As long-time followers of this blog will know, I am trying to live my life on the Bitcoin standard. I believe that should not work for what someone else can print, and although there is incredible volatility in Bitcoin, over the long run it's the best foundational asset to be all in on. That's why yesterday I started using the Kraken card for all of my day-to-day spending and moved some of my freelance payments and extra income to be received there directly. This is a big change because they actually have a bank account with my name on it, whereas Strike does not have that yet in the UK. I very much look forward to seeing how this works, especially given the spread.
The Bitcoin payment infrastructure isn't coming. It's already here.
Here's what's happening right now:
- Lightning Network processed $1.1 billion in February 2026 alone. That's up 300% from last year.
- Bitcoin payments tripled globally in 2025.
- 74% increase in people using Bitcoin for everyday purchases.
- 60% of top US banks are now building Bitcoin products.
- 194 public companies hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets.
This isn't speculation. This is adoption.
When I first got into Bitcoin years ago, the dream was simple: spend it like money. But the infrastructure wasn't there. Lightning changes that - it's instant, it's cheap, and it's scaling fast.
Companies like LightSpark are making it even easier - they're building AI-powered Bitcoin payment tools that any business can integrate. Cross-border payments. 24/7 settlement. No middlemen.
And countries? El Salvador proved it works. No capital gains tax. Legal tender. Bitcoin ATMs on every corner.
Here's the thing about the Bitcoin price right now: it's "down" from its highs. But adoption is hitting all-time highs. Payments are surging. Banks are piling in.
That's the paradox. When the price is "quiet," the infrastructure builds. And when the next bull run comes, the tools will already be in place for mainstream adoption.
I'm not timing the market. I'm timing the infrastructure.
Today's BTC price: £49,469 GBP
The Lightning Network is scaling. The banks are coming around. This is Day 2 of my experiment - I'll keep documenting what works and what doesn't.
The question isn't "if" anymore. It's "why not now?"
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