BOLT12

A proposed extension to the Lightning Specification, focusing on enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the network. The primary feature introduced by BOLT12 is the Offers protocol, which streamlines the process of creating, managing, and executing Lightning invoices.

Offers provide a more dynamic and reusable alternative to traditional invoices, enabling automatic invoice generation, recurring payments, and improved privacy. By implementing BOLT12, Lightning can support a broader range of use cases, including subscriptions, donations, and pay-as-you-go services, while reducing the complexity of payment interactions.

Some BOLT12 features, such as recurring invoices and blinded payment paths are already available as experimental options in Core Lightning.

Learn more about BOLT12 on its official website: bolt12.org