# Blockstream launches Blockstream Swaps for Bitcoin, Lightning, and Liquid networks > Source: > Published: 2026-08-17 09:02:47+00:00 Via blockstream.medium.com # Blockstream launches Blockstream Swaps for Bitcoin, Lightning, and Liquid networks The new service lets users move funds between Bitcoin's mainchain, Lightning, and the Liquid sidechain using trustless atomic swaps, arriving just days after Boltz suspended its competing service. Blockstream has rolled out a new product called Blockstream Swaps, enabling users to move funds seamlessly between Bitcoin’s mainchain, the Lightning Network, and the Liquid Network. The service, announced on August 10, 2026, is currently in beta with select participants and aims to fill a growing gap in Bitcoin’s cross-layer infrastructure. The timing is notable. Just one week earlier, on August 3, Boltz, the most prominent swap service connecting these same Bitcoin layers, suspended operations after a wave of AI-directed attacks forced it offline. ## How the swaps actually work Under the hood, Blockstream Swaps uses HTLC-based atomic swap mechanisms. HTLC stands for Hash Time-Locked Contract, which is essentially a smart contract that ensures either both sides of a trade complete or neither does. This trustless design means no intermediary ever holds your funds during a swap. If something goes wrong mid-transaction, the funds return to their original owner after a timeout period. The service supports what are known as submarine swaps. These allow users to convert on-chain BTC into LBTC (Liquid Bitcoin, the pegged native asset of the Liquid Network) and route payments through Lightning. Blockstream Swaps consolidates that into a single interface. The pitch is straightforward: pick your source layer, pick your destination, and the atomic swap handles the rest. ## Why this matters now Boltz had been the go-to solution for this problem. Its self-custodial swap service connected Lightning and Liquid with atomic swaps. When Boltz went offline on August 3 due to a surge in automated, AI-assisted exploits targeting its infrastructure, it exposed a single point of failure in the ecosystem’s plumbing. No user funds were compromised during the attacks. The self-custodial architecture held up exactly as designed. Blockstream has been careful to frame its new product as complementary rather than a replacement. The company has stated it does not intend to displace existing platforms but rather to enhance the overall infrastructure available to users. ## Building on prior work Blockstream Swaps didn’t materialize overnight. The company launched Lightning-Liquid atomic swaps back in December 2025, laying the technical groundwork for this broader product. The current release extends that foundation to include mainchain Bitcoin as a source and destination, completing the triangle between all three layers. Blockstream also developed and maintains the Liquid Network itself. Liquid is a federated sidechain where a consortium of functionaries, including major exchanges and financial institutions, manage the peg between BTC and LBTC. Beta access is currently available by request, with a broader rollout planned for general availability. The company hasn’t announced specific timelines for the full launch. **Disclosure:** This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our [Editorial Policy](https://cryptobriefing.com/editorial-policy/).