SOFI

SoFi Technologies is set to make history as the first US bank to integrate Bitcoin’s Lightning Network and Universal Money Address (UMA), enabling faster and cheaper cross-border payments. The move comes under a strategic partnership with Bitcoin infrastructure provider Lightspark, announced Tuesday.The digital bank aims to compete in the global remittance industry, valued at over $740 billion in 2024, by offering blockchain-powered money transfers starting later this year in Mexico.
SoFi + Lightspark = instant global payments. 🌍⚡Send money abroad in seconds, right from the @sofi app, powered by UMA.Coming soon for 🇺🇸→ 🇲🇽 with more countries to follow.The future of global payments is here: https://t.co/MxAA5o9k2Z pic.twitter.com/GFVq4KhoxF— Lightspark (@lightspark) August 19, 2025
Seamless International Transfers via SoFi App
According to SoFi CEO Anthony Noto, members will soon be able to send money internationally directly from the SoFi mobile app. For millions of users who regularly send remittances to loved ones abroad, this integration promises a meaningful improvement in both speed and affordability.
The new service allows customers to convert US dollars into Bitcoin in real-time, transferring funds across borders through the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Once processed, the money is delivered directly to the recipient’s bank account in their local currency.
How UMA Powers the System
At the core of the service is Lightspark’s UMA (Universal Money Address), which enables payments using simple, email-like addresses. Founded in 2022 by David Marcus, former president of PayPal, Lightspark has been working to simplify Bitcoin Lightning adoption for financial institutions.
SoFi confirmed that costs will be below the national average for remittances, with exchange rates and fees shown upfront for transparency. The service will operate 24/7 for SoFi’s 11.7 million members.
Rising Adoption of Bitcoin Lightning
This development follows a growing trend of major financial players adopting Bitcoin Lightning. In April 2024, Coinbase integrated Lightspark’s infrastructure, which quickly gained traction, with 15% of its Bitcoin transactions moving over Lightning rails within the first year.
In Latin America, Nubank, the Brazilian digital banking giant with over 100 million customers, also announced a Lightspark partnership in June 2024. However, the bank has yet to fully confirm the rollout of its Bitcoin-powered payments.
With SoFi leading the way among US banks, analysts suggest that Lightning and UMA could transform the global remittance industry by making money transfers faster, cheaper, and more transparent.
The post appeared first on CryptosNewss.com
#SOFI $BTC

📅 August 19 | San Francisco, USA
In a move that could redraw the map of global remittances, SoFi Technologies, the renowned digital finance platform, announced a strategic alliance with Lightspark to implement the Bitcoin Lightning network in its international transfer services.
The news comes at a time when millions of users are looking for faster and cheaper alternatives to send money abroad, and Sofi aims to be the first major fintech in the US to bring this technology to a mass scale.

📖 SoFi is working directly with Lightspark, the firm founded by David Marcus (former PayPal and Meta executive, and one of Lightning's main evangelists) to integrate this payment layer on top of Bitcoin.
The goal is clear: to make Lightning the backbone of its international transfer service, offering payments in seconds, with significantly lower costs than traditional systems like SWIFT or remittance services.
SoFi, which already has more than 7 million active users and a strong position among young professionals and retail investors, is now seeking to differentiate itself in the global payments market. According to World Bank figures, international remittances will exceed $860 billion in 2024, with fees averaging around 6% of the amount sent. Lightning promises to drastically reduce those costs to almost zero, while improving settlement speed.
The integration with Lightspark will not be immediate. Sofi is in a pilot testing phase, evaluating the infrastructure and how to scale the service to millions of transactions. However, the mere news that a publicly listed fintech is betting on Lightning already sets a historic precedent: until now, this protocol was used primarily by exchanges, crypto startups, and some banks in Latin America.
David Marcus celebrated the partnership on social media, highlighting that Lightning could become the global instant payment network. For Sofi, the challenge will be to compete directly with giants like Wise, PayPal, or Western Union, but with a unique advantage: using Bitcoin as a base layer and Lightning as an efficiency engine.
If the experiment works, it won't just be Sofi users who will benefit: it could be the beginning of mass adoption of Lightning in traditional fintechs around the world.

Topic opinion:
Bringing Lightning to a fintech the size of SoFi isn't just a technological advancement; it's a direct blow to the traditional payment structures that profit from remittances. If SoFi manages to scale this solution, we'll see enormous pressure on banks and money transfer companies.
💬 Do you think Lightning will be the future of global remittances?

Leave your comment...
#SOFI #bitcoin #lightningnetwork #Remittances #CryptoNews $BTC

The digital asset space continues to evolve rapidly as U.S. states, financial institutions, and fintech innovators make bold moves shaping the future of money. This week, developments around state-backed stablecoins, regulatory debates, and new blockchain-powered services highlight the growing tension—and opportunity—within the crypto ecosystem.

Wyoming Pioneers With State-Backed Stablecoin

Wyoming has once again solidified its reputation as the most crypto-friendly U.S. state by launching FRNT, America’s first state-issued stablecoin. Fully backed by cash and U.S. Treasuries, FRNT is designed to offer secure, transparent, and reliable digital transactions.
This initiative represents a landmark in the U.S. regulatory landscape, showcasing how public institutions can integrate blockchain technology into real-world financial systems. If successful, Wyoming’s stablecoin could set the blueprint for other states—and potentially even the federal government—to follow.

Banks Push Back Against Basel’s Crypto Rules

While Wyoming is embracing blockchain, the global banking industry is taking a more cautious stance. Leading financial groups—including the Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA), Institute of International Finance (IIF), and ISDA—are lobbying the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to delay and revise upcoming crypto asset regulations.
Banks argue that the proposed rules rely on outdated risk models and could make crypto-related activities economically unviable. This pushback highlights the ongoing struggle between innovation and regulation, as global watchdogs seek to balance stability with financial evolution.

Institutional Capital Eyes Crypto Hedge Funds

Institutional interest in crypto remains strong despite regulatory uncertainty. Re7 Capital, a digital asset investment firm, is reportedly raising $100 million for a new multi-strategy crypto hedge fund. Targeted at sophisticated investors, the fund signals that big money still sees crypto as a promising asset class, particularly for portfolio diversification and long-term growth.
Such moves reinforce the narrative that while retail markets may fluctuate, institutional players are steadily deepening their exposure to digital assets.

SoFi Expands Into Blockchain-Based Remittances

On the fintech front, SoFi has unveiled a blockchain-powered remittance service in partnership with Lightspark, leveraging the Bitcoin network. Initially launching in Mexico, the service promises faster, cheaper, and more secure cross-border payments compared to traditional remittance channels.
SoFi also has broader crypto ambitions, with plans to roll out staking, trading, and even stablecoin offerings. By combining fintech accessibility with blockchain efficiency, SoFi could position itself as a key bridge between mainstream finance and the crypto economy.

Final Thoughts

From Wyoming’s bold step into state-backed stablecoins to Wall Street’s regulatory resistance, the crypto industry is witnessing a mix of government-led innovation, institutional adoption, and fintech-driven disruption. These developments underline a clear trend: despite challenges, digital assets are increasingly becoming embedded in the global financial system.
#crypto #Stablecoins #SOFI #crt #CryptoNews

The fintech SoFi announced its return to the crypto ecosystem with a new international remittance service in partnership with Lightspark.

🌍 The service, which begins in Mexico, allows users to:

1️⃣ Convert USD to Bitcoin in the app.

2️⃣ Transfer funds through the blockchain.

3️⃣ Receive them in local currency, deposited directly into the recipient's bank account.

📊 With this move, SoFi aims to leverage the potential of crypto to reduce costs, speed up transfers, and provide greater transparency to remittances, a multi-billion dollar market in constant growth.

The crypto ecosystem continues to move quickly ⚡️. Regulators, companies, and markets are setting the pace of the day. Here’s what you need to know so far:

🏛️ Regulators in action

🇺🇸 Federal Reserve (U.S.): Michelle Bowman proposes that central bank employees be allowed to hold small amounts of crypto 💰. The idea is that this way they can better understand digital assets.

🇬🇧 FCA (United Kingdom): creates a specialized team to oversee crypto assets 👀. They aim to accelerate processes and combat unreliable companies.

1. 🏦 SoFi’s 6M+ Users Get Crypto Back
- Regulatory green light = more retail liquidity.
2. 🌿 Bitcoin Goes Green (52% Sustainable Mining)
- Silencing FUD with clean energy wins.
3. 🏢 Trump Tower Dubai Accepts BTC/ETH
- Luxury real estate meets crypto payments.
👇 Which trend will boost crypto most?
💬 Comment & Follow @[bobj] for daily alpha!
#bitcoin #SoFi #DubaiCrypto #BinanceSquare