Satolink lets anyone receive money with a simple link (satolink.com/@name) over Bitcoin Lightning, in BTC or USDT. It's non-custodial: users hold their own keys. Live on mainnet since June 2026, focused on Latin America and its diaspora.

Why this research
AI agents will need to pay for APIs, data and services on their own, in amounts too small for cards or bank transfers. Lightning and the L402 protocol already make instant micropayments possible. We want to explore how payment links like ours can serve both people and machines.

What you'll work on
• Agent-to-agent and agent-to-service payments using L402 over Lightning
• Micropayment economics: fees, routing and reliability at very small amounts
• Security and key management for autonomous payments in a non-custodial setup
• Prototypes and experiments on real mainnet infrastructure

Who we're looking for




• PhD or Master's student in computer science, cryptography, economics, AI or a related field
• Interested in Bitcoin, Lightning, payments or autonomous agents
• Looking for a thesis topic or applied research project with real data
• English required; Spanish is a plus

What we offer
• Access to live mainnet infrastructure and anonymized usage data
• Direct work with the founding team
• Co-authorship on publications and full credit for your research
• A real-world case study for your thesis

This is an academic research collaboration, not an employment position.

How to apply
Send a short message with your field, your university and the question you'd like to explore.

📌 Research Collaborator: Bitcoin Lightning (España)
🏢 Satolink ? ⚡️
📍 España