Branta, a Bitcoin security company, announced integration with Manna Wallet, a self-custodial payments app, allowing users to view verified merchant logos and company details before sending payments. The integration was announced on May 26, 2026, according to Bitcoin Magazine.
The integration addresses a core friction point in Bitcoin payments. “Bitcoin payments give users anxiety. Every single time,” said Adam Simecka, CEO of Manna. The integration uses Branta’s Guardrails authentication service, which employs zero-knowledge proofs to verify merchant identity without exposing payment addresses or invoice details to the verification process.
How the verification works
When a user scans a QR code from a merchant integrated with Branta, their wallet displays the merchant’s logo and verification details before the payment is confirmed. This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and poisoned address attacks, where attackers intercept or modify payment instructions.
Branta Guardrails operates as a “side channel” separate from the payment itself, keeping the authentication process isolated from sensitive transaction data. Merchants can integrate the service through BTCpay’s server plugin or Zaprite’s merchant tools platform.
“Manna now automatically ensures your payments are going to who they say they are with Branta. When you pay a Branta integrated business, you will see their details and a link to verify yourself. Don’t trust. Verify,” Simecka said.
Privacy-first design
Kieth Gardner, co-founder of Branta, emphasized the company’s approach to the integration. “We went way out of our way to make sure the process met high standards of privacy,” Gardner said.
The authentication layer addresses a persistent Bitcoin user risk: human error in address entry. While poisoned address attacks are common on Ethereum, they remain more difficult on Bitcoin due to address format differences. However, the risk persists for users who manually verify addresses or receive modified payment instructions.
A demo of the integration appeared on May 1, 2026, when Phil Geiger, an advisor to Branta, posted a video on X.com showing Manna Wallet scanning an invoice from Peony Lane Wine with Branta verification enabled. “Makes me feel much more confident before sending an immutable bitcoin payment!” Geiger wrote.
Broader ecosystem support
Beyond Manna Wallet, Arkade is another wallet that supports Branta integration. The integration expands Branta’s reach into self-custodial payment workflows, where users retain full control of their private keys while relying on verification infrastructure to confirm recipient identity.
The integration does not require changes to Bitcoin itself. Instead, it layers authentication verification on top of existing payment flows, allowing users to verify merchant identity before committing funds to an immutable transaction.
