In a major push towards digital currencies, Twitter has announced that it will now allow users to tip creators using Bitcoin on the platform.
In a blog post, Twitter announced that it is expanding its Tips feature to everyone and is adding more payment options including cryptocurrencies. The company will allow users to make Bitcoin payments using "Strike – a payments application built on the Bitcoin Lightning Network". In order to get paid in Bitcoin, users will need to create a Strike account and add their Strike username to Twitter. Currently Strike is available in El Salvador and the U.S. (excluding Hawaii and New York).
While you will need a Strike account to receive tips, the sender can use any platform that allows Bitcoin transfer to make the payment as Strike uses the standard Bitcoin wallet address for fund transfers.
Twitter product manager Esther Crawford said:
We want everyone to have access to pathways to get paid. Digital currencies that encourage more people to participate in the economy and help people send each other money across borders and with as little friction as possible, help us get there.
She further added that the micro blogging platform is also exploring ways to showcase NFTs. The feature will give users insights into the origin of a NFT and will be available in the future.
Lastly, Twitter also announced a host of new safety features including the ability to block accounts similar to the ones that you have already blocked, the ability to remove yourself from a conversation and the ability to filter offensive words. The company is also exploring ways to give users a heads-up when they are about to enter in an intense argument with another user.
Currently, Twitter is only rolling out the ability to receive tips using Bitcoin and the feature will be available for iPhones for now. The company is working on bringing it to Android users and it will be available in a future update. Apart from Bitcoin, Twitter is also adding support for Bandcamp, Cash App, Chipper, Patreon, Razorpay, GoFundMe and more.