It was written by Sheeran, Rudimental, and Snow Patrol members Johnny McDaid and Gary Lightbody, and produced by Rick Rubin.

The song was released as an "instant grat" digital download to the iTunes Store on 17 June 2014, serving as the fourth of seven promotional singles from ×.

"Bloodstream" was written by Sheeran, Rudimental, and Snow Patrol members – Johnny McDaid and Gary Lightbody, and produced by Rick Rubin at Shangri-La in Malibu, California.

At the BBC Music Awards on 11 December 2014, it was revealed by Sheeran that a remixed version of "Bloodstream" would serve as the fourth single from ×.

"[22] In an interview with The Sun, regarding the collaboration, Rudimental's DJ Locksmith said, "We were working in LA and [Sheeran] rocked up to our studio with The Game and Ellie Goulding.