A publicly traded AI company just proved Lightning payroll works, and the CFO never had to touch crypto. Key takeawaysVida Global (NYSE American: VIDA), an Austin-based AI operating system company, announced July 30, 2026 that it is paying global team members in Bitcoin via Lightning using Voltage Credit, with full USD settlement and no Bitcoin on its balance sheet. Vida draws on a revolving USD credit line; Voltage executes instant Lightning payments; Vida repays Voltage in dollars at month-end like a standard vendor invoice. Vida is the first publicly traded company to use Voltage Credit for global team payments, per the announcement. Vida draws on the line, Voltage executes an instant Lightning payment to the employee, and Vida repays in dollars at month-end.