Overview

Blockstream is a leading blockchain development company founded in 2014. Blockstream's core focus is on developing a new infrastructure for the legacy financial system, with key developments evolving around Bitcoin sidechains, and other blockchain-related applications. Their flagship technologies include their own implementation of the Lighting protocol and the Elements Project, an open-source sidechain capable blockchain platform. Blockstream have launched a number of products such as Liquid, an inter-exchange settlement network based on Bitcoin, Blockstream Green, a secure bitcoin wallet, as well as other products that provide real-time and historical cryptocurrency trade data, and colocation services for bitcoin mining operations.Blockstream are well known for their Blockstream Satellite product, an API (in beta) which broadcasts the Bitcoin blockchain to the entire planet via satellite, reducing Bitcoin’s dependency on internet access. According to Blockstream, "it works via Blockstream Satellite ground stations, known as "teleports," which participate in the Bitcoin network and transmit blocks to geosynchronous satellites. Geosynchronous satellites, orbiting at an altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 mi), receive the signal from the Blockstream Satellite teleports and broadcast it across a wide portion of the Earth. Anyone in the coverage area with a small satellite antenna and an inexpensive USB receiver can receive these blocks and ensure that their node is always in sync. Additionally, each Blockstream Satellite teleport also receive blocks from our other teleports around the world to ensure the teleports themselves do not become partitioned."Blockstream is also a core contributor and funder of Bitcoin Core and employs a number of Bitcoin Core developers. Blockstream have received funds from notable investors that include Blockchain Capital, Digital Currency Group, Horizons Ventures, AXA Strategic Ventures, Mosaic Ventures and others. They have also published a number of whitepapers around the topics of Confidential Assets, Strong Federations (interoperable blockchains), sidechains and removing the reliance on third party trust in modern financial systems.

Blockstream’s mission is to create the financial infrastructure of the future.