Amboss Technologies has introduced RailsX, a new peer-to-peer trading platform built directly on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, marking another step in the network’s expanding role beyond payments. The announcement was made Friday at the PlanB Forum in El Salvador, a gathering focused on Bitcoin adoption and development.
RailsX is designed to enable direct swaps between bitcoin and stablecoins without intermediaries. Using atomic cross-asset swaps carried out through circular self-payments on Lightning channels, the platform allows users to trade while keeping full custody of their funds. According to Amboss, this approach removes the need for centralized exchanges and reduces counterparty risk.
At its core, RailsX combines Amboss’ existing Lightning liquidity marketplace, Magma, with Taproot Assets, the protocol that enables the issuance and transfer of assets, including stablecoins, on Bitcoin. Amboss said this structure supports decentralized trading while aligning with its reading of proposed U.S. regulatory frameworks, including the draft Clarity Act.
RailsX also builds on the company’s earlier product, Rails, a self-custodial bitcoin yield platform launched in May 2025. Together, Rails and RailsX are intended to form a broader ecosystem for Lightning liquidity providers, offering tools for yield generation, trading, and capital efficiency within a single network.
Beyond crypto-native functionality, Amboss is positioning its products to connect with traditional finance. Through partnerships with Magnolia and Bringin, Rails is being developed to support links to banking rails in the United States and Europe, allowing for fiat conversions. Amboss said this infrastructure could eventually open access to global foreign exchange markets, which process an estimated $9.5 trillion in daily volume.
Amboss CEO Jesse Shrader framed the launch as part of Bitcoin’s ongoing technical evolution. In a statement, he described RailsX as a move toward scalable, self-custodial financial tools that can support global peer-to-peer commerce on Bitcoin.
The announcement comes amid renewed interest in bringing stablecoins to Bitcoin using Taproot Assets. Industry figures such as Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and Lightning Labs CEO Elizabeth Stark have recently discussed efforts to expand stablecoin functionality on the network, highlighting a broader push to increase Bitcoin’s utility.
RailsX also reflects Amboss’ steady growth since raising $4 million in seed funding in 2023. The round was led by Stillmark, with participation from Valor Equity Partners, Draper Associates, Fulgur Ventures, and Ride Wave Ventures. Since then, Amboss has expanded its product lineup, including the launch of Ghost Addresses in late 2023, a feature aimed at reducing reliance on custodial Lightning wallets.
Amboss Technologies
The timing coincides with a period of strong growth for the Lightning Network itself. Recent data shows the network’s total dollar-denominated capacity surpassing $500 million earlier this year, while bitcoin capacity climbed to around 5,770 BTC. That figure represents a roughly 55% increase from levels seen in mid-2024.
As Lightning continues to mature, platforms like RailsX suggest a future where Bitcoin supports not only fast payments, but also self-custodial trading and liquidity markets. For Amboss, the launch underscores a broader vision of Lightning as a foundation for open, global financial infrastructure.
