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Crypto Boom in Latin America: Nubank Brings Bitcoin Lightning to Its 100M Latin American Customers

Nubank Integrates Lightning Network! ⚡️ 100M Latin American users gain access to faster, cheaper Bitcoin transactions.

Brazilian neobank Nubank is making waves in the financial world by partnering with Lightspark to bring the Bitcoin Lightning Network to its 100 million customers across Latin America. This move marks a significant milestone in the adoption of blockchain technology in the region, promising faster and more cost-effective transactions.


A gold Bitcoin , representing the integration of the Bitcoin Lightning Network by Nubank.


Nubank's Partnership with Lightspark


  • Nubank announced on June 25th that it is working with payments platform Lightspark to integrate the Bitcoin Lightning Network. This collaboration aims to enhance the speed and reduce the cost of transfers for Nubank’s massive customer base. Lightspark, co-founded in 2022 by former PayPal president David Marcus, focuses on building Lightning Network infrastructure for enterprises.


  • Lightspark will also implement the Universal Money Address (UMA) standard for Nubank, which allows users to send and receive money using an email-like address. This integration is part of Nubank's broader strategy to leverage blockchain technology for high-speed, low-cost transfers.


Impact on the Bitcoin Lightning Network


  • The integration with Nubank is expected to significantly increase the usage of the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Lightspark noted that this collaboration is a “significant milestone” that will “dramatically impact overall network usage at a time when it’s most needed.” With Nubank's extensive customer base, primarily in Brazil, the partnership is poised to boost the adoption and utility of the Lightning Network.


Nubank's Cryptocurrency Journey


  • Nubank’s cryptocurrency services were launched in May 2022, coinciding with the announcement that it would allocate 1% of its net assets to Bitcoin. The bank, backed by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, allows trading of 14 cryptocurrencies and partnered with stablecoin issuer Circle to expand access to USD Coin (USDC) in November.

  • Approximately 92 million of Nubank's customers are in Brazil, with the rest primarily in Mexico and Colombia. According to Kaiko Research, most cryptocurrency trading volume in the region is facilitated in Brazilian real trading pairs, followed by Mexican, Argentinian, and Colombian pesos.



Nubank's partnership with Lightspark to integrate the Bitcoin Lightning Network represents a major step forward in the adoption of blockchain technology in Latin America.

By offering faster and cheaper transactions, Nubank is setting a new standard for financial services in the region, positioning itself as a leader in the fintech and cryptocurrency space.


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