Instant payments to anywhere in the world: Bitcoin tipping is now available on Twitter

Twitter users are now able to tip each other in Bitcoin through the Lightning Network, and it might be helping push up Bitcoin’s price again.

The tips can be sent and received pretty much instantaneously through Bitcoin’s ultra-fast transaction mechanism, either by using the Strike app or by adding a BTC address directly to your Twitter profile.

In a blog post published a short time ago, Twitter staff product manager Esther Crawford noted that the Bitcoin Tips feature is now available for iOS users, with a rollout for Android users expected to come in the next week or two.

“We want everyone on Twitter to have access to pathways to get paid,” said Crawford. “Digital currencies that encourage more people to participate in the economy and help people send each other money across borders and with as little friction as possible – help us get there.”

In the process of tipping, Twitter takes no cut, according to Crawford.

CEO of the Strike app, Jack Mallers, showed the new Twitter function in action, sending a lightning-fast BTC tip to a mate in El Salvador from a Chicago high-rise.

MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin bull Michael Saylor clearly liked what he saw…

#Bitcoin on #Lightning⚡️ is the future of global payments. pic.twitter.com/9RONDBnVXQ

— Michael Saylor⚡️ (@saylor) September 23, 2021

Kiwi on-chain data analyst Willy Woo is a fan, too. In fact, “Bitcoin maxis” must be going BTC Twitter Tip crazy in jubilation right about now…

Western Union vs Lightning Network is like Blockbuster Video vs Netflix.

Their business bet on physical money with branches worldwide.

This is ironic for a company that started as a telecommunications business, later expanding into transmission of funds down a wire. https://t.co/hZPSeg4vWL

— Willy Woo (@woonomic) September 23, 2021

Twitter tipping with cash has been available since May through other integrated services including Bandcamp, Chipper, Patreon, Razorpay, WealthSimple Cash, and Venmo.

And Square’s Cash App, founded by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, is a further Twitter tipping option.

Dorsey is a big fan of Bitcoin, and has been hinting this BTC tipping possibility for a little while now. He also recently said that Square could be looking to create a decentralised exchange (DEX) for Bitcoin.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) is changing hands for US$44,787 (+2.9%), seemingly making a run on the US$45K level that many a crypto analyst wants to see decisively broken to feel bullish once more.