“This is a protocol similar to the Lightning Network,” Super Testnet stated. “And that it is a layer 2 for Bitcoin payments, only in this one, unlike the Lightning Network, the two parties don’t have to both be online, it’s asynchronous. One party can send the other money then they’re offline.”

One of the features of Hedgehog channels is its simplicity compared to lightning channels, according to the project’s Github. State updates in Hedgehog channels only require the sender to propose an update, which the recipient can then accept at their convenience. This asynchronous nature allows for more flexibility and efficiency in payment processing.

The protocol works by leveraging a primitive in Bitcoin script known as “revocable connectors.” These connectors are built on two even more primitive components: revocable scripts and connector outputs. Revocable scripts allow either party to revoke a transaction after a certain period, adding an extra layer of security and control. Connector outputs allow you to construct a pre-signed transaction spending a separate UTXO alongside the connector output, allowing the transaction to be invalidated by spending the connector output by itself.