Block’s Cash App Is Finally Integrating the Lightning Network

Block, formerly known as Square, is integrating the Lightning Network into its popular Cash App, a move first promised in 2019. The company said the feature should be available to all U.S. Cash App users, except those in New York State, in the coming weeks.

• The integration of the network will allow Cash app customers in the U.S. to send bitcoin for free within seconds to anybody in the world.

• The Lightning integration is made possible by the Lightning Development Kit created by Spiral, which is funded by Block.

• Cash App customers will also be able to send bitcoin to any compatible wallet that accepts Lightning Network payments, without being charged fees.

• Almost three years ago, Block CEO Jack Dorsey, who’s also an investor in Lightning Labs, said there were plans underway to integrate the scaling technology with Square’s Cash App.

• Since then, the Lightning Network has progressed significantly, with developers working to make the technology more usable for more people. The network received a boost from the November activation of Taproot, the biggest change to Bitcoin in four years, which allowed new privacy improvements to be made to Lightning.

• In November, Dorsey announced he would step down as the CEO of Twitter, but he remains the CEO of Block.

Read more: 5 Ways Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Advanced in 2021