The mobile wallet Cake Wallet has introduced an update with support for the Lightning Network without custodial storage of funds. The new functionality allows users to send and receive bitcoin payments almost instantly directly from their smartphone, without manually managing Lightning channels.
The developers are focusing on simplifying the interface. Users no longer need to understand the technical details of the network to use instant payments.
Lightning Becomes Easier for Regular Users
The Lightning Network has long been considered a solution for fast and cheap bitcoin transactions. But in practice, using the network was not easy.
There were two main options. The first was custodial wallets, where control over funds is essentially transferred to the service. The second was fully independent Lightning setup with channel management, liquidity, and constant network connection.
The new version of Cake Wallet aims to eliminate this compromise. According to the developers, users will be able to send and receive payments via Lightning without the need to open channels, monitor liquidity, or maintain a constantly running node.
Integration of Breez and Spark
The technical foundation of the update is the integration of Breez SDK and the Spark solution. This infrastructure allows the wallet to work with Lightning while keeping the user in control of their funds.
Spark acts as a second-layer payment solution designed to work with bitcoin. It helps developers create services for instant payments compatible with Lightning.
This approach should simplify the integration of Lightning into mobile applications. At the same time, users retain the ability to withdraw funds back to the main bitcoin network at any time.
Focus on Privacy
Cake Wallet also continues to develop privacy features. The company stated that users can receive Lightning payments without disclosing their Spark address. In addition, transactions are not published in Spark explorers by default.
Previously, the wallet had already added tools to enhance the privacy of bitcoin transactions, including Silent Payments and PayJoin.
User-Friendly Addresses for Lightning
One of the long-standing problems with Lightning was an inconvenient user interface. To receive a payment, it was necessary to create a new invoice and send it to the sender.
In the new version of the wallet, users can create a readable address like @cake.cash. This address allows you to receive payments without creating separate invoices and long strings of data. The developers note that the address can be created immediately after installing the wallet. No minimum balance is required for this.
Lightning and Shopping in One App
The update also integrates Lightning with the Cake Pay service. It allows you to pay for purchases using gift cards or prepaid cards, which can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
The idea is to make using bitcoin for everyday expenses more convenient. At the same time, the developers emphasize that the system strives to minimize the collection of user data.
One Wallet for All Bitcoin Operations
Another goal of the update is to combine different ways of working with bitcoin in one app. Users will be able to store funds in cold storage, send regular transactions on the main network, and make instant payments via Lightning without changing wallets. According to the developers, the app also supports hardware wallets.
Lightning Gradually Becomes Payment Infrastructure
The Lightning Network has been developing for several years, but mass adoption was hampered by setup complexity. New solutions that hide technical details from users may change the situation. If such wallets prove stable in real-world conditions, Lightning could become a full-fledged payment layer for bitcoin. This is exactly what Cake Wallet is betting on with its update.
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