Lightspark
Lightspark builds enterprise payments infrastructure on the Bitcoin Lightning Network and its proprietary Spark Layer 2, offering APIs and Grid Global Accounts that let digital banks, exchanges, wallets, and platforms move fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin globally with sub-second settlement at sub-cent transaction costs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Lightspark does
Lightspark is a B2B payments infrastructure company founded in 2022 by David Marcus, the former PayPal president, that builds enterprise-grade money-movement APIs on top of the Bitcoin Lightning Network and a proprietary Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol called Spark. The company's core products are Grid API (a single API/SDK for cross-border payments across fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin), Grid Global Accounts (an enterprise banking product launched in April 2026 that enables platforms to issue branded dollar accounts, stablecoin conversion, Visa debit cards at 175M+ merchants, and instant FX), and Spark (a self-custodial Bitcoin Layer 2 for sub-second, near-zero-cost transactions). Supporting offerings include the Universal Money Address (UMA) protocol, Lightspark Node and Connect (enterprise Lightning gateway infrastructure), Inference Grid, and the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). Lightspark monetizes through multiple streams: reserve yield (2.6–3.0% annualized on balances), card interchange (~0.20–1.0% per swipe), FX margin (100–200 bps), per-transaction fees, Bitcoin trading spreads, stablecoin issuance economics, and enterprise API/platform licensing on multi-year contracts with quote-based pricing.
The company targets a distinctive GTM motion serving digital banks, neobanks, cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, fintechs, creator platforms, marketplaces, messaging platforms, social platforms, and on-demand platforms through API-first integration, direct enterprise sales, banking partners (Cross River, Erebor, Lead Bank), and a Visa principal membership that makes it one of a small number of crypto-native firms with direct card-network access. Lightspark reported in April 2026 that it had become a Visa principal member and processes 15% of all Bitcoin transactions through Coinbase alone within a year of integration. It holds a Money Services Business registration with FinCEN and, following the October 2025 acquisition of Striga, has Virtual Asset Service Provider licensing across 30 EEA countries. Headquartered in Los Angeles with 51–100 employees, the company has raised approximately $175 million in disclosed funding (2022 Series A from a16z crypto, Paradigm, Coatue, Matrix, NFX, Ribbit Capital, Thrive Capital, Felix Capital, and Zeev Ventures at a reported $3.25B post-money valuation) and serves enterprises including Coinbase, SoFi, Revolut, Nubank, Xapo Bank, Bitso, Visa, Stripe, Anthropic, OpenAI, Shopify, Mastercard, and dozens of regional crypto exchanges and wallets.
Lightspark firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lightspark
- Legal name
- Lightspark Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://lightspark.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lightspark builds enterprise payments infrastructure on the Bitcoin Lightning Network and its proprietary Spark Layer 2, offering APIs and Grid Global Accounts that let digital banks, exchanges, wallets, and platforms move fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin globally with sub-second settlement at sub-cent transaction costs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lightspark industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bitcoin and Stablecoin Payments Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200), Commodity Contracts Brokers & Dealers (6221)
- akta.pro primary industry
- On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury) (FSAGAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms (BPAMAFAL), Enterprise Payments & Tokenized Money (stablecoins, tokenized deposits, CBDC rails) (FSAPAIAJ), Stablecoin Payment Rails & Settlement Networks (Issuer-Led) (FSADADAF)
Keywords
Where Lightspark is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lightspark business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Reserve Yield: Platforms earn 2.6-3.0% annualized yield on USD balances held in Global Accounts. $1B in balances generates $26M-30M annually.
- Card Interchange: Revenue share of approximately 0.20-1.0% on every Visa debit card swipe. Every card transaction generates revenue for the platform.
- FX Margin: Platforms earn 100-200 basis points (1-2%) margin on local currency conversions for users cashing out or converting between currencies.
- Transaction Fees: Per-transaction fees on P2P transfers, merchant payments, and account movement. Revenue accrues to platform on every payment processed through Global Accounts.
- Bitcoin Trading Spread: Platforms earn spread on USD/BTC swaps when users convert between dollars and Bitcoin within their accounts.
- Stablecoin Issuance: Platforms can issue their own branded stablecoins and earn economics on reserves backing them, even after funds leave the platform.
- API/Platform Fees: Enterprise licensing fees for Grid API, Node, and Connect products used by financial institutions, exchanges, and fintech platforms. Sub-second settlement with fees under $0.01 per transaction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Infrastructure / API Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lightspark product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lightspark builds enterprise-grade payments infrastructure on the Bitcoin Lightning Network that enables digital banks, wallets, exchanges, fintechs, and platform businesses (creator, marketplace, social, messaging, on-demand, financial apps) to send, receive, and settle value globally across fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin in real time. Its portfolio centers on Grid Global Accounts (branded dollar accounts with Visa debit cards and multi-rail payouts), the Grid API (one unified payments API), and Spark (a Bitcoin Layer 2 for instant, near-zero-cost transfers), with supporting protocols (UMA, AP2) for addressing and AI agent payments.
Product overview
Lightspark offers a three-product portfolio: Grid Global Accounts (enterprise dollar accounts with cards, Bitcoin, and multi-rail capabilities), Grid API (single API for global payments across fiat/stablecoins/Bitcoin), and Spark (Bitcoin Layer 2 for instant near-zero cost transactions). Supporting products include UMA addressing protocol, Lightspark Connect/Node enterprise Lightning infrastructure, Inference Grid for AI inference, and Agent Payments Protocol for autonomous AI financial operations. The portfolio is designed for platforms (creators, marketplaces, gig economy, social, messaging, financial apps) to embed payment features while maintaining brand ownership and economics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Grid API: One API to send, receive, and settle value globally across fiat, stablecoins, or Bitcoin
- Grid Global Accounts
- Spark
- Lightspark Connect
- UMA (Universal Money Address)
Products and services
- Lightspark Connect Enterprise Lightning gateway providing infrastructure for exchanges, neobanks, and wallets to integrate Lightning Network capabilities with sub-second settlement and fees under $0.01 per transaction.
- Lightspark Node Managed Lightning Node infrastructure handling channel liquidity management, network monitoring, and smart transaction routing. Enables customers like Coinbase to process Bitcoin transactions in approximately 3.4 seconds with high availability and redundancy.
- Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) Lightspark's protocol and vision for AI agent payments, enabling autonomous financial transactions through bounded agent permissions with scoped authority, instant revocation, and full audit trails.
- Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) Bitcoin Lightning Extension Bitcoin Lightning extension to the Machine Payments Protocol co-developed with Paradigm and Stripe's Tempo blockchain, enabling AI agents and autonomous machines to execute Bitcoin payments over Lightning rails. Integrated into 100+ services including Visa, Anthropic, DoorDash, Mastercard, OpenAI, Revolut, Shopify, and Standard Chartered.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15% of all Bitcoin transactions now processed by Lightspark through Coinbase Lightning integration
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Lightspark
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lightspark technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration40 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Lightspark partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and core.
- VisaflagshipLightspark became a principal member of the Visa network, enabling platforms to embed payment features including stablecoin yield, foreign exchange, Visa card interchange, and Bitcoin functionality. Partnership enables stablecoin and Bitcoin-backed Visa debit cards across more than 100 countries.
- Solana FoundationmajorLightspark joined Solana Developer Platform as infrastructure partner, enabling financial institutions to build on Solana with Lightspark infrastructure.
- Cross River BankcorePartnership to enable 24/7 real-time fiat settlement through Bitcoin Network and faster payment rails. Combines Lightspark's Bitcoin-native payments platform with Cross River's multi-rail banking infrastructure including RTP and FedNow rails.
- SoFi TechnologiescoreSoFi integrated Bitcoin Lightning network for cross-border payments enabling remittances to over 30 countries. Service converts dollars to Bitcoin, transfers via Lightning network, and converts to recipient's local currency.
- StrigacoreAcquisition of Striga, a European embedded finance and digital asset infrastructure platform with VASP license across 30 countries, enhancing regulatory footprint in Europe and expanding compliant payment services for fiat and crypto.
- CoinbaseflagshipCoinbase integrated Lightning Network using Lightspark Node, enabling instant, low-cost Bitcoin payments for millions of users. Solution reduced transaction costs and latency with settlements in ~3.4 seconds.
- Xapo BankcorePartnership powering Lightning payments for Xapo Bank, enabling faster and cheaper Bitcoin transactions for their customers.
- RevolutcoreRevolut partnered with Lightspark for Lightning integration to enable Bitcoin-powered payments.
- NubankcoreNubank partnered with Lightspark for Lightning and UMA integration, enabling Bitcoin-powered payments for their 100+ million customers.
- BitsocoreBitso selected Lightspark for Lightning integration to deliver faster Bitcoin transactions.
- ParadigmflagshipParadigm and Stripe launched Tempo blockchain with Machine Payments Protocol. Lightspark extended MPP to support Bitcoin Lightning transactions. Protocol integrated into 100+ services with McKinsey projecting $3-5 trillion in AI agent transactions by 2030.
- StripeflagshipCo-developed Tempo blockchain and Machine Payments Protocol alongside Paradigm. Lightspark integrated with Tempo for Bitcoin Lightning support. Protocol enables AI agents to autonomously pay for products and services.
- AnthropicmajorEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) testing autonomous AI agent payments.
- OpenAImajorEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol testing AI agent payment capabilities.
- ShopifymajorEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol enabling AI agent payment integration for merchants.
- MastercardmajorEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol, integrating card payment capabilities.
- ProofcoreProof launched digital credential solution with Lightspark among first adopters using Certify product for KYC compliance enhancement. Addresses gap between fast digital asset transfers and compliance processes.
- TethercoreTether integrated Spark into WDK, enabling Lightning-enabled non-custodial financial infrastructure.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lightspark competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Circle: Issuer of USDC and operator of USDC stablecoin payment and treasury infrastructure. Directly comparable to Lightspark in the on-chain payments and stablecoin rails category, and a much larger player by USDC circulation and balance-sheet economics.
- Ripple: Provides cross-border payments infrastructure (RippleNet) and stablecoin issuance (RLUSD). Competes with Lightspark's Grid Global Accounts and Grid API for enterprise cross-border payment volume, particularly in the bank and remittance corridors.
- Stripe (Tempo): Both a strategic partner (co-developing Machine Payments Protocol) and a competing payments platform building its own blockchain (Tempo) for stablecoin and AI agent payments. Overlaps directly with Lightspark's Grid API and AI agent payment thesis.
- Paxos: Regulated blockchain infrastructure platform offering stablecoin issuance (USDP, PYUSD), custody, and on-chain payments. Directly comparable to Lightspark's stablecoin issuance, payments, and custody-adjacent capabilities.
- BVNK: Enterprise payments platform for stablecoins and fiat, serving platforms with cross-border payouts and B2B payment infrastructure. Competes with Lightspark's Grid Global Accounts and Grid API for platform-embedded payment volumes.
- BitPay: Long-standing Bitcoin and crypto payment processor for merchants and businesses. Directly comparable in merchant-side Bitcoin payment acceptance, though Lightspark's infrastructure-led model and stablecoin/Bitcoin L2 stack are broader.
- Zero Hash: B2B crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider offering custody, on/off-ramps, and payments APIs. Both a customer and a competitor to Lightspark in embedded crypto payment infrastructure for platforms.
Emerging players
- MoonPay: Provides fiat on/off-ramps and payments infrastructure for crypto and Web3 applications. Comparable in its ramp and consumer crypto payments focus, though narrower than Lightspark's full enterprise payment stack.
- Alchemy Pay: Crypto on-ramp and payment service provider enabling merchants to accept crypto payments. Comparable in fiat-crypto ramps, though smaller in scale and narrower in scope than Lightspark's enterprise platform.
Broad incumbents
- Coinbase: Largest US crypto exchange and a flagship Lightspark customer for Lightning. Operates its own payment and stablecoin products (USDC distribution, Base L2), making it simultaneously a major customer, distribution channel, and a strategic competitor over time.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lightspark social profiles
Digital presenceLightspark compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Lightspark financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lightspark leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Lightspark subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Lightspark funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lightspark M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lightspark
What does Lightspark do?
Lightspark builds enterprise-grade payments infrastructure on the Bitcoin Lightning Network that enables digital banks, wallets, exchanges, fintechs, and platform businesses (creator, marketplace, social, messaging, on-demand, financial apps) to send, receive, and settle value globally across fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin in real time. Its portfolio centers on Grid Global Accounts (branded dollar accounts with Visa debit cards and multi-rail payouts), the Grid API (one unified payments API), and Spark (a Bitcoin Layer 2 for instant, near-zero-cost transfers), with supporting protocols (UMA, AP2) for addressing and AI agent payments.
Is Lightspark a public or private company?
Lightspark is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Lightspark founded?
Lightspark was founded in 2022. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lightspark based?
Lightspark is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lightspark make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Reserve Yield is the primary driver. The others are card Interchange, FX Margin, transaction Fees, bitcoin Trading Spread, stablecoin Issuance and API/Platform Fees.
Who are Lightspark's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Circle, Ripple, Stripe (Tempo), Paxos, BVNK, BitPay and Zero Hash. Emerging players are MoonPay and Alchemy Pay. Coinbase is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Lightspark have an API?
Yes. Lightspark Grid API enables developers to send, receive, and settle value globally across fiat, stablecoins, and Bitcoin through a single integration. The API supports multiple payment primitives including payouts, rewards, cross-border transfers, ramps, FX, payroll, billing, debit cards, and treasury management. Features include real-time settlement, low-cost transactions, automatic routing across fiat, stablecoin, and Bitcoin rails, FX rate-locking, and compliance infrastructure. Available via OpenAPI with sandbox environment, copyable examples, Postman collections, and AI-readable documentation pages. Developer documentation is at docs.lightspark.com.
What industry is Lightspark in?
Lightspark's product category is Bitcoin and Stablecoin Payments Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAMAD, On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury), with a secondary code of BPAMAFAL, Crypto Payments & Stablecoin Settlement Platforms. Its NAICS code is 522320 and its SIC code is 6200.