Blockstream Fills Gap Left by Boltz with Swaps Service in Beta

Blockstream has launched its Swaps service in beta, aiming to fill the gap left by Boltz's shutdown. The service allows users to move Bitcoin across the main chain, Lightning Network, and Liquid sidechain without intermediaries. Blockstream emphasizes that it is not seeking to replace any providers, but rather add redundancy and resilience to the ecosystem.

The Swaps service was in development before Boltz's indefinite suspension of its own swap service due to AI-assisted breaches. Blockstream clarified that it had already been working on Swaps, but the news triggered a sense of urgency within the team.

Blockstream builds and maintains Liquid itself, a federated sidechain whose LBTC is a Bitcoin-pegged asset. The firm has added mainchain Bitcoin to the Lightning-Liquid atomic swaps it shipped in December 2022, effectively closing the triangle between all three Bitcoin layers.