Bitcoin’s promise as peer-to-peer electronic cash is only as good as the infrastructure that makes it accessible to merchants and customers alike. While we’ve seen plenty of payment processors come and go, each iteration brings us closer to the seamless experience that could make bitcoin payments as common as tapping your card at the checkout.
The reality is that accepting Bitcoin payments shouldn’t require a computer science degree or weeks of integration work. Merchants need something that works out of the box, doesn’t require jumping through regulatory hoops, and gives them control over their funds.
That’s exactly the gap that Pay with Flash is trying to fill.
To give you an idea of what this could look like in practice, imagine running an online store, a content paywall, or even a physical shop where you can accept bitcoin payments instantly, without dealing with banks, payment processors, or KYC requirements.
The funds flow directly from your customer’s wallet to yours, and you’re in control the entire time.
What is Pay with Flash?
Pay with Flash is a non-custodial bitcoin payment infrastructure platform that lets businesses and individuals accept bitcoin payments without the typical hassles. Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, selling digital content, or operating a brick-and-mortar business, Flash provides the tools to accept bitcoin payments through multiple channels.
The platform is built around a simple philosophy: wallet-to-wallet payments with no intermediaries.
When a customer pays you through Flash, the Bitcoin goes directly to your wallet. Flash never touches your funds, never holds them in custody, and doesn’t act as a middleman in your transactions.
What makes Flash particularly interesting is its flexibility.
The platform supports both on-chain and Lightning Network payments for instant, low-fee transactions with Liquid Network payments on the backend through their nodeless offering, should you use their native wallet, but we’ll get into that later.
This gives merchants options depending on their needs and technical comfort level.
Flash payment features
Flash isn’t just a single payment button; it’s a comprehensive suite of tools that can handle different payment scenarios. The platform currently offers six main features that cover most business needs:
Payment Links & Invoicing
The simplest way to get started with Flash is through payment links. These are shareable URLs that you can send to customers via email, messaging apps, or social media. When someone clicks the link, they’re presented with a payment interface where they can pay with their Bitcoin wallet. It’s perfect for freelancers, service providers, or anyone who needs to request payment without building a full checkout system.
Alternatively, you can generate an old school invoice complete with all the itemised billing you need, set tax rates and email your invoices out to clients.
Paywalls
If you’re in the content business, paywalls let you gate your premium content behind Bitcoin payments. Readers pay to unlock articles, videos, courses, or any digital content you want to monetise. The paywall integrates with your website and handles the payment flow automatically, unlocking content once payment is confirmed.
Subscriptions
Recurring revenue is the holy grail for many businesses, and Flash supports Bitcoin subscriptions. Your customers can set up automatic recurring payments, and you get predictable income. This works great for membership sites, SaaS products, or any service that operates on a subscription model.
Widget
The Flash widget is a customizable payment interface that you can embed directly into your website. It handles the entire payment flow, from displaying the amount to confirming the transaction. The widget is responsive and works across devices, giving your customers a seamless payment experience without leaving your site.
Point of Sale
For physical businesses, Flash offers a point-of-sale solution that turns any device into a Bitcoin payment terminal. Whether you’re running a coffee shop, retail store, or market stall, the POS system lets you accept Bitcoin payments in person. Customers can pay via Lightning for instant settlement.
Custom Integrations
For developers and businesses with specific needs, Flash provides APIs and webhooks for custom integrations. You can build Flash payments into your existing systems, automate workflows, or create entirely new payment experiences. The platform is designed to be developer-friendly with clear documentation and straightforward implementation.
Flash also offers plugins for popular eCommerce CMS’s WooCommerce and Shopify, so if you are running a store on WordPress or Shopify, you can add Flash into your checkout process and allow users to choose Bitcoin or Lightning as a settlement option.
The Flash wallet
One of Flash’s standout features is its native wallet solution. Rather than forcing you to connect an external wallet before you can start accepting payments, Flash provides an integrated wallet that supports multiple layers of the bitcoin ecosystem.
The wallet uses the Breez SDK for Lightning Network functionality, giving you access to instant, low-fee payments with a user-friendly experience. Breez handles the complexity of Lightning channel management behind the scenes, so you don’t need to worry about inbound liquidity, channel capacity, or routing.
For users who prefer not to run Lightning channels, Flash also offers a nodeless solution backed by the Liquid Network. Liquid is a Bitcoin sidechain that provides faster settlement times and confidential transactions. The nodeless approach means you don’t need to maintain your own Lightning node infrastructure, making it more accessible for non-technical users.
But here’s where it gets interesting: you’re not locked into the Flash wallet. The platform supports connecting other wallets, giving you flexibility in how you manage your funds.
Custodial and non-custodial options
Flash takes a wallet-agnostic approach that respects user choice. If you want the convenience of a custodial solution, you can connect Coinos, a custodial Lightning wallet that simplifies the experience further. Custodial wallets handle all the technical complexity for you, though you’re trusting the service with your funds.
For users who prioritise self-custody, Flash supports non-custodial options like AlbyHub.
AlbyHub is a self-hosted Lightning node solution that gives you complete control over your funds and channels. You maintain custody at all times, and Flash simply coordinates the payments.
This flexibility means you can start with a simpler custodial setup and graduate to non-custodial solutions as you get more comfortable with Bitcoin, or you can jump straight to self-custody if that’s your preference.
Converting Bitcoin to fiat
One of the practical realities of running a business is that you might need to convert some of your bitcoin to fiat to cover expenses, especially if your suppliers don’t accept bitcoin yet. Flash recognises this and offers integrations with third-party services for off-ramping.
For users in Europe, Flash integrates with Bringin, which allows you to sell Bitcoin for euros. Bringin provides a straightforward way to convert your Bitcoin earnings into euros and send them to your bank account.
Canadian users can use Bitcoin Well, a Canadian Bitcoin exchange that supports converting Bitcoin to Canadian dollars. Bitcoin Well offers various withdrawal options to get fiat into your hands when you need it.
These integrations give you options without forcing you to leave the Flash platform and manually move funds to exchanges. It’s worth noting that these off-ramp services will have their own KYC requirements since they interact with the traditional banking system, even though Flash itself doesn’t require KYC for accepting payments.
Is Pay with Flash free to use?
Flash operates on a freemium model with transparent pricing. You can create an account and start accepting payments without upfront costs. The platform takes a small percentage fee on transactions, which is how they sustain the service.
The exact fee structure depends on which features you’re using and your transaction volume, but the approach is pay-as-you-go. You only pay when you’re actually making money through the platform.
So if you’re a freelancer or sat-strapped pleb that wants to offer your services for Bitcoin or sell goods for Bitcoin, but you’re being priced out of Zaprite with their monthly subscription, Flash might be the better option for you. While you might give up some fees, it will really only make a dent in your pocket once you generate a reasonable amount of volume, and even then, it might still be cheaper than Zaprites’ monthly fee.
For businesses processing significant volume, Flash may offer custom pricing arrangements. The key point is that there’s no monthly subscription fee or setup cost blocking you from getting started.
What do I need to get started with Pay with Flash?
Getting started with Flash is refreshingly simple. You need:
- An internet connection and device (computer, smartphone, or tablet)
- An email address for account creation
- A Bitcoin wallet (either use the Flash wallet or connect your own)
That’s it. No business registration, no lengthy KYC process, no waiting for account approval. You can create an account and start accepting Bitcoin payments within minutes.
You can also create an account and sign in with your nostr NSEC (private key), but I wouldn’t recommend pasting your key into any site, especially if you’ve built up a decent amount of sweat equity and proof of posing on that account. If you are going to use the nostr account option, it would be wise to set up a burner NSEC instead.
Alternatively, you can use email and wait until Flash offers LN-Auth or Nostr-Auth with extension sign-in support.
The platform is entirely browser-based, so there’s nothing to download or install unless you choose to use a mobile wallet app for receiving payments. Everything from creating payment links to viewing your transaction history happens through the web interface.
Who would benefit from using Pay with Flash?
Flash is versatile enough to serve different types of users:
Content Creators and Digital Entrepreneurs
If you’re selling digital products, online courses, premium content, or memberships, Flash’s paywall and subscription features give you bitcoin-native monetisation. You can build an audience and get paid directly without platform fees eating into your revenue.
E-commerce Merchants
Online stores can integrate Flash to accept Bitcoin payments alongside traditional payment methods. The widget and API make it straightforward to add Bitcoin checkout to your existing store, opening up a global customer base that prefers paying with Bitcoin.
Freelancers and Service Providers
Payment links are perfect for freelancers who need to invoice clients. Send a link, get paid, and move on to the next project. No dealing with international wire fees or payment processor holds.
Physical Businesses
The Point of Sale functionality brings bitcoin payments to retail shops, restaurants, markets, and any in-person business. If you’re in an area with bitcoin adoption or want to attract bitcoin users, Flash provides the infrastructure you need.
Developers
For technical users building bitcoin-integrated applications, Flash’s APIs and webhooks provide the building blocks. You can create custom payment flows, automate processes, or build entirely new services on top of Flash’s infrastructure.
Privacy-Conscious Users
Since Flash doesn’t custody your funds, it doesn’t require KYC for accepting payments and operates on a non-custodial model, which appeals to users who value financial privacy. You can accept payments without revealing your identity or submitting to surveillance.
The non-custodial advantage
It’s worth emphasising what makes Flash different from many payment processors: the non-custodial model. Traditional payment processors act as intermediaries that hold funds, process transactions, and can freeze accounts or reverse payments. Even many bitcoin payment processors operate custodially, taking custody of bitcoin before forwarding it to merchants.
Flash doesn’t work that way. When someone pays you through Flash, the Bitcoin moves directly from their wallet to yours. Flash facilitates the connection and provides the interface, but never takes custody of the funds. This means:
- No account freezes
- No payment reversals
- No counterparty risk from the platform
- No need to trust Flash with your money
You maintain sovereignty over your funds at all times. For businesses that have experienced the pain of frozen PayPal accounts or reversed payments, this is a game-changer.
No KYC required
Flash’s no-KYC approach is another significant advantage. You can create an account, start accepting payments, and grow your business without submitting identification documents or going through verification processes.
This is possible because Flash isn’t a financial intermediary. They’re not holding your money, not converting between currencies on your behalf, and not acting as a money transmitter. They’re simply providing software that helps coordinate peer-to-peer bitcoin payments.
The no-KYC approach has several benefits:
- Faster onboarding: Start accepting payments immediately
- Global access: Anyone, anywhere, can use the platform
- Privacy: Your business transactions remain your business
- Reduced friction: No waiting for document verification or account approval
Of course, if you choose to use the fiat off-ramp integrations, those services will have their own KYC requirements since they interact with the banking system. But for accepting and holding Bitcoin, Flash keeps it KYC-free.
Instant transactions with Lightning
Speed matters in payments. Nobody wants to wait around for transaction confirmations, especially in retail environments or when selling digital goods that should be delivered instantly.
Flash leverages the Lightning Network to provide instant settlement. Lightning payments confirm in seconds, not minutes or hours. This makes bitcoin payments practical for everyday transactions where speed is essential.
The instant settlement also improves cash flow for businesses. Rather than waiting for bank transfers to clear or dealing with payment processor holds, you have access to your funds immediately. You can reinvest in inventory, pay bills, or use the bitcoin however you see fit right away.
Low and no-code integration
Not everyone running a business is a developer, and Flash acknowledges this with its low and no-code integration options. Payment links require zero coding knowledge—just generate a link and share it. The widget can be embedded with a simple copy-paste code snippet.
For those who do have technical skills, the platform provides more sophisticated integration options through APIs and webhooks. This flexibility means Flash can serve both the non-technical merchant who wants a simple payment button and the developer building a complex application.
Potential considerations
No platform is perfect, and it’s worth considering potential limitations:
Bitcoin volatility:
If you’re new to Bitcoin, price volatility might concern you. Flash doesn’t provide automatic conversion to stablecoins or fiat, so your revenue will fluctuate with Bitcoin’s price unless you immediately convert. The fiat off-ramp integrations help, but add an extra step.
Customer adoption:
Your customers need Bitcoin wallets to pay you. While bitcoin adoption is growing, it’s still not universal. You’ll likely need to offer Bitcoin payments alongside traditional options, as well as incentives or even orange pill documentation, to promote the option to your customer base.
Lightning complexity:
While Flash abstracts much of Lightning’s complexity, there can still be occasional payment failures due to routing issues or liquidity constraints. The technology is improving, but it isn’t quite as reliable as traditional payment rails yet.
New platform:
Pay with Flash is a relatively new platform, which means it’s still proving itself. The team is actively developing features and fixing issues, but you’re adopting a solution that’s earlier in its lifecycle compared to established payment processors.
It’s worth noting that when I tried using the donation widget on a site, it started to conflict with styling on the page, which I didn’t have time to debug, so I simply removed the script
Get the app
The combination of non-custodial architecture, no-KYC onboarding, multiple payment features, and wallet flexibility addresses many of the pain points that have kept small businesses from accepting Bitcoin payments.
Whether you’re a content creator looking to monetise without platform fees, an e-commerce merchant wanting to reach bitcoin users, or a physical business interested in accepting digital currency, Flash provides the infrastructure you need. The platform respects your sovereignty by never taking custody of funds and respects your privacy by not requiring identity verification.
The instant settlement, low fees, and direct wallet-to-wallet payments showcase what bitcoin payments should be: fast, cheap, and permissionless. As the Lightning Network matures and Bitcoin adoption continues growing, platforms like Flash will have their role to play as an infrastructure provider for the growing Bitcoin economy.
Are you a Bitcoin app enthusiast?
Are you using Bitcoin payment apps? Which payment solution is your favourite? Do you have one you’d like us to cover? Have you tried Pay with Flash or other Bitcoin payment platforms? Let us know in the comments down below.
If you’d like to learn more about the app or give it a try, check out the links below.
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