Is Tesla Using BTCPay Server?

Open-source Bitcoin payment processor BTCPay Server released a patch today which covered a few low-impact vulnerabilities and one critical vulnerability. The service's developers recommend that users who use Docker Deployment, have configured an email server, and have enabled registration for their users update their client as soon as possible.

Although important to know, bug fixes are nothing out of the ordinary and normally wouldn't prompt us to write an article.

The eye-catcher was a Tweet BTCPay nonchalantly attached to its release thread, which reads, "we want to thank @Tesla for submitting the disclosure that led to these fixes and helping us with remediation. Thank you for contributing to the community and helping keep our users safe."

Unsurprisingly, this Tweet has so far outperformed the rest of the thread as Twitter users flooded the comments with overwhelmingly positive reactions to Tesla's contributions to developments within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Yet this left many wondering how Tesla had discovered the vulnerabilities in the first place. The obvious answer would be that Tesla is, to some extent, either looking to use BTCPay Server, or already actively doing so. Only last week, the firm added Bitcoin as a payment option to its online store in the U.S., making good on the plans announced when its $1.5 billion Bitcoin purchase was revealed.

At the time, Tesla chief Elon Musk noted that Tesla is running its own Bitcoin nodes to process payments and has no plans to convert bitcoin received through the store to fiat currency.

Thanks to its open-source and self-hosted design, BTCPay Server has enjoyed increased popularity among bitcoiners and Bitcoin companies looking to accept Bitcoin payments while maintaining the spirit of Bitcoin's core characteristics.

When asked by a Twitter user called @btccat whether BTCPay Server could confirm that Tesla is using its software, BTCPay contributor Pavlenex proved this point once again by responding, "I don't think we can confirm that. I guess that's the beauty of it?"

UPDATE (Tue, March 30th, 9:33PM UTC): Updated the wording to clarify that the critical vulnerability affects users who use Docker Deployment, have configured an email server, and have enabled registration for their users, meaning that users who meet all three criteria are encouraged to update their clients as soon as possible.