Why this UK territory is adopting the Bitcoin Lightning Network

Gibraltar is becoming well known for its pioneering crypto regulations, support for blockchain development and Bitcoin adoption.

Cointelegraph reporter Joe Hall visited Gibraltar to explore Bitcoin (BTC) adoption on “The Rock,” as the peninsula is known locally, and how the adoption of Bitcoin for shopping in the territory is impacting business.

The visit was also an opportunity to visit Xapo Bank, the world's first private financial institution to combine traditional banking with Bitcoin. Coinbase acquired its custody business in 2019, making the American exchange the largest crypto custodian in the world.

The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is known for its pioneering crypto regulations, support for blockchain development and Bitcoin adoption, with many retail businesses using the Lightning Network — a layer-two network that enables off-chain transactions — to accept Bitcoin as payment around the peninsula. 

Albert Isola, the island city's Minister of Digital and Financial Services, told Cointelegraph:

"When you talk about adoption of the use of Bitcoin, is it going to come? Yes it is, more and more, as more jurisdictions begin to regulate. What is for me the ideal? The ideal is when there are enough countries doing it that we have an international standard regulation where everyone has to comply with. Then it will be enormous, in my opinion."

In April this year, Gibraltar introduced a new regulatory package for distributed ledger technology (DLT) service providers, providing clarity for crypto businesses in regard to threats of market manipulation and insider trading.