Latest news with #Blockstream
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Blockstream Unveils 'Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin' Vision at Bitcoin 2025
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blockstream, the global leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, has today revealed its strategic vision to support Bitcoin's next pivotal phase of growth, building on over a decade of pioneering work at the forefront of Bitcoin innovation. Blockstream CEO Adam Back launches consumer app and showcases the firm's evolving enterprise platform at Bitcoin 2025, advancing its vision that The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin. Unveiled in a keynote by Blockstream Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Adam Back at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas and anchored by a bold new tagline, The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin, the vision introduces a clear framework based on three core business units—Consumer, Enterprise and Blockstream Asset Management (BAM). This framework represents a unified approach to onboarding users across the rapidly growing Bitcoin economy, from individuals to institutions. 'The past year has shown clearly that Bitcoin no longer sits on the margins of the global financial system—it is rapidly becoming the foundation,' said Dr. Back. 'Our vision is simple: The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin. Guided by this idea, Blockstream is working hard to build the vertically integrated platform to support that transition, from individual self-custody to enterprise-scale asset issuance and regulated investment products.' A New Era for Bitcoin-Native Finance According to crypto ETF analytics platform SoSoValue, Bitcoin has attracted over $41 billion in net ETF inflows alone since the launch of U.S. spot ETFs in early 2024, led by major institutions such as BlackRock, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton. At the same time, New Hampshire and Arizona have become the first U.S. states to pursue Strategic Bitcoin Reserves and the number of corporate treasuries holding Bitcoin continues to climb. With a market cap of just over $2 trillion and trillions settled annually on-chain, Bitcoin's role as a legitimate financial layer is increasingly clear, hastening the need for scalable infrastructure. Blockstream has been building that infrastructure for over a decade. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back—inventor of Bitcoin's proof-of-work (PoW) mechanism—the company has focused from the outset on expanding Bitcoin's functionality without compromising its foundational principles. Blockstream Research, led by renowned cryptographer Andrew Poelstra, is a key contributor to Bitcoin Core and drives advances in applied cryptography and protocol development. On the product side, Blockstream maintains Core Lightning (CLN) for scalable payments, the Liquid Network and Blocksteam Asset Management Platform (AMP) for tokenized asset issuance and settlement, as well as self-custody tools including the open-source Jade hardware wallet. The All-New Blockstream App—Self Custody on Your Terms Headlining today's keynote was the launch of the all-new Blockstream app—a streamlined, self-custodial experience that lets users buy bitcoin and secure it immediately in their own wallet. Built on the foundation of the trusted Blockstream Green wallet, the updated app offers seamless support for managing Bitcoin and Liquid assets within a redesigned interface tailored to both new and experienced users. The Blockstream app is designed to make onboarding intuitive from day one, minimizing friction while staying true to the principles of self-custody. Users can begin simply and gradually adopt more advanced features at their own pace—including hardware signing and air-gapped transactions with the Blockstream Jade. Current Blockstream Green users will find all existing functionality preserved within the redesigned interface. With support for 31 languages, the app makes Bitcoin accessible to anyone with a smartphone, opening the door to secure, sovereign finance worldwide 'The new Blockstream app isn't just a wallet,' said Peter Bain, VP of Consumer Products at Blockstream. 'It's a gateway to the full power of Bitcoin—enabling secure savings, fast payments, and seamless management of tokenized assets, all within an intuitive interface designed for both newcomers and hardcore bitcoiners.' Blockstream Enterprise: Accelerating the Development of Bitcoin-Native Financial Infrastructure Dr. Back also used his keynote to highlight the growing importance of Blockstream Enterprise, the company's evolving platform for corporations, governments and participants across the broader financial sector. Underpinned by the Liquid Network and Blockstream AMP, the platform enables secure asset issuance, as well as treasury and balance sheet management. It also facilitates integration with custodians, exchanges and core financial systems via industry-standard FIX and REST APIs. With the first iteration of AMP already available and additional features rolling out over time, the platform builds on Liquid's momentum, which recently surpassed $3.27 billion in total value locked (TVL). In doing so, it provides a Bitcoin-native foundation for tokenization and institutional settlement focused on regulated custody, compliant off-exchange settlement, and programmable financial instruments. 'As capital markets evolve, businesses, institutions, and governments will need infrastructure that is secure, programmable and built directly on Bitcoin's rapidly growing network,' said Dr. Back. 'Blockstream Enterprise brings that infrastructure together—enabling asset issuance, management, and settlement on Liquid, Bitcoin's first and most battle-tested sidechain.' Unifying Consumer, Enterprise, and Institutional Products Today's keynote marks a strategic inflection point, aligning Blockstream's efforts across the three market segments it serves. In 2024, the company raised $210 million to accelerate development and launched Blockstream Asset Management (BAM), a dedicated division focused on institutional-grade Bitcoin investment products. The company has also deepened collaborations with regulated custodians, corporate treasuries and financial service providers to support the integration of Liquid and AMP into existing financial infrastructure. The Future of Finance Runs on Bitcoin The vision laid out by Dr. Back reflects Blockstream's conviction that Bitcoin is no longer just a $2 trillion asset class but a settlement layer, a development platform, and the most credible foundation for building the next financial system. 'The financial world is waking up to what we've known for years,' said Dr. Back. 'Bitcoin is here to stay —and it's never been easier to build on it. From first-time users to trillion-dollar institutions, our aim is to give everyone the tools to participate in this new economy, with the transparency, security and resilience that only Bitcoin can provide.' To learn more visit Booth 2121 at Bitcoin 2025 or visit Download the new Blockstream app today and take control of your Bitcoin—on your terms. Institutions, enterprises, and governments interested in building on Bitcoin with Liquid and AMP can connect with the Blockstream team directly at business@ About Blockstream Founded in 2014, Blockstream is a global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure, with offices and team members distributed around the world. Serving as the technology provider for the Liquid Network, Blockstream offers a sidechain solution that enables secure, trustless Bitcoin swap settlements and robust smart contracts, empowering financial institutions to tokenize assets efficiently. The company's Core Lightning is a leading implementation of the open Lightning Network protocol, widely adopted for enterprise Bitcoin Lightning Network deployments. Blockstream Jade, an open-source hardware wallet, delivers advanced security for Bitcoin and Liquid assets in an easy-to-use form factor. For consumers, Blockstream app is a highly secure and user-friendly Bitcoin wallet. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected launch timeline of the Blockstream Enterprise platform and time to market of Blockstream Asset Management products. Other 'forward looking statements' may, without limitation, include statements that are preceded by, followed by, or include the words 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'estimates,' 'foresees,' or similar expressions, and other statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. Actual results may differ materially due to regulatory developments, competition from other hardware and technology services providers (in the case of Jade and the app) and both traditional finance and crypto native managers (in the case of BAM), market conditions and other risks. Actual results may differ materially. Blockstream undertakes no obligation to update these statements. Blockstream is not a registered investment, legal, or tax advisor. Nothing in this communication should be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instrument.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How high can Bitcoin go? $200,000, $500,000, $1 million—or even higher?
Bitcoin has reached a new high. Experts predict further price increases. Adam Back suggests a rise to $500,000 or even $1 million. Standard Chartered forecasts $200,000 by 2025 and $500,000 by 2029. Bernstein anticipates $200,000 during this bull run. Other predictions range from $150,000 to multi-millions. Experts cite institutional investment and global capital flight as drivers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bitcoin (BTC) on Thursday hit an all-time high of $111,862.98, gaining 3.3% in a single day and edging close to the psychological $112,000 mark. But according to industry experts, this may just be the beginning—with some predicting BTC could reach $200,000, $500,000, or even higher in the coming Back, Blockstream CEORenowned Bitcoin developer and Blockstream CEO Adam Back believes BTC could soar to $500,000 to $1 million in this cycle. He told Decrypt that current prices are "surprisingly low" considering the post-halving environment and significant institutional involvement. "A new all-time high could quickly become much higher," he Chartered: $200,000 in 2025, $500,000 by 2029British banking giant Standard Chartered is also bullish. Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, expects Bitcoin to hit $200,000 by the end of 2025, citing a shift away from U.S. assets as investors seek non-sovereign stores of value. Looking further ahead, Kendrick projects $500,000 by 2029, when former President Trump's next term is expected to $200,000 in This Bull RunInvestment firm Bernstein forecasts Bitcoin reaching $200,000 during the current bull run, driven by institutional inflows. Analysts say up to $330 billion could be invested in BTC over the next five years. "The Bitcoin genie is out of the bottle," they stated, emphasizing the irreversibility of growing institutional Hayes: $150,000 in 2025Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes predicts $150,000 by the end of 2025, arguing that global capital will flee traditional assets amid aggressive central bank money printing. 'Bitcoin is the only lifeboat,' he wrote in a recent Draper: $250,000 by End of 2025Venture capitalist Tim Draper expects BTC to reach $250,000 by late 2025. He criticized companies not holding BTC as being 'irresponsible' and noted Bitcoin's increasing gravitational pull on global Fink: $700,000—EventuallyBlackRock CEO Larry Fink, whose firm launched the iShares Bitcoin Trust, suggested BTC could eventually hit $700,000, especially as sovereign wealth funds allocate even a small portion of their assets to Armstrong: Multi-Million Dollar FutureCoinbase CEO Brian Armstrong envisions Bitcoin reaching multiple millions in the long term, driven by nation-state adoption. However, he cautioned that BTC still has a long journey ahead before hitting those heights.
Int'l Business Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
How High Can Bitcoin Fly This Cycle? Blockchain Pioneer Projects Between $500K And $1M
$BTC was trading below $103,000 as of late Wednesday but is only around 5% off from its all-time high Back suggested it's strange that Bitcoin hasn't skyrocketed as much despite recent positive developments A top Standard Chartered analyst has also said his Q2 price target of $120,000 is 'too low' Bitcoin has made significant strides since late 2024 following U.S. President Donald Trump's electoral victory, but for a prominent blockchain pioneer and the inventor of the first Proof-of-Work system, the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency can go as high as $1 million this cycle. Bitcoin cycles tend to run for a period of four years and for the current cycle before the next halving, Blockstream Founder and CEO Adam Back projects a potential price surge due to recent developments that affect the digital asset's price. $BTC's Current Price Is Too Low: Back In an interview with Decrypt published Wednesday, Back said the current prices of Bitcoin need to be higher. As of late Wednesday, the world's most valuable cryptocurrency was trading below $103,000 following a low of $98,000 in the past week. The digital coin's current trading price is off just 5% from its all-time high near $109,000, but Back expects the numbers to be higher as the cycle continues before the 2028 halving. "I'm thinking this cycle could get quite high, but the cycle stretches out a few years, right? So, I was thinking $500,000 to $1 million, because there's a lot going on," he explained. He went on to indicate that he thinks the current price of Bitcoin is strangely low, given the many changes crypto has gone through in the past few years. Among the developments he specifically mentioned were the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) early last year, and the policies of the current U.S. administration that brought positive changes for the crypto sector, including Trump's executive order establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve. "There doesn't seem to be a clear logical reason to me for why we are only at $100,000. That's not very high given all of the things that are different compared to a couple years ago," the famed computer scientist pointed out. Despite his questions around BTC prices, he projected that if the top crypto asset hits a new all-time high, "it could quickly become a lot higher." Standard Chartered Analyst Apologizes for 'Too Low' $BTC Price Target Back's comments came days after Standard Chartered Head of Digital Assets Research Geoff Kendrick apologized for his Bitcoin price target for the second quarter of 2025, which he set at $120,000 based on current developments around crypto. "I apologize if my $120,000 Q2 target may be too low," Kendrick said in a recent interview, triggering talks of just how high BTC will go in the coming months. It remains to be seen whether Bitcoin will fly as high as Back believes it can, but as of now, it is up 7% in the last seven days.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RETURN Limit Removal in Next Release
The debate over Bitcoin's OP_RETURN heats up, as developers of Bitcoin Core – the most popular node software – said they plan to scrap OP_RETURN entirely in the next release. The OP_RETURN limit is an 80-byte cap on the amount of arbitrary data that can be embedded in a Bitcoin transaction using a special, unspendable output field. 'Large-data inscriptions are happening regardless and can be done in more or less abusive ways,' said Core contributor and Engineer at Blockstream Greg Sanders, known as 'instagibbs,' in a post on Github announcing the removal. 'The cap merely channels them into more opaque forms that cause damage to the network.' The debate centered on whether lifting the 80-byte OP_RETURN limit promotes transparency and simplifies data use on Bitcoin, or whether it opens the door to abuse, spam, and a shift away from Bitcoin's financial focus. On Github, Sanders added that enforcing the cap has created perverse incentives pushing users to embed data in fake public keys or spendable scripts. Removing the limit, he argues, 'yields at least two tangible benefits: a cleaner UTXO set and more consistent default behavior.' Not everyone is convinced. Core developer Luke Dashjr has long viewed inscriptions and other data storage as spam, and warned in April 2025 that this change was 'utter insanity.' Amid the controversy, Bitcoin Knots, also maintained by Dashjr, has seen growing adoption, hitting approximately 5% share of all nodes. ( Bitcoin Knots, a more customizable fork of Bitcoin Core, appeals to users seeking greater control over what their nodes relay or store, including allowing users to reject non-payment transactions like inscriptions. Some prominent thought leaders in the industry, like Samson Mow, are encouraging node operators not to upgrade their version of Bitcoin Core, or use Knots instead. Sanders defended the removal of the cap as aligned with Bitcoin's ethos: minimal, transparent rules. 'By retiring a deterrent that no longer deters,' he wrote, 'Bitcoin Core lets the fee market arbitrate competing demands.' But that isn't bringing much consensus. 'This marks a fundamental shift in the direction of Bitcoin,' one commenter warned on GitHub. "This is the largest mistake Core can make at this juncture," another on Github added. 'I want to be on the record saying that.' CORRECT: (May 6, 08:14 UTC): Removes "former" developer from seventh paragraph.
National Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
Blockstream Shares Key Strategic Update on Growth & Expansion in 2025
Article content Article content MONTREAL, Quebec — Blockstream, the global leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, has shared a key strategic update today highlighting several recent milestones, as the company looks to unveil several new innovations to expand Bitcoin's role in institutional finance and everyday user experience later this year. As announced previously, Blockstream raised $210 million in a financing round led by Fulgur Ventures in October 2024, and has already significantly expanded development and investment across its infrastructure and software offerings in 2025. Article content 'We are at a pivotal moment for Bitcoin's growth,' said Blockstream Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Adam Back. 'Spot ETFs have opened the floodgates, institutions are rushing to engage with Bitcoin, and individual interest is accelerating. As we look ahead, we will continue to explore ways to deliver the greatest impact with a focus on building the financial rails and infrastructure to help secure Bitcoin's success long term.' Article content As part of this broader expansion strategy Blockstream Mining, which becomes a newly independent company and will continue to operate under the well-established 'Blockstream Mining' brand, has also entered a new phase of growth, with over $350 million raised through a combination of equity and debt financing, alongside investments in its latest Blockstream Mining Note (BMN2). Article content Former President of Blockstream Mining Chris Cook, who launched and led the division, will serve as CEO of the newly independent company, bringing deep operational expertise and continuity of leadership. Article content Blockstream Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Adam Back, whose technical leadership and long-term vision were instrumental in shaping the mining business, will continue to support the company in an advisory role. Blockstream Satellite, which has long provided global Bitcoin data broadcast coverage, will also transition under the remit of the new mining entity. Article content Blockstream is additionally spinning out its ASIC division as a separate company with Assaf Gilboa as CEO (formerly EVP of Blockstream's Hardware Division), which will include a follow-on investment round and second in-progress round with the use of capital focused on ASIC R&D, including foundry services. Article content Key focus areas for Blockstream will continue to include development on Bitcoin layer-2 networks such as Liquid and Lightning, self-custody solutions like Blockstream Green and Jade, including the all-new Jade Plus, and institutional-grade custody tools. Article content Several new products aimed at creating a more streamlined and integrated user experience across Blockstream's technology stack are set to be unveiled at Bitcoin 2025 – Las Vegas in May. Article content To meet growing institutional demand, Blockstream launched Blockstream Asset Management (BAM) in February 2025, a new division focused on developing Bitcoin investment products for pensions, endowments, foundations and other sophisticated investors. Led by recently appointed CIO Sean Bill, a thirty-year hedge fund industry veteran, BAM reflects Blockstream's strategy to deliver end-to-end Bitcoin solutions built on Blockstream's full technology stack. Article content In January, Blockstream Capital Partners also completed a $75 million strategic investment into Komainu, a regulated digital asset custodian backed by Nomura's Laser Digital. The investment supports the integration of Blockstream's Liquid Network, Asset Management Platform (AMP) and enterprise-grade hardware security module (HSM) into Komainu's custody and off-exchange settlement systems, helping to raise the bar for institutional-grade infrastructure within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Article content Blockstream's long-term commitment to Bitcoin R&D remains at the heart of its vision. In November 2024, the company launched a dedicated research center in Lugano, Switzerland, focused on accelerating product development for the Liquid and Lightning networks and fostering collaboration with startups and academic institutions across Europe. Article content To further support its global expansion, Blockstream also opened a new office in Tokyo in early 2025, strengthening its presence in Asia and expanding collaboration with partners and developers in the region. Article content These efforts reinforce Bitcoin's role as a global financial and settlement layer, while supporting the next wave of decentralized innovation. Article content Founded in 2014, Blockstream is a global leader in Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure, with offices and team members distributed around the world. Article content Serving as the technology provider for the Liquid Network, Blockstream offers a sidechain solution that enables secure, trustless Bitcoin swap settlements and robust smart contracts, empowering financial institutions to tokenize assets efficiently. Article content The companyʼs Core Lightning is a leading implementation of the open Lightning Network protocol, widely adopted for enterprise Bitcoin Lightning Network deployments. Article content Blockstream Jade, an open-source hardware wallet, delivers advanced security for Bitcoin and Liquid assets in an easy-to-use form factor. 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