Amboss Launches Self-Custodial Bitcoin Yield Service on Lightning Network

Amboss, a data-driven infrastructure firm focused on the Bitcoin Lightning Network, has launched Rails, a self-custodial yield product that allows users to earn bitcoin while supporting the performance and growth of the network. The new service taps into the Lightning Network's unique payment-routing economy and aims to solve one of the network’s long-standing challenges: liquidity.

Rails gives users the opportunity to become Liquidity Providers (LPs) while retaining full custody of their bitcoin—a key advantage in a market wary of centralized custodial risk. According to Amboss, yield is generated through activities like routing payments and leasing liquidity, and while returns aren't guaranteed, the platform is already seeing real-world momentum.

Built on Amboss’ proprietary AI infrastructure, Rails is designed to enhance Lightning's transaction speed, reliability, and scalability. “It’s not just about yield,” said Jesse Shrader, co-founder and CEO of Amboss.

“Rails is a transformative force for the Lightning Network. It helps businesses grow the network while putting their bitcoin to work.”

The product comes in two tiers. Rails LP targets companies, custodians, and high-net-worth individuals, requiring a minimum commitment of 1 BTC for one year. Liquidity Subscriptions, on the other hand, are designed for bitcoin-accepting businesses, with service fees starting at 0.5%.

The launch is backed by strategic partners including crypto exchange CoinCorner and Flux, a joint venture between CoinCorner and Axiom. CoinCorner has already integrated Rails into its exchange and payments ecosystem.

“We've been working with the Lightning Network for years,” said CoinCorner CFO David Boylan. “Rails gives us a more structured way to engage economically through liquidity leasing and routing. It makes bitcoin practical for day-to-day business.”

The Lightning Network—a Layer 2 protocol built on Bitcoin—enables fast, low-fee transactions through peer-to-peer payment channels. Despite growing adoption in dollar terms, the network’s capacity in BTC has plateaued in the 4,400 to 5,600 BTC range since 2022. Rails aims to shift that by incentivizing liquidity provisioning, a key barrier to broader adoption.

Amboss sees liquidity as the backbone of Lightning.

“Rails empowers participants to strengthen that backbone while earning a return. The result is a more robust network and a more viable global payment system,” the company said.

The service comes on the heels of growing excitement in the Lightning community. At the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, Block’s Bitcoin Product Lead Miles Suter shared that Block’s own routing node had earned a 9.7% annual return on Lightning liquidity—while maintaining full control of its bitcoin. The node is believed to manage around $10 million in liquidity.

“B-b-b-but no one uses Lightning!” quipped Lightning Labs CTO Olaoluwa Osuntokun on X. “What if I told you anyone can join the Lightning Network, deposit some sats, and compete with the likes of Block?”

Amboss’ Rails adds a compelling tool to the Lightning Network ecosystem, blending financial incentive with network utility. By enabling users to earn yield without surrendering custody, it paves the way for broader enterprise engagement—and helps move bitcoin one step closer to functioning as a scalable, global medium of exchange.