Strike, a Chicago payment app has joined forces with Shopify (NYSE) in order to make payments via the Bitcoin Lightning Network to merchants.

The BTC-based digital payments platform announced at the Miami Bitcoin 2022 conference that it would integrate with Shopify and partner with payment firm Blackhawk and the world’s largest POS supplier NCR (NYSE:). Jack Mallers (founder and CEO of Strike) stated:

We’re proud to partner with Shopify to provide merchants with a cheaper and faster way to accept U.S. dollars using Bitcoin technology; […]Lightning Network is a global payment network that reduces costs, speeds innovation and gives consumers and merchants the choice of payments.

It offers users an alternative that is quick and cheaper than traditional payment systems. The integration will be made available to Lightning Network wallet holders worldwide.

Shopify is the world’s 18th largest e-commerce company, with about $4.6 billion in annual revenue, according to market research site Macrotrends. The company supports both crypto payment and merchant support for NFTs.

With the integration of Bitcoin Lightning Network, a world of new possibilities opens up. Customers could use the network to buy their products. NCR has a wide range of payment options.

Strike has officially partnered with Shopify, Blackhawk, and NCR to deliver Lightning powered payments to online and storefront vendors everywhere.Folks will be able to pay for groceries or retail shopping with immediate settlement over Lightning.Cheers @jackmallers pic.twitter.com/6sD7dkhngl

— TXMC (@TXMCtrades) April 7, 2022

Mallers previously said that “with Bitcoin as the monetary network, the financial system will be cheaper, faster, more innovative, and more inclusive.”

Mallers claims that one of the biggest benefits of Bitcoin through Lightning is that transactions settle nearly instantly. Mega partnerships such as these can make BTC payments even more accessible.

Although his announcement could spark a surge in mainstream adoption of Lightning Network, it hasn’t had an effect yet on BTC prices. The largest cryptocurrency by market capital is trading at $43,594 and has only risen 0.54% within the past 24 hours.

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