Bitcoin infrastructure firm Breez has unveiled a major update to its developer toolkit, enabling users to send USDC and USDT stablecoins directly from their Bitcoin balances. The new feature supports over 30 blockchain networks, eliminating the previous need for users to hold stablecoins or convert Bitcoin in advance before making a payment.
Payments flow through the Lightning Network
According to information shared by Breez, the system combines the Lightning Network with an automatic conversion mechanism. When a user initiates a payment, their Bitcoin is instantly converted into USDC or USDT and sent to the recipient’s chosen blockchain network.
Once the sender enters the recipient’s wallet address, the Breez SDK identifies the target network, calculates the optimal conversion route, and transparently displays the amount, network, and transaction fees before approval. The transaction is then processed by liquidity providers such as Flashnet and Boltz, who handle the conversion from Bitcoin to stablecoin and transfer the coins to the selected network.
Roy Sheinfeld clarified that there is no need to issue USDT or USDC directly on the Lightning Network. Thanks to interoperability, users can make payments from their Bitcoin balance, while recipients get stablecoins on any supported network.
Breez also emphasized that users continue to hold Bitcoin right up until the payment is executed. On the recipient side, there’s no need to manage a separate stablecoin balance—the funds are delivered in the chosen network seamlessly. The company stated that the new feature is non-custodial and, in the initial phase, only supports outgoing stablecoin payments. Incoming stablecoin transfers from outside blockchain networks are planned for a future update.
Mini glossary: The Lightning Network is a second-layer payment network operating on Bitcoin, designed for faster and lower-cost transactions. It routes transfers off-chain and later settles them on the main Bitcoin network.
Aims to reduce integration complexity for developers
Breez developed this feature with a focus on developers, aiming to streamline stablecoin payment integration into applications without the hassle of connecting individually to each blockchain. This approach could allow users to manage both Bitcoin and stablecoin transactions from a single balance, minimizing complexity.
Renowned for its Bitcoin and Lightning-based payment infrastructure, Breez offers an SDK that lets developers embed Lightning functionalities directly into their products and services.
Lightning Network’s expanding use cases
The rollout comes at a time when startups are seeking broader financial and commercial applications for Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. In recent months, the network has been tested in scenarios well beyond small retail payments, demonstrating its scalability and utility.
In February, Secure Digital Markets, a provider of institutional trading and lending services, completed a $1 million Bitcoin payment to Kraken via the Lightning Network in under half a second—highlighting the protocol’s potential for large-scale corporate transfers.
That same month, Voltage introduced a revolving credit line integrated with Lightning payment flows, supporting settlement in US dollars. Meanwhile, event platform Satlantis launched a Bitcoin-focused ticketing system with built-in Lightning wallets. In March, Ark Labs, a Tether-backed Bitcoin infrastructure startup, secured $5.2 million in funding to develop technologies for stablecoin issuance, transfer, and settlement on the Bitcoin network.
Growth in Lightning Network adoption continues apace. As estimated by River in February, the network’s monthly transaction volume surpassed $1 billion by the end of 2025—a steep rise from approximately $12 million in 2021.
