What if you could verify invoices, checkouts and deposits before paying in Bitcoin or Lightning?

Across device, while maintaining privacy, in less than 2 seconds, without installing any software.

My answer would be that you would:

1. Save time & money by eliminating test transactions.

2. Enable commerce where test transactions were previously prohibitive.

3. Improve privacy by not resharing on-chain addresses via Email or Text.

4. Increase trust and reduce apprehension for using Bitcoin as Medium-of-Exchange.

5. Reduce successful phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Let’s look at how Guardrail uniquely delivers this. First, the problem.

Payments Today

Let’s paint a picture.

On one hand, we have Bitcoin. 15 years of phenomenal reliability. An open bounty to “hack it.” Countless eyes and discussions on security.

On the other hand, we have everyday devices that interact with bitcoin. Phones, laptops, desktops. Largely focused on shareholder value and ease-of-use.

Bitcoin is in stark contrast to the devices people use to interface with Bitcoin.

Complex tech stacks render characters on a screen:

• iPhone / iOS 18 running Brave over AT&T

• Linux Mint running FireFox over ethernet from Spectrum

• Etc

Hundreds of components beyond our control. Said simply - its crazy to rely on any given screen for irreversible payments.

We’re missing a way to guarantee recipient.

• Customers cannot double check addresses

• Exploits happen too often

• Apprehension with large amounts

• One incident can scare customers away forever

We need something to deliver all 5 points outlined in the intro.

Our Solution? Guardrail.

Guardrail offers:

• One click verification from any device

• Privacy preservation

• Zero learning curve

• No required apps or logins

We believe that businesses who adopt Guardrail will be positioned to:

• Increase Brand trust & loyalty

• Unlock new lanes of commerce/transactions

• Gracefully withstand Cyber exploits directed at their platform

• Gracefully withstand Cyber exploits directed at their customers

Your platform wins.

End users win.

Bitcoin wins.

What Guardrails Look Like

Of course, this sounds great - but what’s the UX?

Check out the below payment prompt from Lightning Bounties.

• QR Code

• BOLT-11

• Amount in Sats

All expected.

In addition, a link: “Verify Invoice: Branta” -

 

A standard Lightning checkout experience, with an added (and optional) prompt to verify the invoice.

Clicking on “Verify Invoice: Branta” displays a clear result:

 

If the user doesn’t trust their computer they can reference the Branta link from any device, anywhere in the world. Bypassing malware and network level attacks.

We designed Guardrail to be purely value-add:

• Elegant integration with existing UXs

• Zero friction, install, or training required for users

• No privacy leak

   

Guardrail achieves all these to empower users of Bitcoin and Lightning.

Goodbye, hesitancy.

Hello, confidence.

Coda

Our mission is to enhance Bitcoin as a Medium of Exchange.

We’ve processed over 1,000 payments, and couldn’t be more excited for the next 100,000.

We invite you to join us as we push the envelope forward.

Keith