Bitcoin's 'Lightning Torch' Has Blazed Through 37 Countries So Far

The bitcoin community is currently immersed in an experiment called the "Lightning torch."

It's been called the "LN Trust Chain" since whoever has the torch is supposed to send it on to someone they trust will send the payment on, rather than keep the payment to themselves.

The experiment seems to be having its intended effect, The "Torch" has attracted the participation of 139 people in at least 37 countries, according to the pseudonymous torch ringleader, who goes by the name Hodlonaut.

Antonopoulos told CoinDesk that the torch represents a way to test and uncover problems with the technology.

In this way, the lightning torch can help to unearth bugs, Antonopoulos added.

As might be expected from any kind of globe-trotting experiment, the torch itself almost died a few times, most notable on Jan. 31 when a Twitter user by the name of edward btc stole it.

The community responded with irritation, not wanting the torch to die out.

On a darker level edward btc went as far as to claim that he received death threats for keeping the torch.

"Is there anyone with some dignity around that that can be trusted with the Lightning Torch?" he said.

When will it end? As it stands, there's a hard-coded limit to how large the torch can get: 4,390,000 satoshis, which worth about $150. Once the torch reaches this threshold, the community plans to donate the proceeds to a charitable cause: likely Bitcoin Venezuela, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of cryptocurrency in the troubled South American country.