BOLT12: The Future of Payments on the Lightning Network

Apr 08, 2025

∙ Paid

A futuristic digital payment interface representing the Lightning Network and Bitcoin technology. The image features a sleek, glowing QR code labeled 'BOLT12' in a cyberpunk-style environment. In the background, abstract lightning bolts and Bitcoin logos are subtly visible, with a high-tech user interface overlay showing a dynamic payment process. The color scheme includes deep blues, electric purples, and neon highlights, conveying innovation and speed. The setting looks like a digital cityscape or advanced financial system, emphasizing modernity and tech-forward design.

In the world of Bitcoin, and especially within the Lightning Network, efficient real-time payments are everything. While Lightning already makes it possible to send and receive Bitcoin instantly with very low fees, its technical foundation still has room for growth. One of the most promising improvements in the pipeline is BOLT12, a proposal that aims to redefine how Lightning handles invoices and unlock new possibilities for how we send and receive money.

What is BOLT12?

BOLT stands for Basis of Lightning Technology, which refers to the set of specifications that define how the Lightning Network works. Each BOLT covers a different aspect of the protocol. For example, BOLT11 defines the current format of Lightning invoices — those QR codes or text strings we scan or paste when making a payment. BOLT12 builds on this and introduces a much more flexible concept: offers.

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