Summary
Super Testnet, a freelance developer focused on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, has created Hedgehog, a protocol for asynchronous layer two bitcoin payments. Unlike the Lightning Network, Hedgehog allows payments to be made even when one party is offline. The protocol leverages revocable connectors in Bitcoin script for added security and control. Hedgehog channels operate by sending off-chain payments via text, allowing the recipient to accept or reject the payment when online. The protocol also addresses the issue of funds being stuck in a multisig address if a party becomes permanently unavailable. Super Testnet plans to use Hedgehog channels to build a federated CoinPool named Burrow.
Key Points
1. Hedgehog is a protocol for asynchronous layer two bitcoin payments, similar to the Lightning Network, where parties don’t have to be online simultaneously for transactions to occur.
2. Hedgehog channels offer simplicity compared to lightning channels, with state updates requiring only the sender to propose an update that the recipient can accept at their convenience, allowing for more flexibility and efficiency in payment processing.
3. The protocol leverages revocable connectors in Bitcoin script, allowing for secure and controlled transactions even if one party is offline, with mechanisms in place to address potential issues like funds being stuck in a multisig address or parties becoming permanently unavailable.