Crypto developers have recently introduced a novel tool designed to enable content creators to monetize their work using Bitcoin (BTC), offering greater flexibility compared to traditional fiat-based competitors.
Created by programmers Pierre Corbin and Hugo Ferrer, the Bitcoin payment gateway known as “Flash” provides features such as subscriptions, paywalls, and payment links within the native peer-to-peer economy of the digital currency. Aspiring BTC entrepreneurs can easily set up this tool within minutes and begin receiving payments almost instantaneously through the lightning network.
Corbin expressed their goal by stating, “We aim to create the simplest platform for earning in Bitcoin while also enhancing the general usability of Bitcoin. With a Flash account today, users can conveniently ‘Pay with Flash’ across our various solutions using any device.”
Flash sets itself apart by harnessing the Nostr protocol, which stands for “notes and other stuff transmitted by relays,” alongside its innovative open-source P2P payment technology known as Nostr Wallet Connect.
The Nostr protocol is commonly known as a decentralized social media network and has garnered favor among notable Bitcoin advocates like Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. However, due to its seamless compatibility with the lightning network, Corbin recognized its potential as a user-management system that could be seamlessly integrated into various applications, facilitating the inclusion of payment functionality.
Consequently, any user adopting Flash will automatically become part of the Nostr network. Applications that incorporate Flash for subscription services will gain access to the user’s Nostr details, which include their username, profile description, profile picture, and public key.
Corbin elaborated on the process by stating, “To get started, all a user needs to do is complete a form. They will receive an HTML snippet <script> that can be effortlessly added to any webpage. This will instantly activate the product, complete with login and logout buttons, as well as user information, including subscription plans and payment status.”
Bitcoin Beyond Subscriptions
Alternatively, Flash offers its one-time users the convenience of making payments through one of four popular lightning wallet options when they engage with its paywalls and payment links.
Moreover, Flash introduces an innovative product known as the “video paywall.” This feature eliminates the need to pay for video content on a per-second basis, such as for a ten-minute segment of a movie, allowing users to pay only for the specific portions they intend to watch, rather than purchasing the entire video.
While using Flash, users can access their Bitcoin balances and execute transactions, ensuring direct control over their BTC. It’s worth noting that the platform’s administrators do not have access to users’ BTC; instead, they rely on the existing infrastructure of the lightning network.
Corbin clarified their role, stating, “We function as a software communication service that connects these wallets, making us the first genuine lightning payment gateway, as opposed to being merely a processor.”
