Key facts
- Blockstream has launched a new feature called Blockstream Swaps.
- The feature enables trustless swaps between the Bitcoin main network and the Lightning Network.
- This service aims to allow users to move funds between layers without needing to run a node or channel.
- The launch follows the suspension of Boltz, a similar service, due to security concerns.
- Blockstream stated the initiative was already in development and complements existing services.
Bitcoin infrastructure company Blockstream has launched a new feature called Blockstream Swaps, designed to facilitate trustless exchanges between Bitcoin's main network and the Lightning Network. This development comes in the wake of the suspension of Boltz, a non-custodial Bitcoin swap provider, which cited an inability to keep pace with AI-assisted attacks.
Blockstream stated that Blockstream Swaps was already under development to bolster the Bitcoin and Liquid ecosystem's utility. The company emphasized that the new feature complements, rather than replaces, existing services. The goal is to enable users to move funds across different layers of the Bitcoin network while maintaining full control over their assets.
For users looking to utilize the Lightning Network, Blockstream Swaps aims to simplify the process, potentially eliminating the need to run a dedicated node or manage channels. Users could hold a Bitcoin or LBTC balance and have swaps convert at the moment of payment. LBTC is the native asset of the Liquid Network, a Layer-2 sidechain developed by Blockstream.