Payment methods: push and pull

When you make a payment, there are two basic models. Who starts the payment. Is it the receiver or the sender? In a pull process, the receiver initiates a debit from the payer’s account. In a push process, the payer actively sends the money.

Each model affects control, security, cost, refunds, and speed in different ways.

• Pull: the receiver initiates a charge based on your prior consent and the account details you provided.
• Push: the payer starts the transfer themselves.

Pull payments

Typical examples are card charges (debit/credit) and direct debits such as SEPA direct debit. You share your card number/PIN or your IBAN and the direct-debit mandate. The receiver then collects the invoice amount automatically.

Advantages

• Very convenient for recurring payments like rent, utilities, subscriptions.

• No manual approval needed each time. Disadvantages

• More trust required: third parties can pull money from your account.

• Refund processes are needed. If used (for example, a chargeback or returned debit), fees may apply.

• Settlement is often slower.

• Risks from sharing sensitive data.

Push payments

Here only the payer triggers the movement, for example with a standard bank transfer. The receiver can send a payment request, but money moves only after the sender initiates it.

Advantages

• High control for the payer.

• Very fast confirmation with instant transfers. Disadvantages

• More responsibility for the sender (check amount, reference, recipient).

• Usually cannot be reversed.

Bitcoin

On the base layer, Bitcoin enforces push payments. Only the holder of the private key can sign a transaction. No third party can “pull” funds.

• Self-custody: as long as you hold the keys, only you decide.
• Custody: if a custodian such as an exchange holds your bitcoin, they can spend it technically, and you lose the push property.

Lightning

Lightning is also push-based. The sender initiates the payment. Settlement is fast.

Lightning payment cards (for example, “Bolt Card”) combine an NFC card with custodied Lightning funds. When you tap, the point-of-sale terminal reads the LNURL on the card, requests approval from the card issuer, and creates a Lightning invoice. The invoice is paid immediately and your balance is debited.

Technically this is a Lightning push payment to the merchant, but for the user it feels like a pull payment, because the merchant triggers the charge and the operator debits your balance. In practice you pay like with a contactless bank card, only the rails are Lightning and it takes seconds. Since the operator can access your balance and debit it on tap, these cards behave as pull payments in everyday use.

If, instead, the merchant shows you an invoice and you scan the QR code and pay it, that is a pure Lightning push payment again.

Payment with a Bitcoin NFC card

Final Thoughts

• Pull payment = receiver initiates the charge (for example, direct debit).
• Push payment = payer initiates the transfer (for example, bank transfer).
• Bitcoin is “push by design”: only the owner can move coins. Lightning can add pull-like behaviour via NFC cards.