The Blockstream app on desktop just got a major payments upgrade. Version 3.5.0 delivers Lightning payments in Beta, QR-based connection and unlocking for Jade, and fully air-gapped transaction signing on watch-only wallets.
Lightning Payments Land on Desktop
Desktop users can now send and receive bitcoin over the Lightning Network without leaving the app. Enable a Lightning node from your wallet settings and the app adds dedicated Lightning send and receive pages, powered by Greenlight. There's nothing else to install and no separate node software to manage.
Lightning support is in Beta and available for software wallets on Bitcoin mainnet, excluding BIP39 wallets.
New swaps between Bitcoin and Liquid, including Liquid Bitcoin via Lightning, are temporarily disabled in this release due to a service interruption. Existing funds are unaffected.
Connect and Unlock Jade with QR Codes
Jade QR Mode lets the app connect to and unlock your Jade hardware wallet entirely through QR codes. Instead of plugging in a USB cable or pairing over Bluetooth, your screen and Jade's camera exchange a short series of codes, and the device unlocks.
Air-Gapped Signing on Watch-Only Wallets
Descriptor-based watch-only wallets on desktop now support air-gapped signing with Jade. Keep a watch-only copy of your wallet in the app to track balances and generate receive addresses while Jade sits powered off. When it's time to spend, build the transaction in the app and sign it with Jade over QR codes, so your keys never touch an internet-connected machine.
Together, Jade QR Connect and watch-only signing give the desktop app a fully air-gapped workflow from setup to spend.
Sharper Everyday Details
Beyond the headline features, 3.5.0 tightens daily use:
- The receive flow auto-selects your asset and account, so generating an address takes fewer steps.
- Updated transaction completed and failed pages make the outcome obvious at a glance.
- Windows wallet libraries are now code signed, so Windows can verify they come from Blockstream.
- Architecture-specific macOS disk images are now thinned to their native architecture for smaller downloads; a universal image remains available.
- Legacy multisig nLockTime and recovery email flows are back for wallets that rely on them.
Each one removes a little friction from everyday use.
Update Today
Version 3.5.0 is live on all three desktop platforms, followed by a 3.5.1 patch with stability fixes.
- Download the Blockstream app for macOS, Windows, or Linux.
- Get Jade Plus to put air-gapped signing to work.
- Read the full release notes on GitHub.