Smartwatch owners can now receive bitcoin via Lightning Network payments within seconds, thanks to the innovative BlueWallet application that has recently hit the market.
Created by the BlueWallet development team, this revolutionary application enables users to generate a QR code directly on their smartwatch display. Another person can easily scan this code with their smartphone to instantly send Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network, requiring just a few quick taps on the wearable device.
During an exclusive interview with CryptoSlate, Nuno Coelho, head of product and user experience, explained that the Lightning Network is inspiring developers to create innovative products and platforms that will accelerate the adoption of digital assets like bitcoin. He shared:
“We were dissatisfied with the current state of the wallet market, particularly the wallet we were personally using at the time. This motivated us to collaborate on this project and build the solution we truly wanted to use ourselves.”
Although the BlueWallet smartwatch integration is still in its experimental phase, the feedback received from early users has been overwhelmingly positive.
Twitter user JPThor shared his experience:
I'm living in the Future ?
Takes 5-10 seconds to generate a lightning invoice on my watch
Amazing work from @bluewalletio @nvcoelho pic.twitter.com/4ftOVL7dKD
— JP [ ₿ ⚡️] (@jpthor__) May 6, 2019
Coelho emphasized that BlueWallet and other applications being developed on the Lightning Network, such as Tippin.me (which enables users to send Lightning Network payments across Twitter in seconds), would help drive the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies.
How does BlueWallet work?
A: BlueWallet is a mobile application available for both iOS and Android platforms. It functions by providing users with an interface to interact with both bitcoin and the Lightning Network. The app supports various types of wallets for different needs and use cases, and includes features such as the ability to set flexible fees or full-node implementation to make user interaction more secure and the overall bitcoin experience smoother.
What are the next steps for the product?
A: We will focus on improving our on-chain reliability and user experience. At the end of the day, on-chain functionality is and will remain the most critical component that cannot be overlooked. Users can expect bech32 native addresses, multisig and batch transactions, as well as the ability to connect their own full nodes to the wallet.
What was the idea that initiated Bluewallet's development?
A: We were dissatisfied with the current state of the wallet market, particularly the wallet we were personally using at the time. This motivated us to collaborate on this project and build the solution we truly wanted to use ourselves.
What's next for the Lightning Network?
A: Lightning is simply amazing from a technical perspective and thrilling from a "bootstrapping a network" standpoint. The growth we've witnessed in just one year is something you rarely see in your lifetime. In terms of development, every single feature, improvement, and innovation are gifts that we as a community will nurture and ensure get properly implemented.
How close are crypto and the Lightning Network to becoming a mainstream payment method?
A: I believe it's one of those technologies where we'll never feel completely ready, but one day we'll realize it's everywhere and everyone is using it. It's almost prophetic—it's a fascinating technological advancement that we can't stop, avoid, or slow down.
BlueWallet is currently available for download on Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store. Discover more about BlueWallet's features here.
