Share this article
Square Crypto Bankrolls Star Lightning Developer Known as 'ZmnSCPxj'
Keeping in the cypherpunk spirit, Square Crypto has issued a grant to pseudonymous developer ZmnSCPxj for Lightning and bitcoin research.
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 11:48 a.m. Published Dec 11, 2019, 7:15 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Square Crypto, the payment startup’s bitcoin development group, has funded a pseudonymous researcher to let him work on the space full-time.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Announced Wednesday via Square Crypto’s Twitter account, freelance Lightning and bitcoin contributor ZmnSCPxj received a grant from the company to further development of the bitcoin network. The grant’s total was not disclosed.
In a move that could never happen in any other space, we’re supplying a grant to what looks at first glance like a hash function. Please welcome ZmnSCPxj to the small but growing family of Square Crypto grant recipients.
— Square Crypto (@sqcrypto) December 11, 2019
The pseudonymous developer is known for his work throughout the Lightning developer community, working on both the Lightning Labs and c-Lightning implementations over the past two years, another tweet said.
With the grant, Square Crypto said the developer is able to “leave behind his day job of 14 years” to work full time on Lightning and bitcoin.
Lightning Labs infrastructure lead Alex Bosworth said in an email the funding looked like a one-time grant and is not part of the Square Crypto developer team’s general mandate.
“I think the focus is broadly on bitcoin and they are still figuring out a good intersection of helping bitcoin and pursuing their development interests. They have a great team and a lot of freedom to pursue different directions,” Bosworth said.
Despite claims that ZmnSCPxj is an anonymous individual, Lightning developers likely know his identity. The individual attended October’s Lightning Conference in Berlin, giving a presentation during the conference's second day. The developer also appears to have spoken to others, such as c-Lightning’s Rusty Russel, under Chatham House rules.
ZmnSCPxj has seemingly accepted cost-of-living donations on website through his bitcoin wallet address since 2018, when his domain was copyrighted. His work on bitcoin sidechains, off-chain transactions such as Lightning and bitcoin projects such as CoinJoins can be found on the domain.
ZmnSCPxj and Square Crypto did not return questions for comment by press time.
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Gold tops $5,000 as bitcoin stalls near $87,000 in widening macro-crypto split: Asia Morning Briefing
Bitcoin’s onchain data points to supply overhang and weak participation, while gold’s breakout is priced by markets as a durable macro regime shift.
What to know:
- Gold’s surge above $5,000 an ounce is increasingly seen as a durable regime shift, with investors treating the metal as a persistent hedge against geopolitical risk, central bank demand and a weaker dollar.
- Bitcoin is stuck near $87,000 in a low-conviction market, as on-chain data show older holders selling into rallies, newer buyers absorbing losses and a heavy supply overhang capping moves toward $100,000.
- Derivatives and prediction markets point to continued consolidation in bitcoin and sustained strength in gold, with thin futures volumes, subdued leverage and weak demand for higher-beta crypto assets like ether reinforcing the cautious tone.
Top Stories
