Vida Global Pays Employees in Bitcoin via Lightning Network

A publicly traded AI operating system has started paying employees in Bitcoin using the Lightning network. Vida Global, listed on the NYSE American (VIDA), made this move after a worker in Argentina asked to be paid in Bitcoin due to local currency challenges.

The company tapped Bitcoin infrastructure firm Voltage to facilitate these transactions. What's unique here is that Vida doesn't keep Bitcoin on its balance sheet; instead, it sends the cash amount via Voltage's platform, and employees receive payment in Bitcoin. This setup allows Vida's balance sheet to remain in dollars.

Voltage CEO Graham Krizek said this solution addresses a mismatch between 'global by default' AI companies like Vida and outdated payment rails. By doing so, it simplifies offering Bitcoin payments for both employees and the finance team, without adding crypto complexity to accounting.