Relai, a Bitcoin-exclusive application, harnesses Blockstream Greenlight to enable Lightning payments.

Relai, the Bitcoin-only app based in Switzerland, is about to introduce Lightning payment functionality through its integration with Blockstream’s Greenlight solution, as announced in a press release shared with Cointelegraph. The collaboration will see Blockstream’s Lightning-as-a-service solution integrated into Relai’s Bitcoin-only wallet platform. With the introduction of Greenlight, Relai’s 100,000 users will be able to make low-cost Bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network while maintaining control of their private keys. The integration of Greenlight also eliminates the need for Relai to build and manage its own Lightning infrastructure. Blockstream launched Greenlight in June 2023 as an alternative service for developers and platforms to provide fast, low-fee Bitcoin payments. The service is built on Blockstream’s infrastructure and ensures user control over private keys. Greenlight operates by splitting nodes into smaller components, with private key-related operations performed on the user’s device and the rest of the node and operational needs handled by Blockstream’s infrastructure. This design allows for end-to-end verification and ensures that only users can initiate operations involving their funds. Relai, which was founded in 2020 and focuses solely on Bitcoin trading and custody, has seen over $300 million in trading volume over the past four years. The decision to integrate Lightning payments comes as other major exchanges, such as Coinbase, are also looking to enhance their Bitcoin payment functionality. Coinbase announced in September 2023 that it would integrate Bitcoin Lightning payments into its offering, with CEO Brian Armstrong emphasizing Bitcoin’s importance and the benefits of faster and cheaper BTC transactions.