The Lightning Network continues to shock the Bitcoin (BTC) community. A Swiss IT professional named F418 (name changed) surgically implanted a Lightning-enabled chip in his right hand to make payments over the Lightning Network (LN).
An x-ray of the chip implanted in F418’s hand. Source: Youtube
Speaking to Cointelegraph, F418 said he’s been experimenting with body modifications and LN payments for fun. He does not recommend Bitcoin enthusiasts to take the Layer 2 payment network, the LN, into their own hands like he does. “The purpose is just to show that it’s possible and you can do stuff like that.” He added that most people carry cards, only his hand has the wow factor:
“It’s funny when you’re giving a presentation, like sometimes I do presentations about payments and I talk to people who work in banks and they wide their eyes when they see that [my hand]. You don’t have to have the implant.”
Cointelegraph first met with F418 in its home country of Switzerland at the LN-friendly Plan B Lugano conference. His payment attempts failed because the first F418 implant used was “defective”. Undeterred, F418 saw a doctor to surgically remove the implant before trying again.
The second attempt succeeded. The chip sits comfortably in his right hand and can now make LN payments – without reaching for a bolt card or smartphone. But does it hurt, Cointelegraph asked. “I don’t feel anything — even when I go to the gym,” he replied.
F418 taps the back of his phone with his hand to pay for two beers and some chips. Source: Youtube
Nonetheless, F418 poses certain risks to the process. Although the procedure is medically safe, “the only problem with the implants is that you can’t really make them safe. It’s not the same security as the bolt card – you can only withdraw LNURL; It’s not safe.”
Additionally, if you make a mistake during the implantation process, it’s not a good idea to take the chip in and out of the body. It could cause damage or infection, F418 explained, so it’s best to get it right the first time.
In short, the NFC chip implanted in F418’s hand works identically, allowing him to make LN payments without the need for a physical device like a smartphone or card. They can simply hold their hand near a compatible NFC reader to initiate a payment. It is arguably the most convenient bitcoin payment, allowing for quick and easy transactions without any additional equipment.
Use cases for NFC or near field communication technology have emerged in the bitcoin world. In fact, NFC payments via the LN have grown in popularity since the introduction of the Bolt Card, which was first tried over lunch on the Isle of Man and is now available in “Bitcoin Country” aka El Salvador.
F148 shows Cointelegraph the chip’s tiny raised insert during a call. Source: Google Meet
It’s easy to set up an NFC card, sticker, or even a sock to make payments (see Twitter video below). However, it’s worth noting that F418’s NFC implant into a human is the first of its kind. F418 has made the entire process open source and accessible – including health warnings – on GitHub. He dubbed the process “Lightning Paw.”
Pay 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
The LN is a second-layer payment protocol that operates on the Bitcoin blockchain. It enables near-instant and near-free transactions by allowing users to make multiple payments without waiting for transactions to be confirmed on the blockchain. Essentially, the LN creates a network of payment channels between users, allowing them to transact directly without having to record every transaction on the blockchain.
Related: Subway accepts Bitcoin, allowing users to get a sandwich on the Lightning Network
As for F418, he continues to tinker with Bitcoin and increasingly with the Lightning Network. IT professional and extreme sports enthusiast by day, bitcoin hobbyist by night “who likes to try stupid things”. He joins thousands of bitcoin hobbyists around the world who continue to build on bitcoin despite the brutal bear market. From his home in Switzerland, he told Cointelegraph:
“If you have an open network where anyone can do innovative things; it will always have the advantage of a closed system that only a few people can work on it.”
Just don’t try this at home, Anonymous.
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