Strike: The Instant Bitcoin Payment Solution via the Lightning Network

Introduction Strike is a Bitcoin payment app that is revolutionizing money transfers by leveraging the Lightning Network. It allows users to send and receive money instantly, with no high fees, and a seamless user experience. Strike’s goal is to offer an alternative to traditional payment systems by using the Bitcoin protocol for global transactions. Founded by Jack Mallers, the platform targets both individuals and businesses looking to integrate BTC payments without technical complexity. In this page, we’ll explore how Strike works, its benefits, where it’s available, and why it plays a key role in the adoption of Bitcoin as a global currency.

Key takeaways

Key Takeaways

Strike is an app that enables real-time Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network.
It is designed to be user-friendly, with no fees, and a mass-market interface.
Strike can instantly convert dollars into BTC, or vice versa, without requiring the user to understand the underlying technology.

The service is available in several countries and aims for global expansion.

Strike and the Lightning Network: How It Works

Strike’s core technology is built on the Lightning Network, a layer-2 protocol on top of Bitcoin that allows nearly instant payments with negligible fees. Instead of recording every transaction directly on the Bitcoin blockchain (which can be costly and slow), Strike uses Lightning payment channels to transmit value within seconds. Users can link their bank account or card, and send funds that are automatically converted into Bitcoin on the Lightning Network. The recipient can choose to keep the funds in BTC or convert them instantly into local currency based on their settings. Strike acts as an interface between traditional financial systems and the Bitcoin protocol. For example, a U.S. user can send $10 to a user in El Salvador—where Strike is highly popular—and the recipient receives the funds instantly in BTC or local dollars. This approach removes intermediaries, exchange fees, and the delays of international wire transfers. It makes cross-border payments accessible to anyone and enhances users’ monetary sovereignty. 🔘 Send Bitcoin payments with Strike

Use Cases: Remittances, Merchant Payments, and Adoption in El Salvador

Strike played a key role in Bitcoin’s legal adoption in El Salvador. In 2021, the Central American country adopted Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar, and Strike provided the infrastructure to let citizens use crypto in everyday life. For international money transfers (remittances), Strike offers a much more efficient solution than traditional services like Western Union or MoneyGram. With no fees, instant delivery, and secure transfers outside the banking system, Salvadorans abroad can send money home using just a smartphone—at very low cost. On the merchant side, Strike allows businesses to receive BTC payments while converting them instantly into their local currency (e.g., USD or the digital colón). This eliminates Bitcoin’s volatility risk for merchants while enabling them to serve a global, crypto-friendly customer base. More and more small businesses, restaurants, gas stations, and even large retailers are now accepting Strike. Strike is also used for microtransactions: gaming payments, online tipping, subscriptions, donations, etc. The Lightning Network can process amounts as small as a few cents, making Strike perfect for daily use. Lastly, Strike’s intuitive interface lets non-crypto users benefit from Bitcoin’s power without ever needing to manage private keys or complex wallets. This ease of use is key to its adoption. 🔗 Explore the Strike mobile app

Strike’s Business Features: Payments, Integrations, and API

Strike isn’t just a consumer app. The platform also provides tools tailored for businesses wanting to accept Bitcoin payments. Whether you run an e-commerce store, a SaaS company, or a digital service platform, Strike offers solutions to integrate Lightning payments with minimal technical hassle. A key feature is the Strike Business API, which lets developers quickly add BTC payment functionality to any website or app. Businesses can choose to hold the bitcoins or auto-convert them into USD. This flexibility is ideal for companies looking to engage the crypto market without facing volatility risks. Strike also offers a user-friendly dashboard to track payments, generate Lightning invoices, view histories, and manage automatic conversions. The experience is built for non-technical users, lowering entry barriers. Companies like content platforms, gaming sites, and streaming services use Strike to monetize their audiences via micropayments. The Lightning Network enables the receipt of very small amounts (mere cents) with almost no fees, enabling new monetization models. Strike ensures regulatory compliance in supported regions, with built-in KYC/AML procedures. This allows businesses to stay within legal frameworks while harnessing Bitcoin’s benefits. 🔘 Integrate Strike for your business payments

Geographic Availability and Global Expansion Strategy

Strike is currently available in the U.S., El Salvador, and several other Latin American countries, with ongoing expansion into Africa, Asia, and Europe. The platform’s strategy focuses on using Bitcoin as a financial tool in areas where banking services are costly or inaccessible. El Salvador was a symbolic first step: a country where many lack bank accounts but have smartphones. Strike enables them to receive funds, make purchases, or save in Bitcoin without intermediaries. In the U.S., Strike positions itself as an alternative to services like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal—with lower fees and international reach. The app also allows users to buy BTC directly and spend it via Lightning. The platform adapts to local realities. In countries like Kenya or Nigeria, it plans integrations with mobile operators to convert Bitcoin payments into local currency via USSD codes or mobile money systems. This glocal (global + local) approach is a key growth lever for Strike as it aims to become the world’s leading crypto payment app. 🔗 Check Strike’s global availability

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Conclusion

Conclusion: Strike as a Gateway to the Bitcoin Economy

Strike is one of the most practical and promising projects driving everyday Bitcoin adoption. By leveraging the Lightning Network, the platform makes Bitcoin payments as simple, fast, and user-friendly as any mobile app—while maintaining the decentralization and resilience of the Bitcoin network. Whether for sending money abroad, paying merchants, monetizing content, or integrating BTC payments into business systems, Strike provides a complete and accessible solution. Its zero-fee model, instant transactions, and intuitive interface make it an ideal choice even for non-technical users. Strike’s inclusive vision, especially in underbanked regions, highlights Bitcoin’s potential as a global financial inclusion tool. By adapting to local needs while pursuing global reach, Strike is emerging as a central player in the crypto payments ecosystem. For individuals and businesses alike, Strike isn’t just a money transfer tool—it’s a gateway to a new economy built on transparency, speed, and monetary sovereignty. 🔗 Create an account and get started with Strike

Disclaimer :

Trading is risky and you may lose all or part of your capital. The information provided does not constitute financial advice and/or an investment recommendation

Comparison of the Best Crypto Exchange Platforms

Platform	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages
🥇 Team’s Choice Bitvavo Buy on Bitvavo	European user-friendly platform, ideal for beginners and those seeking portfolio diversification.	Simple interface, competitive fees, European regulation, supports multiple assets.	Not suitable for professional or high-frequency traders.
🥈 Top 2 Binance Buy on Binance	Global leader in crypto trading, offering extensive features and asset variety.	Advanced tools, low fees, high liquidity, wide range of cryptocurrencies.	Can be overwhelming for beginners, regulatory scrutiny in some regions.
🥉 Top 3 BingX Buy on BingX	Social trading-focused platform with strong derivatives offerings.	Copy trading features, good for beginners, supports futures and spot trading.	Limited fiat options, less recognized than top-tier exchanges.
Bitpanda Buy on Bitpanda	Austrian platform offering crypto and traditional assets in one place.	Supports crypto, stocks, ETFs, precious metals, easy to use.	Higher fees, limited advanced trading features.