Bitcoin Payroll API
Pay employees and contractors in Bitcoin instantly via Lightning. Self-custodial, cross-border, instant settlement with stablecoin options. Built for payroll platforms and HR tech companies.
Bitcoin payroll is broken
Traditional Bitcoin payroll systems require batch transactions with high fees for multiple recipients, days of settlement time for cross-border payments, and custody liability for funds in transit. Recipients have no choice between Bitcoin volatility and stablecoin stability, while SWIFT networks add delays and correspondent bank fees. Payroll providers shoulder infrastructure complexity and regulatory risk, turning what should be instant digital payments into a multi-day process that costs more than it should.
What we do
Instant payouts. Self-custodial. Global by default.
Lightning-fast payouts
Send Bitcoin to employees instantly via Lightning Network or Spark. No batch delays, no confirmation wait times. Payments arrive in seconds, not days.
Cross-border without wires
Pay international contractors without SWIFT delays or correspondent banks. One API call replaces multi-day wire transfers and eliminates intermediary fees.
Self-custodial by design
Employees receive funds directly to their own wallets. You send, they receive, done. No custody liability, no funds-in-transit risk, no regulatory gray area.
BTC or stablecoins
Recipients choose Bitcoin or stablecoins (USDT, USDB) in the same wallet. No need to build separate USD and BTC payout rails.
Why Spark
Five steps from payroll run to settled payment
Integrate Spark API
Add Spark's payroll endpoint to your platform. One integration supports Lightning, on-chain Bitcoin, and stablecoin payouts.
Collect wallet addresses
Employees provide their Lightning address or Bitcoin wallet. Works with any self-custodial wallet that supports Lightning or Spark.
Initiate batch payout
Submit payroll run via API with recipient wallet addresses and amounts. Supports BTC, USDT, or USDB denominations.
Instant settlement
Funds arrive in employee wallets within seconds. No confirmation delays, no batch processing windows, no settlement risk.
Transaction records
Receive payment confirmations and transaction IDs for accounting and compliance. Full audit trail for every payout.
Products
Instant Bitcoin Deposits
Receive on-chain bitcoin in seconds with 0-conf
Self-Custodial Lightning
Full Lightning send and receive, no nodes or channels
Bitcoin Buy and Sell
The cheapest way to buy and sell bitcoin directly to a self-custodial wallet
Bitcoin Rewards
Distribute bitcoin rewards and incentives at scale
Cross-Chain Bitcoin Swaps
The fastest, cheapest way to move bitcoin into stablecoins and other assets
Stablecoin Issuance
Issue and manage stablecoins natively on Bitcoin
Spark is transformative. It redefines what Bitcoin can be, evolving it from a monetary network into an application platform.
FAQ
Lightning payments cost fractions of a cent per transaction, regardless of amount. International wire transfers typically cost $25-$50 per recipient plus FX fees. Spark eliminates correspondent bank fees, SWIFT charges, and multi-day float costs entirely.
No. Payments go directly from your wallet to employee wallets. You never hold funds on their behalf, eliminating custody liability and regulatory complexity. Employees control their own keys from the moment funds arrive.
Yes. Employees can receive USDT or USDB in the same wallet that receives Bitcoin. Your platform doesn't need to build separate USD and BTC rails. The recipient's wallet handles currency preferences automatically.
Submit all payroll transactions in a single API call. Spark processes each payment individually via Lightning, but you manage the entire batch as one operation. No need to worry about UTXO management or fee optimization.
If a Lightning payment fails (invalid address, recipient offline), funds remain in your wallet and you receive an immediate error response. No funds are lost. You can retry with a corrected address or contact the employee to resolve the issue.
Ready to build Bitcoin payroll?
Talk to our team about integrating Spark's payroll API into your platform. We'll walk you through technical requirements, compliance considerations, and go-live timelines.