Financial and Business News

Largest-Ever $1M Lightning Transaction Marks Bitcoin’s Leap Toward Faster Settlements

Thursday, 05/02/2026 | 17:51 GMT by Jared Kirui
  • Lightning is widely used for small payments, but its suitability for large institutional settlements remains uncertain.
  • Revolut recently partnered with Lightspark to roll out Lightning Network payments for users in the UK.
Bicoin-lightning
Finance Magnates

Secure Digital Markets (SDM) has completed a $1 million Bitcoin transaction over the Lightning Network in a pilot settlement with cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, marking what the firms say is the largest publicly reported Lightning payment to date.

The transaction, executed on Jan. 28 and valued at $1 million at the time, reportedly settled nearly instantly and with minimal fees.

According to the official announcement, it was facilitated using enterprise Lightning infrastructure from Voltage, a Bitcoin payments and infrastructure provider focused on institutional clients.

Pointing to Faster Settlement for Institutions

“We have moved past the era of questioning Bitcoin's institutional capacity. Now, the only remaining variable is how quickly lagging institutions will abandon legacy systems,” said Mostafa Al-Mashita, Co-Founder and Director of Sales & Trading at SDM.

Mostafa Al-Mashita, Source: LinkedIn

While the network has been widely used for small consumer payments , its suitability for large institutional settlements has remained an open question.

Traditional Bitcoin transactions can take minutes or longer to confirm and are subject to fluctuating fees, factors that complicate treasury operations and inter-institution settlements.

SDM said the pilot demonstrated that Lightning could support use cases such as internal treasury movements, large-value settlements, and transfers between trading venues without the delays associated with on-chain settlement.

Read more: Bitcoin Hit $74K and This BTC Price Prediction Suggests It Will Now Rebound to ATH

Kraken, one of the longest-operating crypto exchanges, has supported Lightning for retail payments for several years. The firm said the transaction reflects growing demand from institutional clients for faster settlement options.

Cutting Reliance on Legacy Payment Rails

The transaction relied on Voltage’s managed Lightning infrastructure, which provides liquidity management, node uptime, and operational guarantees designed to meet institutional requirements.

Lightning is a second-layer network built on Bitcoin that enables faster and cheaper payments by moving transactions off the base blockchain.

The network is getting a boost giant fintech firms. Last year, Revolut announced a collaboration with Lightspark to enable payments over the Bitcoin-based Lightning Network, aiming to streamline crypto transfers for users in the UK and selected European markets.

Lightspark, founded by former PayPal executive David Marcus, positions itself as a gateway to the “Money Grid,” a decentralized network for instant global payments. Through this infrastructure, Revolut aims to upgrade its crypto services by enabling smoother Bitcoin transfers.

Secure Digital Markets (SDM) has completed a $1 million Bitcoin transaction over the Lightning Network in a pilot settlement with cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, marking what the firms say is the largest publicly reported Lightning payment to date.

The transaction, executed on Jan. 28 and valued at $1 million at the time, reportedly settled nearly instantly and with minimal fees.

According to the official announcement, it was facilitated using enterprise Lightning infrastructure from Voltage, a Bitcoin payments and infrastructure provider focused on institutional clients.

Pointing to Faster Settlement for Institutions

“We have moved past the era of questioning Bitcoin's institutional capacity. Now, the only remaining variable is how quickly lagging institutions will abandon legacy systems,” said Mostafa Al-Mashita, Co-Founder and Director of Sales & Trading at SDM.

Mostafa Al-Mashita, Source: LinkedIn

While the network has been widely used for small consumer payments , its suitability for large institutional settlements has remained an open question.

Traditional Bitcoin transactions can take minutes or longer to confirm and are subject to fluctuating fees, factors that complicate treasury operations and inter-institution settlements.

SDM said the pilot demonstrated that Lightning could support use cases such as internal treasury movements, large-value settlements, and transfers between trading venues without the delays associated with on-chain settlement.

Read more: Bitcoin Hit $74K and This BTC Price Prediction Suggests It Will Now Rebound to ATH

Kraken, one of the longest-operating crypto exchanges, has supported Lightning for retail payments for several years. The firm said the transaction reflects growing demand from institutional clients for faster settlement options.

Cutting Reliance on Legacy Payment Rails

The transaction relied on Voltage’s managed Lightning infrastructure, which provides liquidity management, node uptime, and operational guarantees designed to meet institutional requirements.

Lightning is a second-layer network built on Bitcoin that enables faster and cheaper payments by moving transactions off the base blockchain.

The network is getting a boost giant fintech firms. Last year, Revolut announced a collaboration with Lightspark to enable payments over the Bitcoin-based Lightning Network, aiming to streamline crypto transfers for users in the UK and selected European markets.

Lightspark, founded by former PayPal executive David Marcus, positions itself as a gateway to the “Money Grid,” a decentralized network for instant global payments. Through this infrastructure, Revolut aims to upgrade its crypto services by enabling smoother Bitcoin transfers.

Topics
bitcoin
About the Author: Jared Kirui
Jared Kirui
  • 2593 Articles
  • 53 Followers
Jared is an experienced financial journalist passionate about all things forex and CFDs.

More from the Author

CryptoCurrency

Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI

Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI

Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025. In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on: 🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation 🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards 🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets 🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements 🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes 🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape. 🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI

Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025. In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on: 🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation 🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards 🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets 🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements 🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes 🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape. 🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
More Videos

  • Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25

    Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25

    In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide. We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand. We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error. We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.

    In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide. We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand. We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error. We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.

  • Executive Interview | Brendan Callan | CEO, TRADU | FMLS:25

    Executive Interview | Brendan Callan | CEO, TRADU | FMLS:25

    Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner. In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences. We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading. This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.

    Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner. In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences. We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading. This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.

  • Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse

    Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse

    Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025. 🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on: 🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation 🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth 🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations 🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords 🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally 🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy 🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market. 🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview

    Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025. 🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on: 🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation 🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth 🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations 🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords 🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally 🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy 🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market. 🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025 👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events. #FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview

  • Blueberry Broker Review 2026: Regulation, Platforms, Fees & Trading Conditions | Finance Magnates

    Blueberry Broker Review 2026: Regulation, Platforms, Fees & Trading Conditions | Finance Magnates

    In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles. We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading. You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts. We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services. Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance. 📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage. Connect with us: 🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates 👍 Facebook: /financemagnates 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates 🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates ▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official #Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights

    In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles. We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading. You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts. We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services. Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance. 📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage. Connect with us: 🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates 👍 Facebook: /financemagnates 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates 🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates ▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official #Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights