River Raises $35 Million to Strengthen Bitcoin Lightning Network Infrastructure
While enthusiasm around Bitcoin Ordinals has waned, a strong current of investment continues to flow into Bitcoin-focused companies. U.S.-based Bitcoin technology and financial services firm River has announced a $35 million Series B funding round, signaling continued institutional confidence in Bitcoin infrastructure.
The round was led by Kingsway Capital and included notable backers such as PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, Cygni, Goldcrest, and Valor Equity Partners. Despite the bear market, River’s successful fundraising highlights growing interest in building scalable Bitcoin ecosystems.
Institutional and Business Adoption Driving Growth
River CEO Alex Leishman attributed the renewed interest in Bitcoin to institutional and business adoption rather than hype-driven speculation. He noted that recent banking failures have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional finance, fueling demand for decentralized alternatives.
“This year’s bank failures and bailouts have been a wake-up call, revealing the cracks of the traditional financial system and reminding us why Bitcoin is so important—it’s a secure path to a stronger and more transparent global economy,” Leishman said.
Building on the Lightning Network
River operates one of the largest Bitcoin Lightning nodes in the world, managing liquidity and enabling faster, cheaper Bitcoin transactions. Its Lightning API allows companies to integrate Bitcoin payments seamlessly, positioning River as a key player in the Bitcoin payments landscape.
Notably, El Salvador’s Chivo wallet uses River’s Lightning infrastructure to facilitate near-instant Bitcoin payments—a testament to the company’s technical reliability and scalability.
River was among the earliest adopters of the Lightning Network, alongside exchanges like Bitfinex and Kraken. As the cost of mainchain Bitcoin transactions rises amid the recent meme coin surge, more exchanges—including Coinbase and Binance—are considering Lightning integration.
Expanding Global Bitcoin Infrastructure
Speaking at the Advancing Bitcoin conference in London, Leishman emphasized that the Bitcoin ecosystem is still in its early stages. “We’re building this really amazing foundation protocol-wise,” he said, calling for developers and entrepreneurs to focus on solving “real human problems” using Bitcoin.
River’s expansion plans align with a growing movement among Bitcoin-native companies. Recently, custody provider Unchained Capital raised $60 million, and El Salvador’s Bitcoin education initiatives have drawn global support.
The Future of Bitcoin Payments
As the Lightning Network matures, River’s infrastructure could play a pivotal role in accelerating Bitcoin adoption for everyday payments and cross-border transactions. With strong institutional backing and an expanding global footprint, River is positioning itself as a central force in Bitcoin’s transition from a store of value to a practical payments network.
The firm’s continued development and partnerships highlight the broader industry shift toward sustainable, scalable, and decentralized financial infrastructure built entirely on Bitcoin.
