Strike, the Bitcoin Lightning network-based digital payments platform, has enabled instant and low-cost payments to Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana for US users through its "Send Globally" feature. This new feature is powered by a partnership with African payment platform Bitnob.
Commenting on the announcement, Jack Mallers, Founder and CEO of Strike, said:
"High fees, slow settlement, and lack of innovation in cross-border payments have negatively impacted the developing world. With exorbitant fees to transfer funds in and out of Africa and incumbent providers halting services, payments companies are struggling to operate in Africa and people cannot send money home to their family members. Strike offers an opportunity for people to transfer their US dollars easily and instantly across borders"
Strike raised USD 80 million in late September in a Series B funding round led by Ten31, a venture capital firm that invests primarily in companies using Bitcoin. Strike specifically plans to expand partnerships for its commerce API, which is already integrated by e-commerce platforms such as Blackhawk, NCR and Shopify. The Bitcoin payments company is also planning the launch of a new API that will allow large financial institutions and businesses to send and receive payments over the Lightning network.
