Loading article…
Blockstream secures $210M funding to drive layer-2 growth, expand Bitcoin treasury, with over $1.8B in assets issued on Liquid Network, aiming to bridge
Blockstream has raised $210 million in a convertible note financing round led by Fulgur Ventures, marking a significant shift in its evolution as a global leader in financial infrastructure technology powered by Bitcoin [1]. The capital will be used to accelerate the market adoption and development of Blockstream’s layer-2 technologies, expand its mining operations, and significantly grow its Bitcoin Treasury, positioning it as one of the largest publicly known treasuries in the world.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Funding | $210 million |
| Led by | Fulgur Ventures |
| Assets on Liquid Network | over $1.8 billion |
| Bitcoin Treasury growth | significant expansion |
The latest fundraise represents a defining moment for Blockstream as it embarks on a critical new phase of growth to further bridge the gap between Bitcoin and the wider world of finance [1]. Blockstream’s layer-2 solutions, powering both the Liquid and Lightning networks, address growing demand from enterprises for secure, scalable Bitcoin-based financial products. The Liquid Network, a layer-2 solution conceived by Blockstream co-founder and Chief Executive Dr. Adam Back, provides faster transactions, confidential transactions, and new asset types such as securities and digital collectibles [2].
Blockstream’s comprehensive financial infrastructure solution works in tandem with its Lightning Network implementation, Core Lightning, and hosted cloud infrastructure service, Greenlight [1]. This integration consolidates issuance and transactions for assets, stablecoins, and Bitcoin, uniquely positioning Blockstream among competitors that typically focus solely on either payments or token issuance. The company has also appointed Michael Minkevich as Chief Operating Officer, who brings over two decades of experience in developing advanced technological solutions for traditional industries, including finance [1].
The Liquid Network has been used for various financial services, such as Mexican fintech operator Mifiel digitizing over $1 billion in promissory notes for debt financing between lenders and global investment banks on the network [2]. The network has amassed over $1.8 billion in assets, including stablecoins, tokenized bonds, and securities, with over 3,844 BTC locked on-chain [1].
The significance of Blockstream's $210 million funding round lies in its potential to drive the adoption of Bitcoin and blockchain technology in traditional finance, and to position Blockstream as a leader in the industry [1]. As the company continues to expand its operations and develop new technologies, it will be important to monitor its progress and the impact of its efforts on the broader cryptocurrency market.
Coverage is mostly measured — 112 of 112 reports stay neutral.
Every Monday — the token unlocks, Fed dates & catalysts set to move crypto and markets this week. So you’re never blindsided.
Free · 3-min read · one-click unsubscribe
AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 2 outlets · Jul 20, 2026 · How we report
Layer 2 scaling refers to solutions built on top of a blockchain, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, to increase its transactional capacity and reduce costs. These systems process transactions off the main chain but rely on the main chain for security and final settlement, aiming to overcome the inherent scaling limitations of foundational blockchain designs.
Layer 2 scaling solutions have made Ethereum transactions faster and cheaper, boosting its ecosystem by enabling more DeFi, NFT, and gaming activity. However, they have also created headaches for Ethereum's value model by moving activity off the main chain, which can slow down fee revenue and token burns, leading to debate about their long-term impact on ETH's price.
Some examples of Layer 2 scaling systems for Bitcoin include Ark, Statechains, Lightning Network, Sidechains, Clique, Rollups, Client Side Validated Systems, Ecash, Custodial Systems, and Physical Bearer Instruments. These systems aim to facilitate higher transactional volumes without degrading Bitcoin's security properties.
Layer 2 scaling is necessary for blockchains because they inherently struggle to facilitate transactional use at a truly global scale without sacrificing core properties like decentralization and verifiability. These solutions allow for higher transaction volumes and lower costs while maintaining the security of the underlying blockchain.
Yes, the Dencun upgrade in 2024 significantly affected Layer 2 scaling for Ethereum by slashing transaction costs across Layer 2 networks by over 90%. This reduction in cost opened Ethereum to new users and business models, leading to a boom in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming transactions.