Ark Labs, a startup focused on enhancing Bitcoin transaction speeds and reducing costs, has successfully raised $2.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Tim Draper and Draper Associates, with other contributions from Fulgur Ventures, Axiom Capital, and Stephen Cole. The funding will be used to expand the team and develop the Ark protocol, which aims to simplify Bitcoin transactions alongside the Lightning Network. CEO Marco Argentieri emphasized the importance of making Bitcoin a practical medium of exchange for everyday use, stating that the Ark protocol will utilize trustless servers to manage liquidity and transactions. Analysts note that Bitcoin’s acceptance as a mainstream payment option hinges on demonstrating its utility. Draper remarked on the need to focus on using Bitcoin beyond just buying and storing it, while other investors see potential in Ark's approach to overcoming existing scaling challenges. The Ark Node, a wallet compatible with the Lightning Network, is set for a closed beta release soon.