Latest updates: Blockstream collaborates with Tether and Bitfinex in establishing a local research lab at the National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), with CEO @Adam Back presenting five students with scholarships to launch the initiative.

The second day of the Liquid Developer Bootcamp has come to a close. Nearly 40 software developers participated, gaining hands-on experience with the @Liquid Network Wallet Kit, Blockstream AMP, @Boltz - Non-Custodial Bitcoin Bridge swaps, and other layer-2 technologies. A huge thank you to all the local sponsors, attendees and instructors! Onward! 🙏

The @Liquid Network Developer Bootcamp is now in full swing! Engineers from Blockstream and Boltz have teamed up to lead a two-day onboarding session, helping local talent move from EVM to Bitcoin and Liquid to facilitate RWAs in Taiwan.

Another update from the field: @Adam Back spoke to Taiwan Parliament about the opportunity to build a robust capital markets system on Bitcoin technology. He also echoed legislators' positive sentiments on the potential for a Bitcoin ETF.

比特幣傳奇Adam Back進攻立法院！提「台灣資產代幣化」打造新護城河 | 動區動趨-最具影響力的區塊鏈新聞媒體

Blockstream Update: During day two of the Taiwan Blockchain Summit, Blockstream CEO @Adam Back continued Bitcoin activities with a keynote, meeting with members of the media and participating in a panel led by Bitfinex Securities covering the potential of RWAs in Taiwan and Asia.

Montreal, QC, Nov. 19, 2024. We’re thrilled to welcome Sean Bill as our Chief Investment Officer to lead Blockstream’s new Asset Management Division. --- Sean Bill brings over 30 years of experience in traditional finance, including roles as CIO at Prime Meridian Capital Management and Treasurer at Santa Clara VTA. He’s a recognized leader and advocate for Bitcoin adoption in institutional portfolios.

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Prime Meridian Capital Management (@PMIfunds) on X

Prime Meridian wins another Hedgweek award. @macrocrunch, CIO Sean Bill picked up the trophy in New York.

--- Sean will lead the creation of Bitcoin-based financial and investment solutions, leveraging Blockstream’s technology stack, including the Liquid Network. “Bitcoin is hitting all-time highs and institutional interest is unprecedented.” – @Adam Back, CEO. --- New Bitcoin financial products in development: → Bitcoin Yield Fund: Aims to function like a money market fund for Bitcoin holders. → USD Yield Fund: Offers lending opportunities via bitcoin-backed loans. These products enhance liquidity for Bitcoin holders seeking yield or access to capital. --- These solutions will run on our Asset Management Platform (AMP), enabling tokenized assets on the @Liquid Network . AMP ensures security, scalability, and compliance with AML/KYC standards, bridging Bitcoin and mainstream finance.

Blockstream: Bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure

Blockstream AMP: Digitize your assets

Issue and manage digital assets on the Liquid Network with Blockstream AMP’s flexible API.

--- The Liquid Network already supports $1.8B in real-world assets (RWAs), including stablecoins and securities, representing nearly 15% of the blockchain-based RWA market.

The Liquid Network

The Liquid Network: The Financial Layer for Bitcoin Capital Markets

Liquid is an open-source Bitcoin layer-2 that enables fast, confidential bitcoin payments and secure asset issuance.

--- Sean’s leadership will drive Blockstream’s vision of end-to-end Bitcoin-based financial solutions forward, delivering innovative products tailored to growing institutional demand. --- “I’m excited to join Blockstream at such a pivotal time. Together, we’ll create superior financial products that meet the evolving needs of the market.” – Sean Bill, CIO Full press release:

Blockstream: Bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure

Blockstream Appoints Sean Bill as Chief Investment Officer to Lead New Asset Management Division

Award-winning hedge fund leader to drive Blockstream’s strategic expansion towards end-to-end, Bitcoin-based financial and investment solutions.

Blockstream CEO @Adam Back has officially kicked off the 9th Annual Taiwan Blockchain Summit, alongside Taiwan Minister of Digital Affairs, Huang Yen-nun. Next up for Blockstream: a panel to discuss RWAs on @Liquid Network and a two-day technical bootcamp with local developers. 🌊 ⚡️

With Bitcoin hitting all-time highs, self-custody isn’t just an option—it’s essential. Leaving BTC on an exchange? A risky bet. The real choice: hot wallet vs. cold wallet. Understanding the trade-offs between managing Bitcoin on internet-connected devices or a hardware wallet is key to safeguarding your BTC. 🧵 --- Hot wallets are always connected to the internet, making them convenient for quick transactions but vulnerable to online threats. They include web wallets, mobile wallets, and desktop wallets. While each offers benefits, their constant internet connection exposes them to potential risks. --- Web wallets are the least secure, with private keys stored in the browser or on a web server. This high exposure means your assets are only as safe as the browser’s defenses - high convenience, high risk. Web wallets aren’t recommended for long- or mid-term Bitcoin holdings but are useful for quick payments or connecting to websites. --- Mobile wallets, like Blockstream Green, BlueWallet, and Muun, offer slightly more security, with private keys stored on your phone. Phones generally have secure elements for key protection, but mobile wallets are still online, meaning your Bitcoin remains at risk if the device is compromised. Mobile wallets are great for day-to-day payments and mid-term holdings but aren’t suited for long-term storage of large holdings. --- Blockstream Green allows users to add an extra layer of security for larger or long-term holdings on a mobile wallet by offering 2FA-protected accounts. This enhanced security means an attacker would need both your recovery phrase and 2FA to access your wallet. Setting up multiple 2FA methods is recommended, prioritizing the authenticator app on a separate device, with options like email, SMS, or call as backups. --- Desktop wallets, such as Blockstream Green, Sparrow, and Electrum, run on your computer and store private keys locally. While they’re generally safer than web wallets, desktop wallets are still exposed to online threats. Malware or viruses can compromise your keys, making desktop wallets more secure than web or mobile wallets but not invulnerable.

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--- Blockstream Green on desktop also offers 2FA-protected accounts, adding a strong layer of defense: even if someone gains access to your device or knows your PIN, they can’t spend your funds without your 2FA method. Even if someone has your primary recovery phrase, 2FA is still required for fund access. However, if you lose your 2FA method, you won’t be able to access your funds for ~ 365 days until the CSV timelock expires. https://help.blockstream.com/hc/en-us/articles/900001391763-How-does-Blockstream-Green-s-2FA-multisig-protection-work#h_a0e00982-eb22-42f9-af2f-997bf0f67a09 --- Using a Bitcoin node, like Bitcoin Core, connects you directly to the network, adding control by bypassing third-party servers. However, if private keys are stored on an internet-connected computer, they’re still at risk. Pairing a Bitcoin Core node with a hardware wallet through Hardware Wallet Integration (HWI)—a solution developed by Blockstream Research’s achow101 - significantly enhances security by keeping keys offline, though it requires careful setup.

GitHub

GitHub - bitcoin-core/HWI: Bitcoin Hardware Wallet Interface

Bitcoin Hardware Wallet Interface. Contribute to bitcoin-core/HWI development by creating an account on GitHub.

--- Cold wallets, also known as hardware wallets, are designed for ultimate security. A hardware wallet like Blockstream Jade generates and stores your private keys offline, making them virtually immune to remote attacks. When a hardware wallet is paired with a hot wallet for transaction signing, the hot wallet coordinates the transaction, sends it to the hardware wallet for signing, then the hardware wallet sends it back to the hot wallet to broadcast. --- With a hardware wallet, your keys are generated offline and never touch an internet-connected device. https://store.blockstream.com/jade --- In the end, each wallet type has its role, but for the highest security, an open-source hardware wallet - a cold wallet - is essential for safeguarding Bitcoin. Don’t wait until you have a hardware wallet to start self-custody. A mobile wallet is fine for beginners - practice backing up, sending, and receiving Bitcoin now. As your holdings grow, you can upgrade to a hardware wallet for added security

Learn from our CEO @Adam Back how the @Liquid Network and Blockstream AMP enable Bitcoin like trading, but with assets like Micro Strategy stock for verified participants.

We’re 84,700% sure you should take self-custody of your Bitcoin with Jade and Green wallet today. Maybe even 42,350% sure you should use both together. Don't wait - take self-custody of your Bitcoin today. Download Blockstream Green and get it off the exchange.

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Comfortable using a mobile wallet? It may be time to upgrade your security with a Jade hardware wallet. https://store.blockstream.com/jade

On the blockchain, you can’t sell what you don’t own. Our CEO @Adam Back explains the capabilities of the @Liquid Network at Baltic Honeybadger by @Hodl Hodl.

On the brink of a possible Bitcoin strategic reserve, here’s a reminder to self-custody. Blockstream Green on desktop offers powerful tools for managing your HODL stack: track price, monitor fees, and organize your UTXOs with coin control.

With Bitcoin reaching new heights, there’s no better time to invest in a hardware wallet and secure your assets off exchanges. https://store.blockstream.com/jade

Today marks the release of the #Bitcoin whitepaper in 2008—a bold idea that’s now reshaping finance and freedom for millions. Here’s to the hodlers, haters, and developers who keep moving Bitcoin forward. Share the whitepaper with a friend here. ⬇️ https://blockstream.com/bitcoin.pdf

Blockstream is thrilled to have a strong presence at Lugano Plan B! Visit the @Liquid Network booth, grab a Blockstream Jade, and connect with @Adam Back, the Green wallet team, and Liquid devs as they share insights on advancing the ecosystem. Relai, using Greenlight as its Lightning solution is bringing Bitcoin to 100,000+ Europeans! Join @Relai 🇨🇭 CTO Adem Bilican_ in the UTXO Room on Oct 25, 10:15-11:15 AM, to learn how.

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Blockstream (@Blockstream) on X

In March, the European Bitcoin-only @relai_app activated non-custodial Lightning transactions through @BlksGreenlight. Now, it has scaled its offer...

Advanced covenant opcodes like `OP_CAT` and `OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK` have been live on the @Liquid Network for years. Join “The Covenants Dilemma” with Paolo Ardoino, Giacomo Zucco, Paul Faecks, and @tiero on Oct 25, 12:00-12:30 PM, WAGMI Stage, to explore what covenants mean for Bitcoin mainchain moderated by @JAN3 CEO @Samson Mow.

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Lugano Plan ₿ (@LuganoPlanB) on X

"Join Paolo Ardoino, Giacomo Zucco, and Paul Faecks for a panel discussion on 'The Covenants Dilemma,' moderated by Samson Mow. Don’t miss this i...

Max Keidun CEO of Debifi, a platform with extensive Liquid functionality, discusses “Institutional P2P: Bringing TradFi on the Bitcoin Standard.” Oct 25, 3:30-4:00 PM, P2P Stage. Explore Bitcoin finance bridging with traditional finance. https://x.com/debificom/status/1845891840840732697 Learn about “Bitcoin Companies in Lugano & the Plan ₿ Fund.” with Oleg Mikhalsky from Fulgur Ventures, a lead investor in the recent Blockstream funding round Oct 25, 5:45-6:05 PM, WAGMI Stage, for a look into Lugano’s Bitcoin vision. https://x.com/LuganoPlanB/status/1844015994622132320 Don’t miss Adam Back, Paolo Ardoino, Yves Choueifaty, and Alexandre Laizet in “Unlocking Capital: Bitcoin’s Role as a Store of Value.” Oct 26, 3:00-3:30 PM, WAGMI Stage, moderated by Jesse Knutson. Essential for understanding Bitcoin’s financial evolution. Roy Sheinfeld from @Breez ⚡️, a key partner of Greenlight, dissects “Bitcoin’s false dichotomy between SoV and MoE” on Oct 26, 5:00-5:30 PM at the WAGMI Stage. Join Roy to explore the evolving roles of Bitcoin in the economy.

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Lugano Plan ₿ (@LuganoPlanB) on X

🚨 "Bitcoin's False Dichotomy between SoV and MoE" 🪙 Keynote by Roy Sheinfeld at #LuganoPlanB ! Dive into the debate on Bitcoin's role as a st...

Blockstream has closed a $210M convertible note financing round led by Fulgur Ventures, driving our mission to bring Bitcoin into global finance. This capital accelerates layer-2 development, expands mining ahead of the next Bitcoin cycle, and grows one of the world’s largest BTC treasuries. Our layer-2 solutions, the @Liquid Network and Greenlight, bring secure, scalable Bitcoin tools to meet rising enterprise demand for Bitcoin-powered finance. Liquid builds the core infrastructure for asset tokenization on Bitcoin, while Greenlight enables non-custodial Lightning Network payments for developers and businesses. On the fundraise, Blockstream CEO Dr. @Adam Back said, “This fundraise is pivotal in our journey to bridge Bitcoin with broader finance. We're excited to bring on Michael Minkevich as COO, and to have Fulgur Ventures’ support in advancing Bitcoin finance.” With over 20 years in product engineering for finance, Michael Minkevich brings the expertise to deepen our fintech impact. At Luxoft, he led product engineering for Fortune 500 clients and drove the company’s US IPO. The Liquid Network, launched in 2018, operates through a global federation of over 70 members, enabling fast, confidential settlements and secure asset issuance without complex smart contracts. Today, over $1.8B in assets are issued on Liquid, including stablecoins and tokenized securities, with 3,844 BTC locked on-chain. Liquid is also pushing boundaries in the $300B real-world asset space. Mexico’s Mifiel Firma issued over $1B in promissory notes on Liquid, setting a new standard for non-bank access to global liquidity.

The Liquid Blog: Tracking the Latest in Bitcoin’s Financial Lay

Transforming Latin America’s Access to Global Capital

The Liquid Network, Mifiel and Tokenized Promissory Notes.

In July, we launched BMN2, the latest Blockstream Mining Note—another flagship real-world asset. This EU-compliant, hash rate-backed token builds on BMN1, launched in 2021, which saw up to 103% Bitcoin-denominated returns, further strengthening the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Blockstream Mining 2

Building on the success of BMN1. Participate in Bitcoin mining.

In May, our partner Stokr launched CMSTR, the first Bitcoin-backed security token on Liquid tradable against MicroStrategy shares via the Side Swap decentralized exchange. Get all the details on the $210M convertible note raise in the official press release here. ⬇️

Bloomberg.com

Bitcoin Infrastructure Firm Blockstream Raises $210 Million

Bitcoin developer Blockstream Corp. raised $210 million through a convertible note offering that will be used to finance the rollout of the company...

Simplicity, the much-anticipated smart contracting language that could revolutionize Bitcoin, has just hit a public blockchain: @Liquid Network Testnet. Developers can start building powerful next-gen contracts today with a new IDE. More details. 👇

Blockstream

Simplicity Arrives on Liquid Testnet

Back in 2017, when we first published the Simplicity whitepaper, our mission was to build a smart contracting language that outperforms Bitcoin Sc...

While building Simplicity, we developed a more developer-friendly "front-end" language called Simfony, which resembles the Rust programming language while elegantly mapping down to Simplicity. Simfony abstracts away some of Simplicity's functional programming details, making it much easier for developers to write programs and contracts. Developers can start building today with a new web IDE as a playground for creating Simfony smart contracts. We've provided some example programs to showcase various use cases, some of which are not possible in Bitcoin Script. The IDE also provides tools for managing public keys and generating addresses on the Liquid testnet. IDE:

Simplicity

Simplicity: Next-Generation Smart Contracts for Bitcoin

Build secure, transparent Bitcoin smart contracts with Simplicity. Learn, write, and deploy powerful contracts using Simplicity and SimplicityHL.

We've just finalized a new Blockstream Local module on hardware wallet and self-custody and have begun rolling it out to Bitcoin meetups around the globe! If you're part of the Local initiative, check your inbox in the coming days. Not signed up yet? Details below! View quoted note → By joining Blockstream Local, your Bitcoin meetup will receive: 📙 curated education resources 💻 early access to new Blockstream products 🪙 ability to create a revenue stream Meetups provide people with hands-on experience and in-person instruction to learn Bitcoin best practices. And for many, they're ground zero for the Bitcoin circular economy, which is why the continued growth of meetup groups is so important to us. Meetup organizers interested in joining can register using the link below.

Blockstream: Bitcoin and digital asset infrastructure

Grow Your Bitcoin Meetup: Education and Support with Blockstream Local

Elevate your Bitcoin meetup with Blockstream Local: Get educational packs, exclusive giveaways, and global visibility with BTC Map

This weekend, Blockstream Local is proud to support The @QuickBit Crypto Boutique at Learning BTC event, presented by @BULLBITCOIN.COM. 📍🇨🇦 Stop by for self-custody workshops and get $10 USD cash back in @Liquid Network BTC on Jade purchases.

No excuses! @Relai 🇨🇭 is leading the way in Lightning integration with Greenlight and @Breez ⚡️ Discover how easy it is to integrate Lightning with just a few lines of code.