Bitcoin: The Emerging Layer of Global Finance

In his recent remarks, Marcus highlighted that Bitcoin’s infrastructure is now ready to scale globally thanks to the Lightning Network. Unlike traditional financial systems — such as SWIFT, which handles around $5 trillion daily, and Visa, which processes roughly $33 billion — the Lightning Network has the potential to support nearly free and instantaneous transactions.

Marcus emphasized that Bitcoin’s rise to surpass these systems will not happen overnight. Instead, he expects the expansion of wallet technologies and embedded payment systems to gradually accelerate mainstream adoption. This transition, he noted, will unfold alongside the ongoing digital transformation of global financial infrastructure.

The Role of Lightspark and the Lightning Network

Marcus’s company, Lightspark, is building scalable infrastructure to strengthen the Lightning Network and enhance Bitcoin’s utility as a payment system. Since 2023, the Lightning Network’s capacity has grown by over 3,000%, and the number of active nodes has surpassed 20,000 — a sign of the network’s accelerating maturity.

Lightspark provides APIs and SDKs that allow developers and businesses to easily integrate Lightning payments into their systems. These advancements make it technically feasible for Bitcoin to handle millions of transactions per second, positioning it as a serious competitor to existing global payment networks. Marcus believes these innovations will enable Bitcoin to evolve beyond its speculative image and function as a true financial backbone for the digital economy.

Institutional Adoption and Bitcoin’s Transformation

Marcus also pointed out that institutional adoption continues to strengthen Bitcoin’s position in global markets. With a market capitalization nearing $1.3 trillion and daily on-chain volumes ranging from $15 billion to $20 billion, Bitcoin is steadily gaining credibility among major investors and corporations.

He further noted that the emergence of stablecoin projects on Bitcoin — including Stacks and RGB — could accelerate this adoption wave. By allowing stablecoins to be issued directly on the Bitcoin network, these initiatives may drive wider use in both retail and cross-border payments.

As of 2025, Bitcoin’s hash rate has reached record highs, reinforcing its network security and reliability. Marcus concluded that once the infrastructure fully matures, Bitcoin will be able to rival traditional payment systems in both scale and efficiency — marking a new era in the evolution of global finance.

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SoFi announced a strategic partnership with Bitcoin payment infrastructure provider Lightspark. The company revealed the new service amid Bitcoin’s prominent price of $113,780. SoFi plans to launch the blockchain-powered money transfer service in Mexico later this year. 

SoFi CEO Anthony Noto emphasized the convenience for members on the X platform. According to Noto, users will be able to make international transfers directly through the SoFi app. This service positions the bank strongly in the global money transfer market, which reached $740.5 billion in 2024. 

SoFi + Lightspark = instant global payments.

Send money abroad in seconds, right from the @sofi app, powered by UMA.

Coming soon for → with more countries to follow.

The future of global payments is here: https://t.co/MxAA5o9k2Z pic.twitter.com/GFVq4KhoxF

— Lightspark (@lightspark) August 19, 2025

New Transfer Model Supported by UMA 

SoFi’s UMA-based solution allows users to convert U.S. dollars into Bitcoin in real-time. Funds are sent across borders via the Lightning Network, and recipients receive payments directly in their local currency. This provides significant advantages in both speed and cost. 

Lightspark’s UMA system enables transfers using email-like addresses. Founded in 2022 by PayPal’s former president David Marcus, the company quickly established global partnerships. SoFi will show exchange rates and fees to users before confirming transactions, emphasizing that costs will be below the national average. 

The service will be available 24/7 to SoFi’s 11.7 million members. Last year, Coinbase integrated Lightspark’s Bitcoin Lightning infrastructure. According to Coinbase, 15% of Bitcoin transactions occurred via the Lightning Network within 12 months. 

Meanwhile, Brazilian digital bank Nubank also partnered with Lightspark in 2024, planning to offer Bitcoin payments to its 100 million customers. However, Nubank has not yet confirmed full service activation. 

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Calacanis: “Time to Build a New Bitcoin”

Speaking to his 981,600 followers on X on March 14, Jason Calacanis said:

“Bitcoin has been a great game, but a few major players have taken over the market. It’s time to reset the game and build a better Bitcoin.”

Calacanis had also been an early investor in Robinhood and Keza, two Bitcoin-focused startups. Nevertheless, he claimed that Bitcoin, like all technologies, will eventually give way to new alternatives.

A New Opportunity for Bitcoin Layer-2 Projects!

In response to Calacanis’ remarks, many founders and executives of Bitcoin-focused initiatives emphasized that nothing can replace Bitcoin. However, they also highlighted the growing significance of layer-2 protocols built on the Bitcoin network.

Brady Swenson, co-founder of Swan Bitcoin, commented:

“Winning protocols aren’t replaced by something else; they are built upon.”

You Might Be Interested In: Elon Musk Talks About the Name of a New Memecoin!

Meanwhile, Cory Klippsten argued that Bitcoin is not just a technology but a revolution.

Lightspark CEO David Marcus also chimed in, saying Bitcoin’s functional gaps can be addressed through layer-2 solutions, adding:

“Trying to build a better Bitcoin is a fool’s errand.”

Bitcoin Gets Harder to Change as It Grows!

Many experts pointed out that Bitcoin’s massive network effect makes it increasingly powerful. While Muneeb Ali, one of the founders of Stacks, predicted that two-thirds of current Bitcoin layer-2 projects will disappear within three years, most agreed that Bitcoin itself cannot be replaced.

Bitcoin advocate Wayne Vaughan stated:

“People who see Bitcoin as just an asset or an application think it can easily be replaced, but Bitcoin is actually a network.”

Strive Funds CEO Matt Cole was even more direct:

“There will not be a better Bitcoin.”

This isn’t the first time Jason Calacanis has caused a stir in the crypto world. Back in 2020, he claimed that almost every crypto project globally was run by either “unqualified idiots” or “scammers.”

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Lightspark, a leading Lightning Network provider, facilitates the integration for Coinbase. This partnership allows Coinbase to leverage Lightspark’s infrastructure while maintaining control over its signing keys. Lightspark’s expertise simplifies node management and optimizes transaction success rates through its AI-powered engine.

Benefits of Coinbase’s Lightning Network Adoption:

Faster and Cheaper Transactions: Users will experience significant speed and cost improvements compared to traditional Bitcoin transactions on the main blockchain.

Enhanced Scalability: Lightning Network alleviates pressure on the Bitcoin network during periods of high transaction volume.

Lays groundwork for future applications: This integration paves the way for innovative Bitcoin use cases by increasing network liquidity.

Coinbase’s VP of Corporate & Business Development, Shan Aggarwal, emphasizes the partnership’s significance:

“We’re excited to partner with Lightspark to eliminate payment barriers and enable faster and cheaper Bitcoin transactions through support for the Bitcoin Lightning Network.”

This integration addresses a major pain point for users and is a crucial step for Bitcoin as adoption and transaction volume continue to rise.

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