Bitcoin

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, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250819638580/en/SoFi-Partners-with-Lightspark-to-Power-Blockchain-Enabled-International-Money-Transfers" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announced</a> 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.
<blockquote>
 SoFi + Lightspark = instant global payments. 🌍⚡Send money abroad in seconds, right from the <a href="https://twitter.com/SoFi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">@sofi</a> app, powered by UMA.Coming soon for 🇺🇸→ 🇲🇽 with more countries to follow.The future of global payments is here: <a href="https://t.co/MxAA5o9k2Z" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://t.co/MxAA5o9k2Z</a> <a href="https://t.co/GFVq4KhoxF" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/GFVq4KhoxF</a>— Lightspark (@lightspark) <a href="https://twitter.com/lightspark/status/1957789834971373793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">August 19, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<h2 id="header-0">Seamless International Transfers via SoFi App</h2>
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.
<h2 id="header-1">How UMA Powers the System</h2>
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.
<h2 id="header-2">Rising Adoption of Bitcoin Lightning</h2>
This development follows a growing trend of major financial players adopting <a href="https://cryptosnewss.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bitcoin</a> 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.
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US Bank SoFi Taps Bitcoin UMA for Global Money Transfers

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