Bitcoin tipping service ChangeTip has integrated with video streaming platform Twitch.tv.
The integration works by way of a ChangeTip tip bot, which Twitch.tv streamers can authorize to join their chat channels. Once activated, users can begin contributing bitcoin tips.
Twitch began accepting direct bitcoin payments for its Turbo subscription service last August, and later announced the addition of dogecoin payments in October.
Created in 2011, Twitch reaches millions of users per month and has become a source of income for a number of high-profile streamers. The platform has been buoyed by the growing popularity in competitive e-sports, as well as demand for venues to view matches of League of Legends, StarCraft II and other popular games.
As part of the launch, ChangeTip said it will give $10,000 in bitcoin to prominent Twitch users to jump start tipping among their respective followers.
Suggestions that the bitcoin tip service would integrate with Twitch emerged several weeks ago, when CEO Nick Sullivan hinted as such in response to a thread on Reddit. Users later noticed the existence of a ChangeTip Twitch bot page on GitHub prior to today’s official announcement.
Sullivan said of the integration:
“We are excited to see development work like this come from our community. Our API enables community members to craft the tools they want to see in use. This bot allows fans to connect with their favorite players in a new way.”
According to ChangeTip, the tip bot was developed for Twitch by an independent developer rather than the company itself. When contacted for comment, a representative for Twitch said the tool was compatible with the platform but it did not directly sponsor or contribute resources to its development.
The announcement represents the latest high-profile integration for San Francisco-based ChangeTip. In the past few months, the startup has integrated its service with Facebook, YouTube and other platforms. The company also recently launched its first foray into donation micropayments through a partnership with the non-profit BitGive Foundation.
Images via ChangeTip, Shutterstock