Lightning Network

Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja published a Lightning Network white paper in February 2015.{{cite web|url=http://lightning.network/|title=Lightning Network whitepaper 0.5 by Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja|date=28 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228162703/http://lightning.network/|archive-date=2015-02-28}}

Lightning Labs launched the Lightning Network in 2018 with the goal of reducing the cost and time required for cryptocurrency transaction. Specifically, the bitcoin blockchain can only process around 7 transactions per second (compared to Visa Inc., which can process around 24,000 transactions per second). Despite initial enthusiasm for the Lightning Network, reports on social media of failed transactions, security vulnerabilities, and over-complication lead to a decline in interest.{{cite news |last1=Xie |first1=Teresa |title=Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Scaling Solution Seeks Resurgence After Losing Way |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-lightning-network-scaling-solution-111025791.html |access-date=13 May 2024 |work=Bloomberg |date=16 October 2023 |via=Yahoo News |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513214721/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-lightning-network-scaling-solution-111025791.html |url-status=live }}

On January 19, 2019, pseudonymous Twitter user hodlonaut began a game-like promotional test of the Lightning Network by sending 100,000 satoshis (0.001 bitcoin) to a trusted recipient where each recipient added 10,000 satoshis ($0.34 at the time) to send to the next trusted recipient. The "lightning torch" payment reached notable personalities including former Twitter A.K.A X CEO Jack Dorsey, Litecoin Creator Charlie Lee, Lightning Labs CEO Elizabeth Stark, and Binance CEO "CZ" Changpeng Zhao, among others.{{cite web |last1=Browne |first1=Ryan |title=Jack Dorsey says the 'only' cryptocurrency he owns is bitcoin |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/06/jack-dorsey-says-the-only-cryptocurrency-he-owns-is-bitcoin.html |website=CNBC |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=en |date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815145815/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/06/jack-dorsey-says-the-only-cryptocurrency-he-owns-is-bitcoin.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Hackett |first1=Robert |last2=Roberts |first2=Jeff John |last3=Wieczner |first3=Jen |title=The Ledger: Cryptocurrency Custody, QuadrigaCX Quagmire, CEOs Pass Bitcoin 'Torch' |url=https://fortune.com/2019/02/12/the-ledger-cryptocurrency-custody-quadrigacx-quagmire-ceos-pass-bitcoin-torch/?.com |website=Fortune |publisher=Fortune Magazine |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601162309/https://fortune.com/2019/02/12/the-ledger-cryptocurrency-custody-quadrigacx-quagmire-ceos-pass-bitcoin-torch/?.com |url-status=dead }}

Andreas Antonopoulos calls the Lightning Network a second layer routing network. The payment channels allow participants to transfer money to each other without having to make all their transactions public on the blockchain.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-lightning-network-could-make-bitcoin-faster-and-cheaper/|title=The Lightning Network Could Make Bitcoin Faster—and Cheaper|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-12-12|language=en|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=2021-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125204349/https://www.wired.com/story/the-lightning-network-could-make-bitcoin-faster-and-cheaper/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-17/mit-stanford-academics-design-cryptocurrency-to-better-bitcoin|title=MIT, Stanford Academics Design Cryptocurrency to Better Bitcoin|work=Bloomberg|access-date=2019-12-12|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006231926/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-17/mit-stanford-academics-design-cryptocurrency-to-better-bitcoin|url-status=live}} This is secured by penalizing uncooperative participants. When opening a channel, participants must commit an amount on the blockchain (a funding transaction).{{cite journal |last1=Burchert |first1=Conrad |last2=Decker |first2=Christian |last3=Wattenhofer |first3=Roger |title=Scalable Funding of Bitcoin Micropayment Channel Networks |journal=Royal Society Open Science |volume=5 |issue=8 |pages=180089 |date=August 29, 2018 |url=https://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/file/a20a865ce40d40c8f942cf206a7cba96/Scalable_Funding_Of_Blockchain_Micropayment_Networks%20(1).pdf |access-date=17 December 2019 |doi=10.1098/rsos.180089 |pmid=30225004 |pmc=6124062 |bibcode=2018RSOS....580089B |archive-date=28 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628001445/https://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/file/a20a865ce40d40c8f942cf206a7cba96/Scalable_Funding_Of_Blockchain_Micropayment_Networks%20(1).pdf |url-status=dead }} Time-based script extensions like CheckSequenceVerify and CheckLockTimeVerify make the penalties possible.

Transacting parties use the Lightning Network by opening a payment channel and transferring (committing) funds to the relevant layer-1 blockchain (e.g. bitcoin) under a smart contract. The parties then make any number of off-chain Lightning Network transactions that update the tentative distribution of the channel's funds, without broadcasting to the blockchain. Whenever the parties have finished their transaction session, they close the payment channel, and the smart contract distributes the committed funds according to the transaction record.{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/bitcoins-lightning-network-a-deep-dive/|title=Bitcoin has a huge scaling problem—Lightning could be the solution|last=Lee|first=Timothy B.|date=2018-02-04|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2019-12-12|archive-date=2021-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901155533/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/bitcoins-lightning-network-a-deep-dive/|url-status=live}}

To initiate closing, one node first broadcasts the current state of the transaction record to the network, including a proposed settlement, a distribution of the committed funds. If both parties confirm the proposal, the funds are immediately paid on-chain. The other option is uncooperative closure, for example if one node has dropped from the network, or if it is broadcasting an incorrect (possibly fraudulent) transaction state. In this case settlement is delayed during a dispute period, when nodes may contest the proposal. If the second node broadcasts a more up-to-date timestamped distribution, including some transactions omitted by the first proposal, then all committed funds are transferred to the second node: this punitive breach remedy transaction thwarts attempts to defraud the other node by broadcasting out-of-date transactions.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

According to bitcoin advocate Andreas Antonopoulos, the Lightning Network provides several advantages over on-chain transactions:

• Granularity – According to Andreas Antonopoulos, some implementations of the Lightning Network allow for payments that are smaller than a satoshi, the smallest unit on the base layer of bitcoin.
• Privacy – Lightning network payments may be routed through many sequential channels where each node operator will be able to see payments across their channels, but they will not be able to see the source nor destination of those funds if they are non-adjacent.{{cite book |last1=Antonopoulos |first1=Andreas |title=Mastering Bitcoin |date=2017-07-21 |publisher=O'Reilly |isbn=978-1491954386 |pages=297–304 |edition=2nd }}
• Speed – Settlement time for lightning network transactions is under a minute and can occur in milliseconds. Confirmation time on the bitcoin blockchain, for comparison, occurs every ten minutes, on average.
• Transaction throughput – There are no fundamental limits to the amount of payments per second that can occur under the protocol. The amount of transactions are only limited by the capacity and speed of each node.

The Lightning Network (LN) operates through bidirectional payment channels between two nodes, forming smart contracts that facilitate off-chain transactions. If either party closes a channel, the final state is settled on the Bitcoin blockchain.{{cite book |last1=Antonopoulos |first1=Andreas |last2=Osuntokun |first2=Olaoluwa |last3=Pickhardt |first3=René |date=January 4, 2022 |title=Mastering the Lightning Network: A Second Layer Blockchain Protocol for Instant Bitcoin Payments |edition=1st |publisher=O'Reilly Media |chapter=How the Lightning Network Works |chapter-url=https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook/blob/firstedition_firstprint/03_how_ln_works.asciidoc |isbn=978-1492054863 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701182317/https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook/blob/firstedition_firstprint/03_how_ln_works.asciidoc |url-status=live }} While this design enables faster and cheaper transactions, the necessity of on-chain transactions to open and close channels introduces scalability constraints. These limitations can be partially mitigated when multiple users who trust each other share a Lightning node.{{Cite web|url=https://www.truthcoin.info/blog/lightning-limitations/|title=Lightning Network -- Fundamental Limitations|last=Sztorc|first=Paul|date=April 4, 2022|website=Truthcoin|access-date=2024-01-17|archive-date=2024-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117121550/https://www.truthcoin.info/blog/lightning-limitations/|url-status=live}}

Lightning Network's dispute resolution mechanism requires participants to monitor the blockchain to detect and respond to potential fraud. This responsibility can be delegated to "watchtower"{{Cite web |title=Watchtowers {{!}} Builder's Guide |url=https://docs.lightning.engineering/the-lightning-network/payment-channels/watchtowers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250316161945/https://docs.lightning.engineering/the-lightning-network/payment-channels/watchtowers |archive-date=2025-03-16 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=docs.lightning.engineering |language=en}} nodes—trusted third parties that oversee the network on behalf of users. A standard time window, typically 24 hours, is allocated for a participant to contest an attempted fraud once a channel closure is broadcast.

When a direct payment channel between two parties is unavailable, the Lightning Network facilitates transactions through multi-hop routing. In this process, payments are forwarded across a series of intermediary nodes, each connected via bidirectional channels.{{Cite web |title=Onion Routing {{!}} blockchain wiki |url=https://wiki.btcme.com/docs/lightning/onion-routing/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=wiki.btcme.com}} To preserve privacy and security, the network employs an onion routing protocol, wherein each node in the path decrypts only enough information to determine the next hop, without knowledge of the payment's origin or final destination .{{cite book |last1=Antonopoulos |first1=Andreas |last2=Osuntokun |first2=Olaoluwa |last3=Pickhardt |first3=René |date=January 4, 2022 |title=Mastering the Lightning Network: A Second Layer Blockchain Protocol for Instant Bitcoin Payments |edition=1st |publisher=O'Reilly Media |chapter=Chapter 8: Routing on a Network of Payment Channels |chapter-url=https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook/blob/firstedition_firstprint/08_routing_htlcs.asciidoc |isbn=978-1492054863 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604170233/https://github.com/lnbook/lnbook/blob/firstedition_firstprint/08_routing_htlcs.asciidoc |url-status=live }}

This routing mechanism relies on [https://docs.lightning.engineering/the-lightning-network/multihop-payments/hash-time-lock-contract-htlc Hashed Timelock Contracts (HTLCs)], which ensure that payments are either completed in full or fail entirely, preventing partial transfers. HTLCs use cryptographic hashes and time constraints to secure the transaction across multiple hops.

For successful routing, both the sender and receiver must maintain channels with sufficient liquidity. The sender's node constructs a route by analyzing the network graph to find a viable [https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/path-queries-addressing-payment-reliability-and-routing-limitations/1672 path] that meets criteria such as channel capacity and fee rates. However, due to the private nature of channel balances, the sender may not have complete information about the liquidity available in each channel, leading to potential payment failures

To mitigate this, some implementations incorporate probing mechanisms and probabilistic scoring to estimate the reliability of potential routes based on historical data . Additionally, strategies like multi-path payments (MPP) allow larger transactions to be split into smaller parts, increasing the likelihood of successful routing.{{Cite web |title=Lightning Routing |url=https://chaincode.gitbook.io/seminars/lightning-protocol-development/lightning-routing?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=29 May 2025 |website=Chaincode, Github}}

Overall, the Lightning Network's routing protocol enables scalable and private off-chain transactions, though it requires careful management of channel liquidity and network connectivity to ensure optimal performance.

To address the inherent complexities of operating on the Lightning Network—such as channel management, liquidity allocation, and routing reliability—several initiatives have emerged offering tools and platforms designed to abstract or automate these technical challenges.

Founded in 2022, Lightspark provides enterprise-grade infrastructure for the Lightning Network. It aims to simplify onboarding and scale Bitcoin payment capabilities for institutions and developers. The platform offers:

• Lightspark Connect – a tool for automated Lightning node deployment.
• Lightspark Predict – a smart routing engine that improves payment reliability by optimizing liquidity paths.
• Developer SDKs and APIs – allowing businesses to integrate Lightning payments into their products without managing underlying node operations. These tools collectively reduce the operational complexity for enterprises, supporting broader adoption of Lightning payments.

The Breez SDK offers developers a comprehensive solution to integrate self-custodial Lightning payments into applications. It abstracts the complexities of channel management, liquidity provisioning, and node operations, facilitating seamless Bitcoin payment integration.

The Nodeless implementation leverages the Liquid Network, a Bitcoin sidechain, to facilitate Lightning payments without requiring users to manage channels or operate nodes. Key features include:

• Submarine Swaps: Utilizes submarine and reverse submarine swaps to convert between Liquid BTC (L-BTC) and Lightning Network sats, enabling seamless fund movement between networks.
• Protocol Support: Supports various payment protocols, including BOLT11, BOLT12, LNURL-Pay, LNURL-Withdraw, Lightning Address, and on-chain BTC addresses. {{Cite web |title=About Breez SDK - Nodeless - Breez SDK - Nodeless |url=https://sdk-doc-liquid.breez.technology/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=sdk-doc-liquid.breez.technology}}
• Multi-Asset Support: Offers compatibility with assets like USDT on the Liquid Network.
• User Experience: Eliminates the need for channel management and setup fees, providing a frictionless experience for end-users.

The Native implementation integrates with Blockstream's Greenlight, a cloud-based, non-custodial Lightning node service. This setup provides each user with a dedicated Lightning node, managed in the cloud but controlled by the user's device. Key features include:

• Dedicated Nodes: Each user operates a personal Lightning node hosted on Greenlight's infrastructure, ensuring autonomy and security. {{Cite web |title=Breez.Sdk 0.6.7 |url=https://www.nuget.org/packages/Breez.Sdk |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250419174510/https://www.nuget.org/packages/Breez.Sdk |archive-date=2025-04-19 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.nuget.org |language=en}}
• Protocol Support: Facilitates payments via BOLT11, LNURL-Pay, Lightning Address, and on-chain BTC addresses.
• Integrated Watchtower: Includes a built-in watchtower service to monitor the blockchain for potential fraud, enhancing security.
• Fiat On-Ramps: Supports third-party fiat on-ramps, allowing users to convert between fiat currencies and Bitcoin seamlessly.

• Developer Tools: Provides SDK bindings for various programming languages, including Kotlin, Swift, Python, and React Native, facilitating integration across platforms.

Voltage is a Lightning-as-a-Service (LaaS) provider that launched in 2020. Its mission is to provide enterprises with a Lightning Network solution that enables the settlement of real-time payments with near-zero fees, enabling organizations to send and receive payments while creating new experiences and business models{{Cite web |title=How Voltage uses Google Cloud to scale its Bitcoin Lightning Network |url=https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/startups/how-voltage-uses-google-cloud-to-scale-its-bitcoin-lightning-network |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Google Cloud Blog |language=en-US}}

LDK is a flexible Lightning implementation with supporting modules. It provides a multi-language native API, allowing developers to run a Lightning node on mobile, web, hardware security modules (HSMs), Lightning Service Providers (LSPs), or existing infrastructure.

Amboss harnesses machine learning, including reinforcement learning on network graphs, to develop intelligent tools for the Lightning Network. With over five years of data-driven insights, Amboss drives network growth and unlocks new opportunities as Bitcoin scales globally.{{Cite web |title=Amboss Launches Rails: Empowering Bitcoin Yield and Lightning Network Growth |url=https://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2025/05/29/10202043.htm |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=www.tmcnet.com}}

Strike is a mobile payments app that enables instant transactions via the Lightning Network. It facilitates swift, peer-to-peer micropayments in Bitcoin, aiming to make digital assets more accessible to the general public.{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Crystal |date=2024-04-24 |title=Bitcoin-focused payments app Strike opens in Europe |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/24/strike-payments-bitcoin-app-europe |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Axios |language=en}}

Several cryptocurrency wallets offer support for the Lightning Network, enabling instant, low-cost, and scalable Bitcoin transactions. Available options include custodial, non-custodial, and hybrid models, each offering different levels of technical complexity and user control. Below are some of the main wallets currently compatible with the Lightning Network:

• Electrum One of the most traditional wallets in the Bitcoin ecosystem, Electrum{{Cite web |title=How to accept Bitcoin on a website using Electrum — Electrum 4 documentation |url=https://electrum.readthedocs.io/en/latest/merchant.html#lightning-payments |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=electrum.readthedocs.io}} offers desktop support for the Lightning Network. It is a non-custodial wallet designed for advanced users, providing full control over funds and a wide range of customization options.
• Phoenix (ACINQ) A non-custodial mobile wallet focused on simplicity. Phoenix{{Citation |title=ACINQ/phoenix |date=2025-06-02 |url=https://github.com/ACINQ/phoenix |access-date=2025-06-05 |publisher=ACINQ}} manages channel and liquidity configuration automatically, eliminating the need for manual setup. It is developed by ACINQ, a leading company in the Lightning ecosystem.
• Misty Breez A self-custodial wallet built for everyday use. Misty Breez{{Cite web |last=Kohler |first=Che |date=2025-04-11 |title=What Is Misty Breez? |url=https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/misty-breez/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Bitcoin Manual |language=en-US}} includes features such as point-of-sale (POS) support, podcast streaming with Lightning-based monetization, and automatic backups. It also handles channel and liquidity management without user intervention.
• Muun A hybrid wallet that balances security and ease of use. Muun{{Cite web |title=Muun Wallet Review: Is It Worth to Try for Storing BTC? |url=https://www.bitdegree.org/crypto/muun-wallet-review |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=BitDegree |language=en-US}} enables Lightning payments with automatic fallback to on-chain transactions. It is particularly popular in Brazil, especially among beginners.
• BlueWallet A mobile wallet that supports the Lightning Network through connections with external nodes. [https://bluewallet.io/ BlueWallet] operates as a custodial wallet by default but can be configured to connect to private nodes. Although no longer actively maintained, it remains functional.
• Cash App A widely used payment app in the United States, with direct integration of the Lightning Network. Cash App{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=2022-01-18 |title=Block's Cash App adopts Lightning Network for free bitcoin payments |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/18/blocks-cash-app-adopts-lightning-network-for-free-bitcoin-payments/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} is custodial and focuses on ease of use for mainstream users.
• Klever Wallet A multi-blockchain wallet that supports the Lightning Network. [https://klever.io Klever Wallet] eliminates the need for manual channel, node (nodeless), and liquidity setup, making it suitable for users interacting with multiple blockchain networks beyond Bitcoin.
• Wallet of Satoshi One of the simplest ways to use the Lightning Network. [https://www.walletofsatoshi.com/ Wallet of Satoshi] is fully custodial and ideal for beginners or scenarios where convenience is a priority — such as events, demos, or educational use cases.

Since its inception, Bitcoin has been envisioned as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. A notable early example occurred in May 2010 when Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Camila |date=February 27, 2018 |title=Crypto Legend Who Bought Pizza With 10,000 Bitcoin Is Back At It |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-26/crypto-legend-who-bought-pizza-with-10-000-bitcoin-is-back-at-it |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223094714/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-26/crypto-legend-who-bought-pizza-with-10-000-bitcoin-is-back-at-it |archive-date=2022-02-23 |access-date=2019-12-12 |website=Bloomberg}}—an event now noted annually as Bitcoin Pizza Day {{Cite web |title=Bitcoin Pizza Day: Celebrating the 10,000 BTC Pizza Order |url=https://www.investopedia.com/news/bitcoin-pizza-day-celebrating-20-million-pizza-order/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Investopedia |language=en}}. As Bitcoin’s value and network congestion increased, its use shifted more towards a store of value. However, the development of the Lightning Network (LN) has revitalized Bitcoin’s potential for fast, low-cost, and scalable payments.

The Lightning Network is utilized globally for various practical applications:

• Micropayments and Everyday Commerce: LN enables low-fee transactions suitable for small purchases, from buying digital goods to paying for coffee. Innovative use cases, such as triggering actions like feeding [https://lightning-goats.com/ goats] via Lightning payments, have demonstrated its versatility.
• Grassroots Economic Initiatives: In El Zonte, El Salvador—also known as "[https://www.bitcoinbeach.com/ Bitcoin Beach]"—local communities began using LN to transact in Bitcoin for groceries, school fees, and services, showcasing how LN could support circular economies in developing regions.
• Global Remittances and Cross-Border Payments: Lightning offers an efficient alternative to traditional remittance services by enabling near-instant global transfers without intermediaries or high fees.
• Mobile and Point-of-Sale Payments: Mobile wallets integrating Lightning make it feasible to use Bitcoin in physical stores and daily purchases.
• Tipping and Content Monetization: LN is also used for micro-tipping on social media platforms and blogs, offering an alternative to traditional ad-driven or subscription-based models.

In Brazil, several communities have adopted the Lightning Network to enhance local economies:

• Rolante, Rio Grande do Sul: This town has become a leader in Bitcoin adoption, with over 200 businesses accepting Bitcoin payments. The initiative, led by the "Bitcoin é Aqui{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=A maior cidade de pagamentos em Bitcoin está no Brasil - MIT Technology Review |url=https://mittechreview.com.br/a-maior-cidade-de-pagamentos-em-bitcoin-esta-no-brasil/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=MIT Technology Review - Brasil |language=pt-BR}}" project, has transformed Rolante into a model for integrating cryptocurrency into daily life.
• Jericoacoara, Ceará: Known as "[https://bitcoinbeachbr.org/ Bitcoin Beach Brazi]l," this coastal village has implemented LN to facilitate transactions among residents and tourists. The community has also engaged in educational initiatives, such as distributing Bitcoin wallets to students and teachers.
• Santo Antônio do Pinhal, São Paulo: Inspired by Rolante's success, this town has embraced Bitcoin adoption, with numerous establishments accepting Bitcoin payments via Lightning Network , aiming to promote cryptocurrency tourism.
• São Thomé das Letras, Minas Gerais: This tourist destination has integrated Lightning Network into its local economy, with businesses accepting Bitcoin and educational programs teaching residents about cryptocurrency.

As Lightning infrastructure continues to improve, adoption is expanding across both emerging economies and industrialized nations, reinforcing its role in Bitcoin’s usability for day-to-day transactions and financial empowerment.

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