Phoenix Wallet | Adds Support for Human-Readable Addresses
Phoenix, a popular Bitcoin and Lightning wallet, aims to simplify payments on the Lightning Network by adding support for BIP 353 addresses. These addresses enable users to save their Lightning offers (payment requests) as Domain Name System (DNS) entries on an Internet domain. Phoenix Wallet can then perform a DNS lookup to obtain an offer for a given user. Instead of long strings of numbers, users can have static addresses like user@domain, making it easier to share payment information. Seth for Privacy explains: “In essence, BIP 353 gives anyone with access to a domain the ability to have their own custom (payment) usernames with just a few clicks of a mouse.” With this update, Phoenix not only improves the utility of Lightning transactions but also enables individuals in oppressive regimes to receive payments more securely and privately. You can learn more about BIP 353 here and, if you wish, donate to HRF by sending satoshis to [email protected].
Zeus Wallet | Releases Version 0.8.5
Zeus Wallet recently rolled out version 0.8.5, a significant update introducing BOLT 12 offers and BIP-353 Lightning addresses. With BOLT 12, Zeus users can now generate reusable payment requests with greater receiver privacy — a valuable feature for activists or organizations seeking to receive donations discreetly. Additionally, Zeus incorporated support for BIP 353, enabling users to create static, human-readable payment addresses (such as user@domain). This is achieved by storing a Lightning offer as DNS entries on internet domains. The update also optimizes Zeus’s “node in a phone” feature, ensuring a smoother user experience. These enhancements improve Lightning’s versatility for Zeus users and grant them greater privacy and control over their financial interactions.
ChillDKG | Distributed Key Generation for FROST
ChillDKG, a new protocol and draft BIP, improves Bitcoin’s FROST (Flexible Round-Optimized Schnorr Threshold Signatures) signature scheme by providing a standalone method for distributed key generation (DKG). ChillDKG directly integrates secure communication channels and consensus mechanisms, eliminating the need for external dependencies, such as trusted coordinators, which are a potential single point of failure in FROST key generation. This is a major advancement for FROST setups, significantly enhancing the robustness and privacy of multisignature transactions, which are particularly beneficial for activists and others prioritizing privacy in the Bitcoin ecosystem who might need the flexibility of FROST when designing and editing multi-signature schemes. HRF is delighted to support further FROST development through a recent grant, helping drive the growth of more diverse financial solutions on the Bitcoin network.
OpenSats | Announces Recipients of Education and Nostr Grants
OpenSats announced its first round of grants for Bitcoin education projects as part of its new education initiative. The recipients include the Satoshi Nakamoto Institute, which preserves and advances knowledge of Bitcoin’s history and technology; Mi Primer Bitcoin, which empowers individuals and communities with the world’s first Bitcoin diploma; and Summer of Bitcoin, which introduces university students to Bitcoin open-source development through a global, online summer internship program. OpenSats further unveiled its fifth wave of Nostr grants, helping drive innovation through its support of free and open source (FOSS) projects building on the global communications protocol. HRF is pleased to support OpenSats through a recent grant, aiding in the dissemination of Bitcoin educational content and the development of FOSS projects worldwide.
Volt Wallet | Implements Breeze SDK
Volt, a new Bitcoin wallet under development by Nigerian developer Abubakar Nur Khalil, is integrating the Breez Software Development Kit (SDK) to help it transform payments across Africa with the Lightning Network. By leveraging the Breez SDK, Volt aims to provide Bitcoin and Lightning payments, fiat on and off ramps, and on-chain operability — all without compromising user custody or requiring Know-Your-Customer (KYC). Through Volt, Khalil, a Bitcoin developer and CEO of Recursive Capital, seeks to address Africa’s fragmented payment landscape and help secure financial freedom for 1.5 billion people.
Blitz Wallet | Reveals Anonymous SMS Feature
Blitz, a self-custodial Bitcoin and Lightning wallet currently in beta, revealed a new feature enabling users to send anonymous SMS messages in exchange for sats. Blitz achieves this by integrating sms4sats, an online service enabling the generation of disposable phone numbers for receiving activation codes and renting temporary phone numbers for SMS messages. This integration, however, does not transform Blitz into a messaging app. Instead, for example, users can leverage this feature to register for online services using a dummy phone number for increased privacy. This capability, combined with Blitz’s KYC-free nature, positions it as a potentially valuable tool for activists under surveillance and anyone seeking to maintain phone number privacy when creating new online accounts.
Burma | Bitcoin Meetup
On July 27, Burmese Bitcoin advocates will convene at the Bitcoin Learning Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for their second Bitcoin Meetup, organized by BOB Space. The meetup will feature discussions on leveraging Bitcoin and sovereign technologies to navigate censorship, an analysis of monetary policies across Southeast Asia, and opportunities for networking with like-minded peers. Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions, helping citizens understand Bitcoin’s role in strengthening financial independence and freedom within the Burmese community. With severe monetary restrictions imposed by the ruling military junta, understanding Bitcoin’s potential as a tool to navigate these challenges is essential. HRF is proud to support BOB Space’s residency program. You can RSVP to the meetup here.