The Bitcoin Lightning torch has been passed on to Iranian Coinex executive Ziya Sadr following initial concerns that he could not receive the torch on a political basis.
The Lightning torch experiment was started by crypto space explorer hodlonaut. Bitcoin users have since been playing a running game wherein each participant adds a little Bitcoin to a Lightning Network payment chain then passes it on to someone on Twitter that they trust. This is being referred to as passing around a “Lightning torch”.
The initiative was started in order to spread awareness of the Layer 2 Lightning Network technology, widely seen as the future of Bitcoin as it improves scalability and allows for instantly verifiable Bitcoin payments.
The torch has currently been passed to 237 participants.
Peach Inc. senior software engineer Vijay Boyapati sent out a tweet in late February stating that US laws made it difficult for him as a citizen to send the torch to Sadr.
Boyapati noted: “Very sad that two peaceful people cannot transact with each other across the world because of the state.”
Yes! I really really REALLY wanted to send it to @Ziya_Sadr but US law makes it very risky for me as a citizen. Very sad that two peaceful people cannot transact with each other across the world because of the state.https://t.co/ZoC1v9pis4
— Vijay Boyapati 🦢 (@real_vijay) February 25, 2019
The issue has now been circumvented by Bitgeiniog, who has managed to send the torch to Sadr.
Upon receiving the torch, Sadr tweeted: “The #LNTrustChain torch is LIT in Tehran! Thanks to Welshman @bitgeiniog who helped send it here from @BitcoinMagazine. Let’s keep the censorship resistance trend going.”
Sadr followed up with a tweet stating: “We have always been censored from both sides, sanctioned globally, and censored locally by our own gov. #Bitcoin will lead the way in censorship resistance and I’ll pass the torch to other people who help the world resist censorship!”
https://twitter.com/Ziya_Sadr/status/1102139102508605440
Afterwards, Sadr passed the torch on to fellow Iranian @samabbassi. The torch has yet to be passed on since @samabbassi received it.
The Lightning torch reaching Iran has caused a buzz on social media. The creator of the Lightning torch, hodlonaut, posted a tweet praising the occasion.
Bitcoin will continue building bridges between people around the world. Permissionless and free from manipulation and censorship, it's a powerful tool to build understanding and cooperation.
The #LNTrustChain torch landing in Iran feels important.
⚡️⚡️⚡️🚀🇮🇷🏴❤️— hodlonaut 80 IQ 13%er 🌮⚡🔑 🐝 (@hodlonaut) March 3, 2019
Anthony Pompliano, founder and partner at Morgan Creek, posted a tweet highlighting how Bitcoin is “uncensorable money”.
The Lightning Torch was sent to @Ziya_Sadr in Iran yesterday.
Bitcoin is uncensorable money.
This is a prime example.
— Pomp 🌪 (@APompliano) March 3, 2019
Interested in reading more about the Lightning torch? Discover how Justin Sun sent the torch to Erik Vorhees after receiving no response from Elon Musk and Kobe Bryant.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author should not be considered as financial advice. We do not give advice on financial products.