. A Swiss computer scientist named F418 (not his real name) has surgically implanted a Lightning chip in his left hand to make payments over the Lightning Network (LN).
Speaking to Cointelegraph, F418 said he experimented with body modification and LN payments for fun.. He does not recommend that bitcoin enthusiasts take the layer 2 payment network, the LN, into their own hands as he did. “The use is just to show that things like that are possible and can be done.” He added that most people carry cards, it’s just that his hand has the wow factor:
“It’s funny if you’re doing a presentation, because sometimes I do presentations on payments and I talk to people who work in banks, and they go ‘eyes’ if they see that. [mi mano]. It is not necessary to have the implant.”
Cointelegraph first met F418 in his home country of Switzerland at the Plan B Lugano Conference, favorable to the LN. His attempts to pay failed as the first implant F418 used was “Faulty”. Undeterred, F418 visited a medical professional to have the implant surgically removed before trying again.
The second attempt was successful. The chip sits perfectly in your left hand and now you can make LN payments without picking up a Bolt Card or smartphone. Cointelegraph asks if it hurts. “I don’t feel anything, not even when I go to the gym,” he replies.
![A Bitcoiner implants a Lightning Network chip to make BTC payments by hand A Bitcoiner implants a Lightning Network chip to make BTC payments by hand](https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2022-12/877abda3-ba21-4b88-a243-4e7f5fcbbf25.png)
Nevertheless, F418 mentions certain risks of the procedure. Although the process is medically safe, “the only problem with implants is that they can’t be made really safe. Not as secure as the bolt card: only LNURL extraction can be done; is not safe”.
Also, If a mistake is made during the implantation process, it is not a good idea to put the chip in and out of the body. Could cause damage or infection, explains F418So it’s better to get it right the first time.
In summary, the NFC chip works identically implanted in F418’s hand, allowing you to make LN payments without the need for a physical device such as a smartphone or card. Just hold your hand close to a compatible NFC reader to make the payment. It could be said that it is the most comfortable bitcoin payment, since it allows for quick and easy transactions without the need for any additional equipment.
Use cases for NFC (Near Field Communication) technology have proliferated in the bitcoin world. In fact, NFC payments over the LN have grown in popularity since the introduction of the Bolt Card, first tested over lunch on the Isle of Man, and now available in “Bitcoin Country,” or The Savior.
![A Bitcoiner implants a Lightning Network chip to make BTC payments by hand A Bitcoiner implants a Lightning Network chip to make BTC payments by hand](https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2022-12/648ff76e-1b42-49da-81e0-c547542d2cdc.png)
It is very easy to configure an NFC card, a sticker or even a sock to work as a means of payment (see the following video from Twitter). However, it should be noted that F418’s NFC implant in a human is the first of its kind. F418 has made the entire process open source and accessible – including the health warnings – on GitHub. He has dubbed the process “Lightning Paw”.
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
Paying for a coffee with #Bitcoin Lightning NFC and a pair of @mtsocks ⚡️ ANOTHER WORLD FIRST?!?!
The LN is a second layer payment protocol that operates on the bitcoin blockchain. Enables near-instantaneous and near-free transactions by allowing users to make multiple payments without having to wait for transactions to be confirmed on the blockchain. In essence, the LN creates a network of payment channels between users, allowing them to carry out transactions directly without the need for each of them to be registered in the blockchain.
As for F418, he’s still playing with bitcoin and, increasingly, with the Lightning network.. Computer professional and extreme sports enthusiast by day, he is a bitcoin aficionado “who likes to try stupid things” by night. He joins the thousands of bitcoin fans around the world who continue to bet on bitcoin despite the brutal bear market. From his home in Switzerland, he told Cointelegraph:
“If you have an open network where everyone can do innovative things, you always have the advantage of a closed system where only a couple of people can work.”
Don’t try it at home.
Clarification: The information and/or opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views or editorial line of Cointelegraph. The information presented here should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendation. All investment and commercial movement involve risks and it is the responsibility of each person to do their due research before making an investment decision.
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