Lightspark

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.

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

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

• Bitcoin Lightning infrastructure
• Crypto payments API
• Stablecoin payment rails
• Cross-border payments platform
• Enterprise payment infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Reserve Yield: Platforms earn 2.6-3.0% annualized yield on USD balances held in Global Accounts. $1B in balances generates $26M-30M annually.
2. Card Interchange: Revenue share of approximately 0.20-1.0% on every Visa debit card swipe. Every card transaction generates revenue for the platform.
3. FX Margin: Platforms earn 100-200 basis points (1-2%) margin on local currency conversions for users cashing out or converting between currencies.
4. Transaction Fees: Per-transaction fees on P2P transfers, merchant payments, and account movement. Revenue accrues to platform on every payment processed through Global Accounts.
5. Bitcoin Trading Spread: Platforms earn spread on USD/BTC swaps when users convert between dollars and Bitcoin within their accounts.
6. Stablecoin Issuance: Platforms can issue their own branded stablecoins and earn economics on reserves backing them, even after funds leave the platform.
7. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers20 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration40 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and core.

• VisaflagshipTechnology or Integration · 28 April 2026Lightspark 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 FoundationmajorTechnology or Integration · 24 March 2026Lightspark joined Solana Developer Platform as infrastructure partner, enabling financial institutions to build on Solana with Lightspark infrastructure.
• Cross River BankcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 February 2026Partnership 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 TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 30 January 2026SoFi 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.
• StrigacoreTechnology or Integration · 14 October 2025Acquisition 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.
• CoinbaseflagshipTechnology or IntegrationCoinbase 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 BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership powering Lightning payments for Xapo Bank, enabling faster and cheaper Bitcoin transactions for their customers.
• RevolutcoreTechnology or IntegrationRevolut partnered with Lightspark for Lightning integration to enable Bitcoin-powered payments.
• NubankcoreTechnology or IntegrationNubank partnered with Lightspark for Lightning and UMA integration, enabling Bitcoin-powered payments for their 100+ million customers.
• BitsocoreTechnology or IntegrationBitso selected Lightspark for Lightning integration to deliver faster Bitcoin transactions.
• ParadigmflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParadigm 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.
• StripeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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.
• AnthropicmajorTechnology or IntegrationEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) testing autonomous AI agent payments.
• OpenAImajorTechnology or IntegrationEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol testing AI agent payment capabilities.
• ShopifymajorTechnology or IntegrationEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol enabling AI agent payment integration for merchants.
• MastercardmajorTechnology or IntegrationEarly launch partner for Machine Payments Protocol, integrating card payment capabilities.
• ProofcoreTechnology or IntegrationProof 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.
• TethercoreTechnology or IntegrationTether integrated Spark into WDK, enabling Lightning-enabled non-custodial financial infrastructure.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/lightspark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lightsparkdev
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lightspark-group

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lightspark