Every internet user received spam messages in their email or on social networks. Now, this unwanted messaging technique is becoming popular on the Lightning network, a second layer of Bitcoin focused on instant payments.

Spam, which consists of messages that are usually aimed at promoting products, services, or content, is distributed in Lightning through very small payments. We are talking about transactions of a few satoshis or sats, the minimum unit into which a bitcoin (BTC) can be divided, which have a message attached to them in which the content to be communicated is introduced.

Unlike email, spam in Lightning can have a silver lining for some users. This is because both the receiver of the message and those who own a Lightning channel can receive small amounts of money by receiving or routing these transactions.

A channel on the Lightning network is a connection between two participants in the network (a sender and a recipient). These channels allow transactions to be made outside of the main Bitcoin chain, and are responsible for transporting payments from the sender to the recipient, who can do so directly with each other. There are also channel providers, who use their nodes to make it easier for others to use the network. That action, which is called routing, is rewarded with commissions. In the case of spam messages, the commissions are usually a few sats, but there are those who are satisfied with it anyway.

Although it cannot be said that it is responsible for all the spam circulating on Lightning, there is an application that since its launch in September has popularized the sending of this type of message. It's called Satograms, and it's compatible with some very popular Bitcoin wallets, such as Wallet of Satoshi (WoS).