Bitcoin & Lightning Workshop
Black Blockchain Summit Bitcoin & Lightning Workshop
Bitcoin, Dollars, Smart Contracts & Lightning Transactions
Date: September 20-21
Time: 10 AM - 5 PM
Place: Interdisciplinary Research Building
Howard University
2201 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20059
Overview
Attendees will learn how to securely accept Bitcoin payments by creating a non-custodial enterprise-grade Lightning Network BTC payserver. Use cases integrating a BTC payserver with websites, markets, QR code readers and smart contracts will be illustrated.
Why Attend?
Attendees will be given $5 to practice Lightning Network dollar to bitcoin conversion and vice versa. Learn how to securely accept Bitcoin payments fast. Be exposed to Bitcoin ecosystem online tools and services that can empower Africa Diaspora enterprises. Interact with Melanin and Afriblocks software development engineers to accelerate Bitcoin-centric solutions at scale throughout the United States, Africa and beyond.
Lightning Network: Voltage will be used as BTC payserver host.
Agenda:
10:00 AM - Welcome - Dr. Todd Shurn, Howard University Computer Science
10:15 AM - Lightning Network introduction - Bobby Shell (Voltage)
11:00 AM - Lightning Network BTC pay server.
12:30 PM - Lunch Break - Pitch Competition Team Discussions & Formations
14:00 PM - Hands-on BTC payserver creation and Dollar to Bitcoin conversion practice
15:00 PM - Lightning Network Enterprise pitch competition preparation.
15:30 PM - BTC Lightning Network Hackathon & Pitch Competition
17:00 PM - Awards & Closing Remarks.
Facilitators:
- Wainaina Karanja & Christian Kakoba (Melanin/BitHub Africa).
- Dr. Todd Shurn (Howard University).
Hackathon & Pitch Competition Awards:
- Top Prize: $1,000 & Voltage Startup program valued at $2,500
- First Runner Up Prize: $500
- Second Runner Up Prize: $250
Developer Prize: Bitcoin Nerd Miner for First Attendee to setup a Full Bitcoin & Lightning Miner using Melanin.Click Software
Building On Lighting
In April 2018, Zimbabwean startup BitMari (Now BillMari) and Nigerian counterpart Tanjalo successfully tested a Bitcoin Lightning transaction, with funds sent from Nigeria to Zimbabwe via bitcoin and collected as a remittance.
Tanjalo co-founder Tim Akinbo collaborated with Tongayi Choto (BillMari Software Developer) and was able to send US$15 dollars from Nigeria to a recipient in Zimbabwe using bitcoin and the BitMari platform.
We celebrate this achievement, being the first to use the Bitcoin Lighting Network to solve real money transfer challenges in Africa.