No Internet, No Problem: This New Crypto Startup Brings Bitcoin to Local Mesh Networks
In a world increasingly reliant on internet connectivity, a Florida-based startup is breaking new ground by enabling Bitcoin (BTC) Lightning Network transactions even when there's no access to the web.
The company, called LNMesh, leverages local "mesh networks" to facilitate Bitcoin payments offline, crypto news outlet Decrypt reported on Thursday.
The idea behind LNMesh is to address scenarios where traditional internet access is unavailable or unreliable, such as in the aftermath of natural disasters or in remote regions with spotty connectivity.
The project has gained significant attention, particularly after researchers from Florida International University published a paper that explained their breakthrough titled "LNMesh: Who Said You Need Internet to Send Bitcoin? Offline Lightning Network Payments using Community Wireless Mesh Networks."
Not surprisingly, the paper has also been shared between community members on X:
Mesh networks are decentralized communication networks where devices connect directly to one another via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, creating a local network independent of the internet.
LNMesh capitalizes on this concept by establishing a local Lightning Network, which is a faster and cheaper layer built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain.
What's remarkable about LNMesh is that it doesn't require changes to the existing Lightning Network protocol or code.
Instead, the team behind the project set up a network of Bitcoin and Lightning nodes using low-cost Raspberry Pi computers, devices that are often used by Bitcoiners to run their nodes on.
These nodes were spread across their university campus and connected via a local mesh network using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The experiments conducted by LNMesh researchers
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