In a move that could change how quickly Bitcoin moves between people, banking app Revolut is teaming up with Lightspark. This partnership aims to solve one of cryptocurrency’s biggest problems – slow transaction times.
When people send Bitcoin today, they often wait minutes or even hours for confirmation. Revolut, with over 40 million customers worldwide, wants to fix this through Lightspark’s Lightning Network technology.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve our crypto services,” said Jean Meyer, Revolut’s crypto lead. “Speed matters to our customers, and this partnership delivers exactly that.”
The Lightning Network acts like an express lane for Bitcoin. Instead of recording every transaction on the main blockchain, it creates side channels where people can send money almost instantly.
David Marcus, who previously led Facebook’s digital wallet project, founded Lightspark in 2022. The company has focused entirely on making Bitcoin payments faster and cheaper using Lightning technology.
“Bitcoin has always promised to be digital cash,” Marcus explained. “But without Lightning, it’s too slow for everyday purchases like coffee or groceries.”
For Revolut users, this means sending Bitcoin to friends or businesses will soon feel as quick as sending a text message. The technology works behind the scenes, so customers won’t need to learn anything new.
This improvement comes at an interesting time for cryptocurrency. Bitcoin recently reached new price highs, attracting fresh interest from people curious about digital money.
Financial experts see this partnership as part of a larger trend. “Banking apps are embracing crypto features because customers demand them,” said Maria Chen, a financial technology analyst.
Revolut isn’t alone in this push. Cash App, Block’s popular payment service, added Lightning Network support in 2022. PayPal and Venmo have also expanded their cryptocurrency offerings.
The real challenge will be getting more businesses to accept these faster Bitcoin payments. Currently, most stores that take Bitcoin use payment processors that convert crypto to dollars immediately.
“For Lightning to reach its potential, merchants need to see the benefits,” noted Sam Rodriguez, a digital payments researcher. “Instant settlement with minimal fees could be very attractive to businesses.”
Revolut plans to roll out the Lightning-powered transfers gradually, starting with users in Europe and the UK before expanding to other markets including the US.
For everyday Bitcoin users, this partnership means less waiting and potentially lower fees. Someone buying a sandwich with Bitcoin might no longer have to stand awkwardly at the counter waiting for blockchain confirmation.
As traditional finance and crypto worlds continue merging, partnerships like this show how digital currency might eventually become as convenient as the money in our wallets – just without the physical cash.
