New Bitcoin Lightning App Launched For Apple Smartwatches

Apple fans are now able to receive Bitcoin’s lightning payments with a few simple taps on Apple’s smartwatch.

Launched on Sunday by Bluewallet, which is one of the more popular lightning network wallets, the application for Apple Smartwatches enables users to receive Bitcoin via the relatively new and emerging technology: lightning. All users need to do is use the app on the smartwatch to generate a QR code which another user can utilise in order to send payments.

Bluewallet posted a tweet with a sneak peek of the application a few weeks before the launch. As of Sunday, the app has been downloadable via the iTunes store.

Nuno Coelho, product and UX engineer described the app as an experiment:

“It’s a small experiment we’re doing to put wallets on the watch. The first releases will be simple, allowing you to receive lightning payments.”

You’re probably thinking, why would anyone want to receive lightning transactions via a smartwatch? They aren’t as nearly as popular as smartphones. However, many use them to track fitness, health and to keep track of notifications without reaching for their pockets for their smartphones.

Enter Bluewallet, who have decided to test to see if consumers would be interested in using them for bitcoin payments too.

Coelho stated:

“Sometimes the convenience of just [receiving bitcoin] with two taps from your wrist can be a relevant user experience, specially on the go or if you need to be fast.”

Coelho added that it might be handy in a situation where you’re purchasing bitcoin from someone but “don’t feel comfortable” taking out your phone, you could make use of the smartwatch instead.

It must, however, be noted that Coehlo has stressed that this is an experiment since lightning technology itself is still very experimental. Coehlo and his team at this stage are also unsure how many users will actually make use of the app.

He stated:

“If feedback is good, we’ll spend more time on the project. It’s a very early stage industry, so we’re trying to figure out how to build this stuff properly.”

The Bluewallet team is currently comprised of three devs who are also hard at work on other features to expand the wallet’s capabilities. 

Coehlo stated:

“We would also like to move from being a third-party service, minimising trust. That’s our most important goal at the moment.”