BTCIOT Tutorial - Building an online shop that accepts bitcoin

## BTCIOT Tutorial: Building a Bitcoin-Accepting Online Shop - Summary

This podcast episode serves as a tutorial demonstrating how to build an online shop using WordPress, WooCommerce, and the Open Node plugin to accept Bitcoin and Lightning Network payments. The host, a creator of Bitcoin-themed merchandise and electronic component kits for his tutorials, initially started creating custom Bitcoin stamps and stickers as giveaways at conferences, which led to the creation of an online shop at jicawatt.co (1.21 jicawatt). The shop’s branding playfully incorporates elements from Back to the Future and references an interview with Elizabeth Stark about the Lightning Network. The host even experienced a humorous setback when he inadvertently created a logo similar to Ripple's, highlighting the challenges of originality in the cryptocurrency space. He prioritized creating product images and descriptions before tackling the technical aspects of the website, using 123-reds hosting (a subsidiary of Heart Internet) for the platform.

The tutorial walks through the practical steps of setting up the shop, beginning with WordPress installation and WooCommerce configuration. The host declines options for debit/credit card payments and offline collections, opting for Lightning Network payments via the Open Node plugin. He demonstrates creating a product – a pack of stickers priced at £5 with a shipping rate of £2 for the UK – and configuring the Open Node payment gateway using API credentials (blurred out for security). While the process is relatively straightforward, the host acknowledges some initial hurdles, including a missing SSL certificate (resulting in a website warning), logo display issues requiring CSS adjustments, and the challenges of multitasking while recording. He emphasizes the ease and speed with which a fully functional Bitcoin-accepting shop can be built.

Ultimately, the host tests the shop by placing and paying for an order himself, confirming its functionality. He concludes by highlighting the need to address the SSL certificate issue and create a privacy policy, encouraging viewers to support the BTC IoT series by purchasing items from the shop. He also notes that for billing purposes, only an alias, a general address, and an email address are required.

Main Topics Discussed:

• Online Shop Creation: Building an e-commerce store from scratch.
• WooCommerce Setup: Installing and configuring the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress.
• Bitcoin & Lightning Network Payments: Integrating the Open Node plugin to accept Lightning Network payments.
• Product Listing & Pricing: Creating product listings and setting prices (Bitcoin Stamps: $2, Elaborate Stamp: $20, Component Kit: $30, Stickers: £5, Shipping: £2).
• Website Branding & Design: Logo creation, theme selection (Storefront), and CSS adjustments.
• Technical Challenges: Troubleshooting SSL certificate issues, logo display problems, and hosting configuration.
• Privacy & Security: Addressing privacy policy requirements and billing information.

Key Quotes:

• "I give them out of conferences...almost like a business card or something." (Regarding the initial distribution of Bitcoin stamps)
• "It was a Elizabeth Stark interview where she said, gave the example of the, you know, adding more lanes onto a highway to increase the throughput. And rather than doing that, it's better to make a new protocol and then, you know, just teleport from one side to the other." (Explaining the Lightning Network concept)
• "I'm really bad at multitasking this is why some of these tutorials have a fair amount of ums and ahs and uh right." (Acknowledging the imperfections of the tutorial)
• "I'll build, I'll make the shop and then I'll figure out why the SSL isn't working." (Illustrating the iterative development process)

People Mentioned:

• Host: (Name not explicitly stated, but the creator of the BTC IoT series)
• Elizabeth Stark: Referenced for her explanation of the Lightning Network.
• "Mate": Referred to for shipping recommendations.

Bitcoin Price:

• No specific Bitcoin price was mentioned.
• Sticker price: £5 ($5 equivalent)