The 50 Most Interesting Companies In Bitcoin's History: 47/50

Strike

Founded by Jack Mallers (Chicago native, college dropout) 2020 · Stablecoins & Payments · Active

The Idea: Use the Bitcoin Lightning Network as payment rails to enable instant, nearly free global payments - without requiring users to know anything about Bitcoin. Started as 'Zap,' a Lightning wallet Mallers built in his bedroom.

Early Traction: In June 2021, Mallers gave a now-legendary presentation at the Bitcoin Conference in Miami announcing that El Salvador would adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, with Strike as the technology partner. He broke down in tears on stage.

Peak Stats: El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption - the first country in history to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender - was powered by Strike's infrastructure.

Status Today: Active. Expanding globally with merchant payments, Bitcoin-to-fiat settlement, and recently announced crypto lending products. Mallers was named CEO of Twenty One Capital, a Tether-backed multi-billion dollar Bitcoin accumulation vehicle (2025).

Why It Matters:

Strike proved that Lightning Network payments could work at national scale. Mallers' El Salvador moment was the most dramatic chapter in Bitcoin's recent history, and Strike remains the purest expression of Bitcoin-as-payments-network.