Bitfinex invests in KaleidoSwap to establish the first Bitcoin-native DEX

Key Takeaways

• KaleidoSwap received pre-seed funding from Bitfinex Ventures and Fulgur Ventures to develop the first Bitcoin-native decentralized exchange.
• The platform will leverage RGB and Lightning Network to enable trustless BTC-USDT trading and expand Bitcoin DeFi capabilities.

KaleidoSwap, a decentralized exchange built on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, announced Monday it has secured pre-seed funding from Bitfinex Ventures and Fulgur Ventures.

The investment will support the development of KaleidoSwap’s RGB-based DEX on Lightning, aiming to establish the first native decentralized exchange for Bitcoin.

The funding announcement follows Tether’s recent commitment to bring USD₮ to RGB on August 28, 2025. KaleidoSwap focuses on enabling trustless BTC-USDT trading through Lightning and RGB, a smart-contracts and asset-issuance protocol for Bitcoin.

“Our mission is to create the go-to DEX for Bitcoin DeFi. With RGB on Lightning, we’re enabling trustless, scalable trading of BTC against stablecoins—paving the way for a vibrant ecosystem of assets and financial applications,” said Walter Maffione, CTO of KaleidoSwap.

Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Bitfinex, expressed support for the project:

“We are delighted to be an early investor in KaleidoSwap. We have been a long-time supporter of RGB and Lightning technologies, and are committed to making Bitcoin the most efficient transaction solution for everyone.”

“Kaleidoswap’s vision fully aligns with ours: build on Bitcoin, leverage Lightning for scalability, and use RGB for smart contracts. We see enormous potential in a Bitcoin-native DEX and are proud to support the team in their mission,” said Oleg Mikhalsky of Fulgur Ventures.

The company aims to become a decentralized liquidity hub for the broader Bitcoin economy, leveraging Bitcoin’s position as the world’s most liquid digital asset alongside Lightning’s scalability, privacy, and decentralization features.

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