Lightning Labs
Headquarters
San Francisco United States
About us
To bridge the world of open source software and the next-generation of bitcoin financial software.
Lightning Labs builds the software that powers the Lightning Network, a layer-two protocol that makes Bitcoin transactions faster, cheaper, and more scalable. The company develops open-source infrastructure that enables instant, high-volume, low-fee bitcoin payments — bridging the gap between Bitcoin's potential and everyday usability. With over 4,000 developers using their tools and major crypto companies like River Financial integrating their solutions, Lightning Labs has become the primary infrastructure provider for the Lightning Network. The team operates as a fully remote, international organization with members distributed globally.
Products
The flagship product is the Lightning Network Daemon (LND), an open-source node implementation that forms the backbone of Lightning Network infrastructure. Lightning Terminal provides a web-based dashboard for node operators to manage liquidity and monitor network activity. Loop helps users move funds between the Lightning Network and Bitcoin blockchain through submarine swaps, while Pool operates as a marketplace for buying and selling channel liquidity. Taproot Assets enables developers to issue digital assets and stablecoins on Bitcoin that can be transferred via Lightning. The newest offering, LN Agent Tools, uses the L402 protocol to enable AI agents to send and receive micropayments autonomously.
Funding
Lightning Labs has raised $82.5 million across three funding rounds. The most recent was a $70 million Series B in April 2022, led by Valor Equity Partners with participation from Baillie Gifford, Brevan Howard, NYDIG, and Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. Earlier rounds include a $10 million Series A in February 2020 and a $2.5 million seed round in March 2018. Notable investors include Jack Dorsey, Craft Ventures, and Digital Currency Group.
Recent news
In February 2026, Lightning Labs released an open-source toolkit utilizing the L402 protocol, enabling AI agents to autonomously transact on the Bitcoin Lightning Network without requiring identity verification, API keys, or traditional bank accounts.
Technology
Core systems are built primarily in Go, with the Lightning Network Daemon serving as the foundational infrastructure. Backend services also use Rust for performance-critical components, along with C/C++ and Java for various integrations. Frontend applications like Lightning Terminal use TypeScript, React, and Next.js, with MobX for state management. The infrastructure runs on AWS with Kubernetes orchestration, using PostgreSQL for data storage and etcd as a distributed key-value store. Engineers work directly with Bitcoin protocols including Taproot Assets and L402, while incorporating AI development tools like Cursor and Claude Code.
Benefits
Lightning Labs offers a fully remote work environment with flexible schedules across a globally distributed team. The company provides comprehensive healthcare coverage for employees and their families, generous paid time off, and paid holidays. Team members receive performance-based bonuses and equity opportunities. The culture emphasizes continuous learning, with senior engineers expected to mentor teammates. As a mission-driven organization focused on bringing financial freedom through Bitcoin, the company attracts professionals passionate about decentralized finance and open-source development.