In the spirit of access, and banking the unbanked, The Quickening is an under $8 PoS terminal for bitcoin payments over lighting network. The project has the same functionality as the M5StackSats project, at a fraction of the price.
https://github.com/arcbtc/Quickening
Easy Zap LND dev environment...
## BTCIOT - The Quickening: A $8 Bitcoin Point of Sale Terminal - Summary
1. Narrative Summary:
This podcast episode introduces "The Quickening," a revolutionary, ultra-low-cost Bitcoin point-of-sale (POS) terminal designed to make Bitcoin accessible to a wider audience, particularly those considered "unbanked." The existing M5 Stack Sats terminal costs around $60-$70, creating a barrier to entry for many. "The Quickening" aims to shatter that barrier, costing under $8 and utilizing readily available components like an ESP32 NodeMCU32S board, a TFT screen, and an adhesive keypad. The device functions identically to its more expensive counterpart, allowing users to input amounts and convert them to Satoshis for Lightning Network transactions. The podcast features a detailed walkthrough of the Arduino code powering the device, demonstrating its functionality, including keypad input, invoice generation, QR code creation, and currency conversion. The host emphasizes the importance of DIY Bitcoin hardware, encouraging individuals to build and experiment to onboard more people and regain control of the technology. The project's name, "The Quickening," is a nod to the film Highlander, symbolizing a pivotal moment in Bitcoin adoption.
2. Main Topics Discussed:
- Introduction of "The Quickening": A low-cost Bitcoin POS terminal.
- Hardware Components: ESP32 NodeMCU32S, TFT screen, adhesive keypad, jumper cables.
- Software & Development: Arduino IDE, Arduino JSON, QR code library (Richard Moore), SAP Neutrino wallet.
- Lightning Network Integration: Connecting to a Zap Neutrino node via Wi-Fi and servio.net.
- Code Walkthrough: Keypad input, invoice generation, display of amounts in fiat currency (Euros, GBP, USD), QR code generation.
- Microtransaction Testing: Demonstrating functionality with small amounts of Satoshis (e.g., 1 cent = 133 Satoshis, 2 cents = 267 Satoshis, 1 British pence = 150 Satoshis).
- DIY Bitcoin Hardware Importance: Empowering individuals to build and experiment for wider adoption and hardware control.
- Custodial Wallet Interaction: Testing with Blue Wall and discussing the need for pre-click on cent features.
3. Key Quotes:
- "It's the cheapest Bitcoin point of sell terminal on the planet."
- "It's kind of like a quickening. It's a stirring of something."
- "It makes the QR code 50% more efficient."
- "It's very important for Bitcoin that we do this. To help bank those, to help bank those unbank people and also take control of the hardware."
4. People Mentioned:
- Host: (Unidentified) - Lead developer and demonstrator.
- Richard Moore: Developer of the QR code library used in the project.
- Zap Neutrino: The Lightning node used for transactions.
- Blue Wall: Custodial wallet used for testing.
- User of Zap Wallet: (Unidentified) – Mentioned in the context of invoice generation.
5. Bitcoin Price (Implied):
While no specific Bitcoin price was stated, the discussion revolved around small amounts of Satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin. Examples used included:
- 1 cent = 133 Satoshis
- 2 cents = 267 Satoshis
- 1 British pence = 150 Satoshis
The terminal itself costs under $8.