A Swiss IT specialist has surgically implanted a Bitcoin Lightning Network chip into his hand, to help make BTC contactless payments via the network.
The Bitcoin community is still in shock over the Lightning Network. F418, a Swiss IT specialist who went under another name, had a Lightning Network (LN) payment chip surgically inserted into his right hand.
F418 said in an interview with Cointelegraph that he dabbled with LN payments and bodily alteration for fun. He does not advise Bitcoin aficionados to do what he did and seize control of the layer-2 payments network, or LN.
“The purpose is just to demonstrate that such things are feasible and attainable.” He noted that although most individuals carry cards, his hand stands out because of its impressiveness:
“It’s funny if you are doing a presentation as I sometimes do presentations about payments and talk to people that are working in banks, and they make “Big Eyes” if they see that [my hand]. You don’t need to have the implant.”
F418 and Cointelegraph originally met at the LN-friendly Plan B Lugano Conference in F418’s native Switzerland. His efforts to pay were unsuccessful since F418’s initial implant was “Defective.” F418 was unfazed and went to a doctor to get the implant surgically removed before attempting again.
The second effort was successful. He no longer has to grab a Bolt Card or a smartphone to make LN payments since the chip is conveniently positioned in his right hand. However, Cointelegraph questioned whether it harmed. Even when I work out at the gym, I don’t feel anything, he said.
F418 does, however, highlight several hazards associated with the operation. Medically speaking, the procedure is safe, but “the only issue with the implants is that you can’t truly make them safe. You can only withdraw via LNURL, therefore it’s not as secure as the Bolt Card.
Additionally, removing the chip from the body is not a smart idea if you make a mistake during the implantation procedure. F418 said that it’s essential to do it properly the first time since doing it incorrectly might injure or infect someone.
In short, F418 may make LN payments without the need for a tangible object, such as a smartphone or card, thanks to the NFC chip that was implanted in his palm.
To start a payment, he just has to place his palm next to an NFC scanner that is compatible. It’s perhaps the most practical way to pay using bitcoin since it enables rapid and simple transactions without the need for any extra hardware.
Use cases for NFC technology, also known as near-field communication, have emerged in the Bitcoin community. Since the debut of the Bolt Card, which was originally tested at lunch on the Isle of Man and is now accessible in “Bitcoin Country,” otherwise known as El Salvador, NFC payments over the LN have grown in popularity.
Setting up an NFC card, sticker, or even a sock to accept payments is simple (see below Twitter video). The NFC implant into a person by F418 is the first of its type, it should be noted. F418 made the whole procedure available and open-source on GitHub, including any health precautions. He has given the method the name “Lightning Paw.”
Regarding F418, he keeps tinkering with Bitcoin and the Lightning Network more and more. He works as an IT professional and enjoys extreme activities during the day, and at night he plays around with Bitcoin.
He joins the legions of Bitcoin aficionados who, despite the harsh bear market, are still investing in the currency. He spoke to Cointelegraph from his home in Switzerland and said:
“If you have an open network where everyone can do innovative things; it will always have the advantage of a closed system that only a couple of people can work on it.”
Please, don’t attempt this at home.
