Add Ark and Lightning payments to your bitcoin app

Add Ark and Lightning payments to your bitcoin app

Integrate fast, low-cost, scalable payments into your apps with Second. No channel management, fully self-custodial, one simple integration.


Ark + Lightning

Layer-two scaling

Ark and Lightning integrations made simple

Enable Ark and Lightning bitcoin payments in your app with one super-simple SDK.

Ark

New approach to bitcoin scaling

Ark introduces a fresh take on Bitcoin scaling, delivering a range of benefits for anyone making regular payments. Plus, it can even simplify sending payments over Lightning!

Byte the dog boarding the Ark
Byte the dog boarding the Ark
Byte the dog boarding the Ark
Byte the dog boarding the Ark

Easy onboarding

No fees or channel opening. Ark users can start receiving self-custodial bitcoin payments immediately after setting up their wallet.

Byte the dog chasing a bitcoin
Byte the dog chasing a bitcoin
Byte the dog chasing a bitcoin
Byte the dog chasing a bitcoin

Fast, low-cost transactions

Settle payments almost instantly with minimal fees, giving users a seamless experience without the delays and costs of on-chain transactions.

A bitcoin landing in a QR code
A bitcoin landing in a QR code
A bitcoin landing in a QR code
A bitcoin landing in a QR code

Familiar bitcoin-like model

Bitcoin-like addresses and a familiar interface that make for an effortless transition to layer two for developers and users alike.

Lightning

Lightning

Enable Lightning payments, painlessly

Lightning is awesome. But if you've ever built a Lightning integration, you'll know how brutal it can be. With Second, you can do Lightning without "doing Lightning".

Second developer docs

The fastest way to get started with your Ark + Lightning integration.

Source on Codeberg

Get familiar with bark, Second's Ark implementation. Woof!

Byte the dog barking at a computer running a Lightning node
Byte the dog barking at a computer running a Lightning node
Byte the dog barking at a computer running a Lightning node
Byte the dog barking at a computer running a Lightning node
Second managing Lightning liquidity for a mobile Ark user
Second managing Lightning liquidity for a mobile Ark user
Second managing Lightning liquidity for a mobile Ark user
Second managing Lightning liquidity for a mobile Ark user

Lightning

Never have to worry about channel management again

Second helps you skip the stress of channel management and payment routing. You only need to take care of the Ark integration and your users will get access to the Lightning Network. No Lightning expertise required.

No-node Lightning

Use Lightning without requiring a node on-device or at home.

Ark-to-Lightning bridge

Hold bitcoin on Ark and pay over Lightning.

Lightning

Seamless onboarding: No fees, no friction

With Ark, onboarding is as smooth as it gets. Your users can start sending Lightning payments instantly without the need to open a channel first. It’s the fastest way to get started, delivering a user experience that’s intuitive and hassle-free.

A wallet app surrounded by Ark- and Lightning-based bitcoin
A wallet app surrounded by Ark- and Lightning-based bitcoin
A wallet app surrounded by Ark- and Lightning-based bitcoin
A wallet app surrounded by Ark- and Lightning-based bitcoin

FAQ

Answering your questions about the Ark protocol

Ark is the latest bitcoin tech, so it's normal to have some questions! If we've missed anything, let us know in the Second community.

How fast are Ark payments?

How fast are Ark payments?

How fast are Ark payments?

How fast are Ark payments?

How much does a transaction cost on Ark?

How much does a transaction cost on Ark?

How much does a transaction cost on Ark?

How much does a transaction cost on Ark?

How does Ark assure self-custody?

How does Ark assure self-custody?

How does Ark assure self-custody?

How does Ark assure self-custody?

I can make Lightning payments from Ark? What?

I can make Lightning payments from Ark? What?

I can make Lightning payments from Ark? What?

I can make Lightning payments from Ark? What?

Difference between Second’s Ark implementation and others?

Difference between Second’s Ark implementation and others?

Difference between Second’s Ark implementation and others?

Difference between Second’s Ark implementation and others?

Is Ark a replacement for Lightning?

Is Ark a replacement for Lightning?

Is Ark a replacement for Lightning?

Is Ark a replacement for Lightning?

How fast can I onboard to Ark?

How fast can I onboard to Ark?

How fast can I onboard to Ark?

How fast can I onboard to Ark?

Ark

How Second's Ark implementation works

Transact with virtual transactions off-chain, with cryptographic assurances that you can broadcast your transaction on-chain even if your Ark isn't available.

An illustration of Ark's client-server structure
An illustration of Ark's client-server structure

Client-server structure

Instead of relying on a network of nodes, Ark users connect to an Ark server, where they can transact with other users of the Ark quickly and at low cost. Liquidity management is taken care of by the Ark, leaving you and your users to focus on more important things.

VTXOs turning into UTXOs
VTXOs turning into UTXOs
VTXOs turning into UTXOs
VTXOs turning into UTXOs

Virtual UTXOs

VTXOs are off-chain UTXOs that can be transacted within an Ark and broadcast to the bitcoin blockchain at any time.

VTXOs are offline UTXOs that can be broadcast to the bitcoin blockchain at any time.

The blockchain with periodic Ark round blocks
The blockchain with periodic Ark round blocks
The blockchain with periodic Ark round blocks
The blockchain with periodic Ark round blocks

Round-based anchors

Shared UTXOs representing all VTXOs are written to the bitcoin blockchain periodically.

An Ark server broadcasting an Ark round transaction to the blockchain
An Ark server broadcasting an Ark round transaction to the blockchain
An Ark server broadcasting an Ark round transaction to the blockchain
An Ark server broadcasting an Ark round transaction to the blockchain

Offboarding to on-chain

To move bitcoin back on-chain, make a payment to any on-chain address, and it'll be broadcast in the Ark’s next round.

To move bitcoin back on-chain, make a payment to any on-chain address. It'll be broadcast in the next round.

A Lightning plug connecting to an Ark plug
A Lightning plug connecting to an Ark plug
A Lightning plug connecting to an Ark plug
A Lightning plug connecting to an Ark plug

Ark-to-Lightning bridge

Pay Lightning invoices directly from an Ark balance, no channels, liquidity, or LSPs required. Handled atomically.

Open source

We're building the Ark protocol

All our contributions are open-source. If you'd like to run, test, or contribute to Second's implementation of the Ark protocol, head to our code repository.

Stay ahead of the Ark

Be the first to hear about Second and Ark updates.

Stay ahead of the Ark

Be the first to hear about Second and Ark updates.

Stay ahead of the Ark

Be the first to hear about Second and Ark updates.

Stay ahead of the Ark

Be the first to hear about Second and Ark updates.