Blockstream sets up institutional advisory unit, opens Swiss office

Blockstream announced today that it has created a consulting arm for financial institutions and opened a location in Lugano, Switzerland. According to the company, the move puts banks, asset managers and other financial organizations in direct contact with its engineers and Bitcoin infrastructure.

Through Blockstream Consulting Services, institutions will get help evaluating, designing and putting in place Bitcoin-focused financial infrastructure. The firm said the unit will develop solutions for tokenized asset issuance, confidential settlement and supporting infrastructure, offering services that range from technical strategy and system architecture to integration and deployment.

Blockstream intends to serve clients in Zurich, Geneva and Zug and across the rest of Switzerland from its Lugano office. The Lugano location is meant to anchor Blockstream's European operations, the company said, supporting client relationships, strategic partnerships and cooperation with the region's finance and technology communities.

"Switzerland is an important market for Blockstream given its longstanding banking tradition and supportive regulatory framework for digital assets," said Peter Bain, chief marketing officer of the company. "We look to provide regional expertise in markets where we see demand for Bitcoin infrastructure. Our consulting business, combined with our new office in Lugano, will bring tailored Bitcoin solutions to financial institutions across Europe."

Blockstream, founded in 2014, focuses on technology and services for Bitcoin custody, settlement, payments, asset issuance and self-custody. Its product lineup includes the Liquid Network sidechain, Elements, Simplicity, Core Lightning, the Jade hardware wallet and the Blockstream App. The company also rolled out Simplicity smart contracts on Liquid and gave Jade Lightning support this year.

Institutions step up bitcoin adoption

Blockstream said the advisory arm taps into that background, bringing expertise in cryptography, protocol engineering, security and financial technology. Institutions will be able to draw on the company's technical staff through multidisciplinary teams, starting at initial evaluation and continuing through deployment.

"The next phase of Bitcoin adoption is its integration into existing financial systems," said Adam Back, Blockstream's co-founder and CEO. "Our extensive experience in Bitcoin cryptography, protocol development and engineering gives Blockstream the technical expertise to address the complexities of integrating Bitcoin into traditional financial infrastructure."

Blockstream cast the expansion as an extension of its longstanding commitment to Switzerland and of a wider push to establish itself in important markets for institutional bitcoin adoption.

Switzerland has emerged as a hub for digital-asset companies, home to Zug's "Crypto Valley" and rules that allow banks to custody and trade bitcoin for customers.

Neither pricing, staffing numbers for the Lugano office nor named clients for the advisory unit were disclosed. Blockstream confirmed the Lugano office is now operating and that consulting work is open to institutions throughout Europe.