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Vida Global Pays Employees in Bitcoin Via Lightning Network

Created at 30 Jul · 3:35 PM1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

NYSE-listed AI company Vida Global is now paying employees in Bitcoin using the Lightning Network through a partnership with Voltage. The company settles the payments in U.S. dollars, avoiding the need to hold cryptocurrency on its balance sheet.

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Key Numbers

$4.3MBitcoin investment by Banco Santander

Who's Involved

Vida Global
NYSE-listed AI operating system company
Lyle Pratt
CEO of Vida Global
Voltage
Bitcoin infrastructure company facilitating payments
Graham Krizek
CEO of Voltage

↳ Why This Matters

This development showcases how companies can leverage Bitcoin's Lightning Network for payroll without directly holding volatile crypto assets, potentially offering a solution for global employees facing currency instability and simplifying international compensation for businesses.

Key facts

  • Vida Global, an AI operating system company listed on the NYSE American, has started paying employees in Bitcoin.
  • The payments are facilitated through the Lightning Network and a partnership with Voltage.
  • Vida Global does not hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet; it settles the equivalent U.S. dollar amount.
  • The initiative was prompted by an employee in Argentina requesting payment in Bitcoin due to local currency challenges.
  • The company aims to simplify payroll for its global team without complicating its financial accounting.

Vida Global, a publicly traded AI operating system company, has begun paying its employees in Bitcoin utilizing the Lightning Network. The company has partnered with Bitcoin infrastructure firm Voltage to facilitate these transactions, allowing employees to receive their salaries in Bitcoin without Vida Global needing to hold the cryptocurrency on its balance sheet. The company settles the payments in U.S. dollars at the end of the month, treating it like a standard vendor invoice.

Vida CEO Lyle Pratt explained that the initiative was driven by employee demand, particularly from team members in countries like Argentina facing challenges with their local currency. He noted that the setup is remarkably simple for both employees and the company's finance operations, meeting employee preferences without adding crypto complexity to accounting.

Voltage CEO Graham Krizek stated that their platform addresses the mismatch between global-by-default companies and outdated payment systems. He emphasized that employees receive their desired funds instantly, while finance teams remain uninvolved with cryptocurrency. The goal, Krizek added, is for public companies to leverage Bitcoin rails for compensation while maintaining straightforward financial books.

Frequently asked questions

The Lightning Network is a second-layer payment protocol that operates on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, designed to enable faster and cheaper transactions.

No, Vida Global settles the Bitcoin payments in U.S. dollars, meaning the company does not hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet.

Employees, particularly in regions with unstable local currencies, may prefer Bitcoin to hedge against inflation or currency devaluation.

What Happens Next

01Vida Global will continue to offer Bitcoin payment options to employees.
02Voltage will continue to facilitate crypto payments for companies without direct crypto exposure.

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Cadence

How It Developed

Vida Global began paying employees in Bitcoin using the Lightning Network.
The company partnered with Bitcoin infrastructure firm Voltage for the transactions.
Employees can opt to receive their salaries in Bitcoin, with Vida Global settling the equivalent U.S. dollar amount.
Vida Global CEO Lyle Pratt stated the setup meets employee needs without adding crypto complexity to accounting.
Voltage CEO Graham Krizek highlighted the solution allows finance teams to avoid direct crypto handling.

Sources

T1
NYSE-Listed AI Company Taps Lightning Network to Pay Employees In BitcoinBitcoin Magazine

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