A Bitcoin advocate based in Canada has taken part in a social media experiment called “Zapping” and has sent small amounts of Bitcoin to 600 people. Marketing executive Michael Degroot joined the Orange Pill App, a social media platform that connects Bitcoin users, and began sending 300 Satoshis (equivalent to $0.09 or 0.000003 BTC) to users with Lightning wallets attached to their profiles. In total, Degroot has given out over $50 in Bitcoin through this experiment. The process of Zapping involves sending small amounts of Bitcoin peer-to-peer using the Lightning Network, which operates on top of the Bitcoin network.
The Orange Pill App, similar to Tinder or Meetups.com, aims to connect Bitcoin enthusiasts in real life. It recently integrated the Zapping feature, and 20% of users have added Zaps to their profiles, according to founder Matteo Pellegrini. Creating a non-custodial or custodial lightning wallet allows users to receive Zaps by setting up a lightning address known as an LNURL. This address can be added to profiles on various platforms, such as the Orange Pill App, Geyser Fund, or Nostr, allowing users to receive Bitcoin from people worldwide at almost no cost and instantly.
Zapping is often used for microtransactions and is advantageous because it operates without intermediaries, which eliminates transaction fees. Traditional money remitters like Paypal or Western Union charge fees to send money globally, making them impractical for small payments. However, Zapping on the Lightning Network is free and works well for micropayments. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong recently mistook a Lightning Address for an email address, indicating that Zaps are still not widely known.
Degroot’s experiment, called the “Zapathon,” aimed to connect with as many Lightning wallet users on the Orange Pill App as possible. He wanted to contribute to the Bitcoin community and expand his network. During the Zapathon, he successfully sent 300 Satoshis to people worldwide, even to someone living 16,000 km away in South Africa, without any transaction fees. Compared to traditional payment methods like credit cards, which often take days to process and charge fees, Zapping proved to be quick and cost-effective.
Nostr, a decentralized alternative to centralized social media platforms, has become a popular arena for Zapping. The platform has integrated the Zap feature and has garnered four million users. It allows users to monetize their content directly without intermediaries. Zapping on Nostr has gained momentum, with users preferring to reward content creators with Satoshis instead of simply liking their posts. The appeal of Zapping lies in its borderless and censorship-resistant nature, which allows people worldwide to support and engage with each other freely.
While Zapping has gained popularity, there have been some obstacles. Apple recently delisted Damus, a Lightning wallet app, from the App Store due to its Bitcoin tipping feature. However, Nostr remains unaffected as it functions as a protocol rather than a centralized service. Regardless of Apple’s actions, Nostr users believe that the platform’s freedom and decentralized nature will always prevail. They see Zapping as a way to express solidarity, promote freedom, and support like-minded individuals.
Degroot concluded his Zapathon on August 7, having sent approximately 600 Zaps totaling 180,000 Satoshis. During the experiment, he received more than 40 Zaps in return, with some users even sending him back significantly more than he had initially sent them. Degroot’s favorite response was from a user who had never been Zapped before and expressed gratitude for making their day. Overall, the experiment showcased the power of the Lightning Network and the generosity and community spirit within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Degroot encouraged others to participate in Zapping and experience the joy of giving and receiving Bitcoin in this manner.
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