Stacked Launches Lightning Wallet in NZ

Smartphone displaying lightning wallet icon, shield with keyhole overlay, and New Zealand map with location pin background.

Stacked Launches Self-Custodial Lightning Wallet – Expands Non-Custodial Bitcoin Access in New Zealand

Key Takeaways

Stacked, formerly known as Lightning Pay, has launched a self-custodial Bitcoin and Lightning wallet.
The company positions itself as New Zealand’s last major non-custodial Bitcoin exchange after recent mergers and closures.
Users can send fiat to Stacked and receive Bitcoin into self-custodied wallets, or pay bills and rent with Bitcoin.
The wallet integrates Breez and Spark SDKs and supports Lightning Network payments and scheduled purchases.
In the 2025 financial year, 227,000 New Zealanders conducted around 7 million crypto transactions, with local exchange volumes reaching NZ$7.8 billion.

Stacked Introduces Self-Custodial Wallet With Lightning Integration

Stacked, previously operating under the name Lightning Pay, has launched a self-custodial Bitcoin and Lightning wallet through its platform StackedBitcoin.com. The company describes the release as part of its strategy to make Bitcoin usable as everyday money rather than solely as a tradable asset held on custodial platforms.

The wallet is built with Breez and Spark SDKs on the back end and offers full Lightning Network integration. According to the company, users can manually purchase Bitcoin or set up recurring purchases through a feature called Autostack, which enables scheduled buying similar to dollar cost averaging.

In addition to holding and sending Bitcoin, users can manage contacts within the app and initiate payments in Bitcoin while recipients receive fiat currency. This functionality is supported by New Zealand’s Open Banking payments framework, which Stacked uses to settle fiat transfers to billers and landlords.

Positioning as a Non-Custodial Alternative in a Changing Market

Stacked operates as a four person company and states that it has experienced significant growth in recent years. Its latest product launch comes amid structural changes in the New Zealand crypto sector.

According to the report, EasyCrypto, a swap exchange that allowed users to send fiat and receive crypto directly into their own wallets, was acquired by SwyFTX and subsequently shut down. Its user base was directed to the parent custodial exchange. Other platforms, such as Sharesies, are described as following a model in which users cannot withdraw crypto assets to self-custodied wallets.

Stacked’s model differs in that users send fiat to the company and receive Bitcoin into a wallet they control. With the new wallet launch, the company combines its swap exchange service with a proprietary self-custody solution.

The company’s co founder and chief revenue officer, identified as Simon, stated that larger exchanges in the country are focusing on custodial and paper bitcoin products. Stacked’s approach centers on direct ownership and on chain or Lightning based transfers.

Bitcoin Payments for Bills and Rent via Open Banking

A central feature of the new wallet is its integration with New Zealand’s Open Banking payments framework. Through this system, users can pay utility bills or rent in Bitcoin. Stacked converts and settles the equivalent amount in fiat to the recipient.

This structure allows Bitcoin holders to use digital assets for routine expenses while interacting with counterparties who may not accept cryptocurrency directly. For users evaluating crypto platforms, the ability to bridge Bitcoin payments with fiat settlement can affect how funds are stored and used.

The wallet’s Lightning Network integration is designed to facilitate faster and lower cost transactions compared with standard on chain transfers. By combining swap services, Lightning functionality, and fiat settlement, Stacked links exchange activity with day to day spending tools.

New Zealand Crypto Usage and Tax Framework

The broader crypto market in New Zealand provides the context for Stacked’s expansion. In the 2025 financial year, 227,000 New Zealanders were identified as unique cryptoasset users. These users conducted approximately 7 million transactions over the period.

Local cryptocurrency exchange volumes reached about NZ$7.8 billion during the same timeframe. Stacked projects that the country’s digital asset market will generate revenue exceeding US$200 million in 2026.

The country does not apply a capital gains tax. Instead, Bitcoin profits are taxed as income. This tax treatment shapes how gains are reported and may influence how users structure their trading or spending activity.

According to 2024 research by Protocol Theory, nearly 50 percent of New Zealanders are current or prospective investors in Bitcoin and digital assets. This level of participation indicates a broad base of interest in crypto related products and services.

Focus on Local Circular Economy in Queenstown

Stacked has concentrated part of its efforts on what it calls the Bitcoin Basin in Queenstown, New Zealand. The area is described as a growing circular economy with Bitcoin accepting merchants.

The company has established a dedicated website for the community and hosts regular events aimed at encouraging local Bitcoin usage. By supporting merchant adoption and consumer payments, Stacked aligns its wallet launch with its stated objective of making Bitcoin usable as money within defined geographic areas.

For users comparing platforms, the presence of local merchant networks and fiat settlement options can influence decisions about which services provide practical spending functionality in addition to trading access.

Our Assessment

Stacked’s launch of a self-custodial Lightning wallet adds a new product to New Zealand’s crypto market at a time when several exchanges have moved toward custodial models or have consolidated operations. The company combines swap services, self custody, Lightning payments, and fiat settlement through Open Banking. With 227,000 identified crypto users and NZ$7.8 billion in exchange volumes in the 2025 financial year, the domestic market provides measurable activity levels against which such services operate. The development highlights a structural distinction between custodial and non-custodial offerings within New Zealand’s evolving crypto sector.