Bolt Card is a new card that allows payments in bitcoin (BTC) through the Lightning network, without the need to scan a QR code or copy an address. It is already available to be used in physical stores and online stores. Thus, it emulates the use that people give to cards such as Visa and MasterCard.
Bolt Card was unveiled this May 17 at a release published by CoinCorner, the company behind its development.
The card has NFC technology for contactless payments and LNURL that facilitates the use of payments on the Lightning network. Thus allows the payment at compatible points of sale, even for online payments. Users can pay directly with their card using the BTC balance within their CoinCorner account.
According to the statement, the card improves the user experience in the use of Bitcoinas it turns the task of “open the app and look for the QR code” in just one touch with NFC technology. The card can be used completely offline. At the time of payment, the user only has to verify that the balance on the invoice is correct, then proceeding to mark with his card at the corresponding point.
Bolt Card can be used on all websites that implement payment gateways compatible with the card, among which are currently: CoinCorner, BTCPay Server, Ibex Markets, LNBits and FastBitcoins.
Danny Scott, CEO of CoinCorner, points out what the card that is available to the entire population. “As we all know, Bitcoin is non-discriminatory, global, permissionless, censorship resistant, which means that unlike Visa, Bolt [Card] it is available to the 7.7 billion people in the world.”
With respect to CoinCorner, it is a company registered in the United Kingdom that offers a service to buy and sell bitcoins through euros and pounds.
Bitcoin is the evolution of payment methods
CoinCorner’s Bolt Card is an evolution in the user experience that Bitcoin provides. In any case, it should be emphasized that the company becomes a wallet custodial of BTC centrally.
Bitcoin, by itself, is already a payment method, it does not need a third party to work according to its own protocol. However, this type of improvement, in the field of user experience, could serve to bring new users closer to Bitcoin.