https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/23/22689806/twitter-bitcoin-lightning-tipping-nft-authentication

Skip to main content
The Verge homepage

Follow The Verge online:

  *  
  *  
  *  

Log in or sign up

  * Log In
  * Sign Up

Site search

Search

The Verge main menu

  * Tech
  * Reviews
  * Science
  * Creators
  * Entertainment
  * Video
  * Features
  * Podcasts
  * Newsletters
  * Store
  * More

[                    ] [Search]
  * Tech
      + Video
      + Amazon
      + Apple
      + Facebook
      + Google
      + Microsoft
      + Samsung
      + Tesla
      + AI
      + Cars
      + Cybersecurity
      + Mobile
      + Policy
      + Privacy
      + Scooters
      + All Tech
  * Reviews
      + Phones
      + Laptops
      + Headphones
      + Cameras
      + Tablets
      + Smartwatches
      + Speakers
      + Drones
      + Accessories
      + Buying Guides
      + How-tos
      + Deals
      + More from Verge Reviews
  * Science
      + Video
      + Space
      + NASA
      + SpaceX
      + Health
      + Energy
      + Environment
      + All Science
  * Creators
      + YouTube
      + Instagram
      + Adobe
      + Kickstarter
      + Tumblr
      + Art Club
      + Cameras
      + Photography
      + What's in your bag?
      + All Creators
  * Entertainment
      + Film
      + TV
      + Games
      + Fortnite
      + Game of Thrones
      + Books
      + Comics
      + Music
      + All Entertainment
  * Video
  * Features
  * Podcasts
  * Newsletters
  * Store 

Filed under:

  * Tech
  * Cryptocurrency
  * Creators

Twitter enables tipping with Bitcoin, plans to let users authenticate
NFTs

New, 20 comments

Tipping is being rolled out to everyone on iOS

By Alex Heath@alexeheath Sep 23, 2021, 1:01pm EDT

Share this story

  * Share this on Facebook
  * Share this on Twitter
  * Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Twitter enables tipping with Bitcoin,
plans to let users authenticate NFTs

  * Linkedin
  * Reddit
  * Pocket
  * Flipboard
  * Email

[Twitter_NF] People will be able to mark their NFTs as legitimate on
Twitter. Twitter

Twitter is turning on the ability to ask for tips in Bitcoin through
its app, making it the first major social network to encourage use of
the cryptocurrency as a method of payment. The company also plans to
let users connect their crypto wallets and authenticate the ownership
of NFTs they tweet with a special badge.

Twitter has been testing tipping for a few months now, but the
company hasn't made tips widely available until Thursday, when the
feature is rolling out globally on iOS with Android to follow.
Besides Bitcoin, Twitter will let users connect nine traditional
payment providers, including Venmo and Cash App, to their profiles to
accept tips. Twitter isn't processing the payments itself.

The Bitcoin tips are facilitated by Strike, a Bitcoin wallet app that
runs on the Lightning Network protocol. Lightning is designed to
enable faster and cheaper transactions using Bitcoin. The company
behind it has received funding from Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, a
staunch Bitcoin advocate who tweeted in June that it was "only a
matter of time" before Twitter supported payments via the protocol.

Strike works in all US states except New York and Hawaii, and the
country of El Salvador. In addition to their Strike usernames,
Twitter users will also be able to add their Bitcoin addresses to
their profile, which people can then copy and paste into their crypto
wallet of choice to send tips.

[Static_Sen] How tipping with Bitcoin works on Twitter. Image:
Twitter

Twitter's app will notify someone when they receive a Bitcoin tip via
Strike, letting them quickly reply to the tipper to say thanks or
send an emoji reaction. Twitter will also generate invoices for
creators to track the tips they receive. "Bitcoin represents one of
the best solutions" for enabling people to transact in underbanked
regions of the world, Esther Crawford, Twitter's product lead for
creator monetization, said Thursday during a call with reporters.

Bitcoin isn't the extent of Twitter's crypto plans: the company said
it is also planning to support authentication for NFTs, or
non-fungible tokens, by letting people connect their crypto wallets.
"NFT authentication will come in the form of a badge, shown on
profile pictures, marking the owner's NFT as authentic," a company
spokesperson said.

NFTs have recently boomed in popularity as a way to buy and trade
digital art on the Ethereum blockchain. A few months ago, the main
Twitter account did a giveaway of NFTs that were minted on a
marketplace called Rarible.

Next Up In Tech

Sign up for the newsletter Verge Deals

Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week.

Just one more thing!

Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification
email we just sent you.

Email (required)
[                    ]
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users
agree to the data transfer policy.
Subscribe
Loading comments...

Chorus

  * Terms of Use
  * Privacy Notice
  * Cookie Policy
  * Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  * Licensing FAQ
  * Accessibility
  * Platform Status

  * Contact
  * Tip Us
  * Community Guidelines
  * About
  * Ethics Statement

Vox Media Vox Media logo. Advertise with us Jobs @ Vox Media (c) 2021
Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved
 

Share this story

  * Twitter
  * Facebook