Lightspark and Cross River have joined forces to facilitate continuous, real-time fiat settlement via the Bitcoin Network and improved payment channels.
Following this announcement, Lightspark and Cross River have introduced a partnership aimed at providing 24/7 instantaneous payment processing by integrating Lightspark’s Bitcoin-native payments platform with Cross River’s diversified banking infrastructure. The collaboration seeks to eliminate traditional settlement windows and enhance liquidity across business-to-business (B2B), cross-border, and retail payment applications.
Under the agreement, Lightspark users will be able to complete transactions at any time through the RTP and FedNow networks, with Cross River’s sub-ledger system ensuring immediate transaction documentation and balance updates. Additionally, Lightspark’s technology is expected to empower financial institutions, payment providers, and businesses to manage payments and trade Bitcoin via the Bitcoin Network.
Technical Integration and Mechanisms
According to the official statement, Cross River, a US-based provider of technology infrastructure with embedded financial solutions, brings its proprietary API-first banking core to the partnership. Its sub-ledger framework will support real-time balance tracking, while its multi-rail capabilities enable settlement beyond standard banking hours. Lightspark is responsible for integrating the Bitcoin Network layer to connect digital asset tools with fiat payment systems.
This collaboration responds to an increasing demand for more efficient payment infrastructure. Stablecoin transaction volumes surged by 83% in 2025, as reported in the press release, highlighting the accelerating use of digital asset rails and the necessity of settlement infrastructure that can handle such growth.
The partnership is designed to cater to diverse payment scenarios. By enabling instantaneous transfers for B2B payments, cross-border transactions, and retail applications, it aims to address areas where delays and liquidity constraints have traditionally created challenges. The always-available settlement model seeks to minimize reliance on legacy timing restrictions associated with conventional correspondent banking and batch processing systems.
Strategic Landscape
Cross River’s strategy centers around API-based core banking services and embedded financial solutions, emphasizing partnerships with fintech companies. Its entry into the digital asset sphere underscores a broader trend among regulated banking infrastructure providers to diversify their offerings to include crypto-related uses, especially as there is growing institutional and corporate demand for real-time digital asset settlement.
For Lightspark, this partnership adds a layer of compliant fiat settlement to its Bitcoin Network-based payment infrastructure. This could make the platform more attractive for enterprises needing both digital asset functionality and conventional banking facilities.
