Is Lightning finally reverting its negative trend in terms of channels and nodes?
In August, according to BitcoinVisuals, channels reached a 3-year minimum of around 50200. Until the end of September, it grew again to over 54000, which would be quite a nice growth of 8% in only two months. Nodes grew from 15200 to 16800 according to that website.
Unfortunately the stats seem to have not updated since then. 1ml has real-time statistics but they have slightly lower figures (<50.000 channels, >12000 nodes), so they have probably a different view of the network. And they unfortunately don't provide historic data.
According to Bitcoin Magazine Pro, the capacity in BTC is increasing since March 2024, after having dropped in 2023 and early 2024.
Coingate (a payment processor) reported an increase in merchant payments of 28% compared to 2023.
So it's perhaps too early to celebrate because the data picture isn't complete, but the usage may be increasing nicely.
(Unfortunately neither talkimg nor imgbb works for me at the moment, I would have liked to include a chart pic.)
The Max Flow metric is interesting, but as it depends on the Bitcoin price, in my opinion it's a good measure for usability but not for adoption.
Topic: Lightning Network Observer - page 2. (Read 14138 times)
I stumbled upon this concept while listening to my favourite Italian podcast.
OPINION THE METRIC THAT MATTERS FOR THE LIGHTNING NETWORK
The full paper can be read here:
a mathematical theory of payment channel networks
OPINION THE METRIC THAT MATTERS FOR THE LIGHTNING NETWORK
Quote
Max Flow is more than just a new way to measure the network—it’s the key to unlocking the Lightning Network’s full potential. By focusing on the metrics that matter, node operators and investors can help the network scale smarter, ensuring that Bitcoin’s role in the global economy continues to expand.
TL;DR
Traditional metrics like node count, channel count, and capacity don’t provide a full picture of the Lightning Network’s performance.
Max Flow is the right metric to assess network health, as it evaluates the probability of feasible payments and liquidity optimization.
As Bitcoin’s price appreciates, the Lightning Network’s capacity to handle larger payments grows naturally, and Max Flow helps monitor this process.
Max Flow has proven its value in optimizing complex networks in industries like telecommunications, supply chains, and transportation.
Max Flow will play a critical role in helping the Lightning Network scale efficiently, making it an essential tool for both investors and node operators.
TL;DR
Traditional metrics like node count, channel count, and capacity don’t provide a full picture of the Lightning Network’s performance.
Max Flow is the right metric to assess network health, as it evaluates the probability of feasible payments and liquidity optimization.
As Bitcoin’s price appreciates, the Lightning Network’s capacity to handle larger payments grows naturally, and Max Flow helps monitor this process.
Max Flow has proven its value in optimizing complex networks in industries like telecommunications, supply chains, and transportation.
Max Flow will play a critical role in helping the Lightning Network scale efficiently, making it an essential tool for both investors and node operators.
The full paper can be read here:
a mathematical theory of payment channel networks
metrics of MAX flow being used as full network performance IS FLAWED
for instance river financial has larger reserves between its partners and does alot of internal shuffling/rebalancing, so has recently been hyping up its capacities, capabilities.. yet normal independent users see alot of bottlenecking and reductions in success rates at certain msat unit amounts
the only true way to make LN efficient and allow a max flow strategy is to have the network organise who the participants channel partner to. where by it organises the largest channels partner funds at the center whom reserve share between each other just one hop apart.. and then the amounts get smaller the more hops away from the center the participants are.
EG imagining 5 thresholds of amounts
10000000000000 centre of network
100000000000
1000000000
100000000
10000000 outer edge of network
(core devs are already fully versed in the term "node upstream", "node downstream" in regards to network layout topography)
I stumbled upon this concept while listening to my favourite Italian podcast.
OPINION THE METRIC THAT MATTERS FOR THE LIGHTNING NETWORK
The full paper can be read here:
a mathematical theory of payment channel networks
OPINION THE METRIC THAT MATTERS FOR THE LIGHTNING NETWORK
Quote
Max Flow is more than just a new way to measure the network—it’s the key to unlocking the Lightning Network’s full potential. By focusing on the metrics that matter, node operators and investors can help the network scale smarter, ensuring that Bitcoin’s role in the global economy continues to expand.
TL;DR
Traditional metrics like node count, channel count, and capacity don’t provide a full picture of the Lightning Network’s performance.
Max Flow is the right metric to assess network health, as it evaluates the probability of feasible payments and liquidity optimization.
As Bitcoin’s price appreciates, the Lightning Network’s capacity to handle larger payments grows naturally, and Max Flow helps monitor this process.
Max Flow has proven its value in optimizing complex networks in industries like telecommunications, supply chains, and transportation.
Max Flow will play a critical role in helping the Lightning Network scale efficiently, making it an essential tool for both investors and node operators.
TL;DR
Traditional metrics like node count, channel count, and capacity don’t provide a full picture of the Lightning Network’s performance.
Max Flow is the right metric to assess network health, as it evaluates the probability of feasible payments and liquidity optimization.
As Bitcoin’s price appreciates, the Lightning Network’s capacity to handle larger payments grows naturally, and Max Flow helps monitor this process.
Max Flow has proven its value in optimizing complex networks in industries like telecommunications, supply chains, and transportation.
Max Flow will play a critical role in helping the Lightning Network scale efficiently, making it an essential tool for both investors and node operators.
The full paper can be read here:
a mathematical theory of payment channel networks
the core lightning version 24.08 has been released today and with it a few new features, which are of course very impressive...
what exactly has been released under this version can be seen in the following two links:
https://blog.blockstream.com/core-lightning-v24-08-steel-backed-up-channels/
https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/releases/tag/v24.08
what exactly has been released under this version can be seen in the following two links:
https://blog.blockstream.com/core-lightning-v24-08-steel-backed-up-channels/
https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/releases/tag/v24.08
so the latest advert is ... dont buy bitcoin, dont hold actual bitcoin.. instead sell bitcoin for $$ and then spend $$ to get 1 sat locked to someone elses utxo pegged on LN, unsettled and not yet yours.. and pretend its many $$
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owed to you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owed to you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
Trust model in LN is different than bitcoin, for sure.
This doesn’t mean there is no value in using it.
Like you don’t carry all your financial wealth in your wallet, it doesn’t mean having a couple of hundreds worth of value in sour wallet is nonsense.
think of it more like bitcoin is a debit card account holding your actual value... and LN is a credit card giving you inbound credit not yet settled, where they can cancel the credit at any time or mes with how much you deserve/owe them
Big news from Lightning Labs.
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
Does this mean we are going to see coins like USDT, USDC, and stuff like that get an implementation on Taproot Assets? And hence the Lightning Network?
It would rival the Ethereum network and other sort of networks for that functionality. Minus the high fees. (Of course, someone has to actually port their token on to the Lightning Network because anyone can start using it.)
I think this could be a huge development in the ecosystem.
There is a different set of trade-off between Ethereum and Bitcoin L2, and I think the latter has a better balance.
Big news from Lightning Labs.
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
Does this mean we are going to see coins like USDT, USDC, and stuff like that get an implementation on Taproot Assets? And hence the Lightning Network?
It would rival the Ethereum network and other sort of networks for that functionality. Minus the high fees. (Of course, someone has to actually port their token on to the Lightning Network because anyone can start using it.)
so the latest advert is ... dont buy bitcoin, dont hold actual bitcoin.. instead sell bitcoin for $$ and then spend $$ to get 1 sat locked to someone elses utxo pegged on LN, unsettled and not yet yours.. and pretend its many $$
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owed to you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owed to you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
Trust model in LN is different than bitcoin, for sure.
This doesn’t mean there is no value in using it.
Like you don’t carry all your financial wealth in your wallet, it doesn’t mean having a couple of hundreds worth of value in sour wallet is nonsense.
so the latest advert is ... dont buy bitcoin, dont hold actual bitcoin.. instead sell bitcoin for $$ and then spend $$ to get 1 sat locked to someone elses utxo pegged on LN, unsettled and not yet yours.. and pretend its many $$
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owned by you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up, to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
hmm.. ill stay away from scams, thanks
remember folks, if its on LN and your not the creator of the locked utxo (channel funder/the perceived value owned by you), its not actually yours
LN value in htlc are like zero confirms where mining pools dont even have it in their mempools to even confirm into a block
#NotYourCoin
be careful what your giving up, to be later promised but not guaranteed to get
Big news from Lightning Labs.
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
Lightning Labs eyes improving stablecoin settlement with launch of updated Taproot Assets
Roasbeef commented:
More technical info at the official docs:
Taproot Assets on Lightning
They finally released the first poduction version of Taproot Assets (formerly known as TaRo).
Lightning Labs eyes improving stablecoin settlement with launch of updated Taproot Assets
Quote
- Lightning Labs’s latest version of Taproot Assets launching on mainnet is compatible with the Lightning Network.
- The company aims to provide a less expensive and safer settlement option to stablecoin users.
Roasbeef commented:
More technical info at the official docs:
Taproot Assets on Lightning
[...]
Looks complicated with buzzwords, and not with an essential explanation. My first question would be: how do we trustlessly decide what's the Bitcoin price? Every time I see anything to do with "stable", I don't get my hopes up.
fillippone
News for Bitcoin Lightning Network adoption and from Bitso.
Bitso intregrates LN to it's platform
Bitso Selects Lightspark to enable more efficient Bitcoin transactions over Lightning
News for Bitcoin Lightning Network adoption and from Bitso.
Bitso intregrates LN to it's platform
Bitso Selects Lightspark to enable more efficient Bitcoin transactions over Lightning
I have heard of this idea of stable channels:
Looks like a splendid idea, and a clear incentive putting liquidity on the network.
The idea has been presented at the BTCPrague conference a few days ago:
Looks like a very good idea.
Looks like a splendid idea, and a clear incentive putting liquidity on the network.
The idea has been presented at the BTCPrague conference a few days ago:
Looks like a very good idea.
Strike has officially launched in the UK!
Very big announcement, as I think this is one of the best gateways to onboard users.
An overview of the services available in the UK:
Very big announcement, as I think this is one of the best gateways to onboard users.
An overview of the services available in the UK:
Quote
some of the features that are now available in the UK, with more to come:
- Buy bitcoin directly with free unlimited deposits from your bank account, including recurring purchases for DCA, and auto-buy functionality
- Sell your bitcoin and withdraw the funds directly to your bank account
Withdraw your bitcoin to self-custody or send it to any Bitcoin or Lightning wallet instantly and without limits (including free on-chain sends using our Flexible tier) - Strike’s global P2P transfers with Lightning allow you to send from your GBP balance to a friend’s Strike account instantly anywhere Strike is available, and they can receive the value as Bitcoin, GBP (in the UK), Euro (in Europe), USD (in the U.S.), or USDT (in supported global regions) in their Strike wallet
- Use Send Globally, our cross-border payments feature, to send value across borders to supported regions
Strike offers all the best Bitcoin and Lightning wallet features in one app. We support free on-chain withdrawals, Lightning Address payments, and zero-value invoices - Strike Private for our high-net worth customers that want to buy or sell larger amounts of bitcoin (over £100k)
Business accounts allowing UK businesses to buy, sell, send, receive, or accept bitcoin
Since there is no link, I don't believe it.
Not for one minute.
Strike has officially launched in the UK!
Announcing Strike UK
Very big announcement, as I think this is one of the best gateways to onboard users.
An overview of the services available in the UK:
some of the features that are now available in the UK, with more to come:
Edit:Added link
Announcing Strike UK
Very big announcement, as I think this is one of the best gateways to onboard users.
An overview of the services available in the UK:
Quote
some of the features that are now available in the UK, with more to come:
- Buy bitcoin directly with free unlimited deposits from your bank account, including recurring purchases for DCA, and auto-buy functionality
- Sell your bitcoin and withdraw the funds directly to your bank account
Withdraw your bitcoin to self-custody or send it to any Bitcoin or Lightning wallet instantly and without limits (including free on-chain sends using our Flexible tier) - Strike’s global P2P transfers with Lightning allow you to send from your GBP balance to a friend’s Strike account instantly anywhere Strike is available, and they can receive the value as Bitcoin, GBP (in the UK), Euro (in Europe), USD (in the U.S.), or USDT (in supported global regions) in their Strike wallet
- Use Send Globally, our cross-border payments feature, to send value across borders to supported regions
Strike offers all the best Bitcoin and Lightning wallet features in one app. We support free on-chain withdrawals, Lightning Address payments, and zero-value invoices - Strike Private for our high-net worth customers that want to buy or sell larger amounts of bitcoin (over £100k)
Business accounts allowing UK businesses to buy, sell, send, receive, or accept bitcoin
Edit:Added link
Phoenix Wallet has been forced to close in the US:
My interpretation is that the IRS doesn't like the LN, as it grants some anonymity to the users.
As they are actively trying to track your funds not only on the chain but also in DeFi, it makes perfect sense to try to limit access to the Lightning Network, cutting off the most widely used Onramp interfaces.
My interpretation is that the IRS doesn't like the LN, as it grants some anonymity to the users.
As they are actively trying to track your funds not only on the chain but also in DeFi, it makes perfect sense to try to limit access to the Lightning Network, cutting off the most widely used Onramp interfaces.
Well that is too bad.. Phoenix seems to be amongst the best of the seeming (or mostly) self-custody and fairly easy to use kinds of a lightning network wallets (and fairly reliable, too), in which there is no need to run your own node.. fuck..
I am going to have to look into and/or try to figure out some other kind of a lightning wallet solution. .which is too bad.. since sometimes it can take time to learn and get used to some of these kinds of things.. and even with Phoenix I had not really been able to use the funds that often.... sometimes just looking for reasons to try to practice with it, and surely it would be nice to meet more people in the real world to exchange directly, but then now having fewer lightning network options.
I was using Breez until they force closed one of my channels a few months ago.. and so maybe I will try them again, unless I come across something else... I also had the lighting wallet on Bluewallet that ended up getting closed, too... what was that maybe over a year ago?
Regarding your theory about the IRS, I am thinking that it more likely has to do with the Samurai developers getting surprisedly arrested, and surely other kinds of ongoing vindictive behaviors of USA government agencies.. and so maybe they consulted with legal counsel or just consulted amongst themselves to figure it is not worth it to be taking chances of getting treated like the Samurai developers or even the Tornado cash developers or some other the other vindictive cases related to bitcoin (and shitcoins too) that have been coming out of the USA.
Phoenix Wallet has been forced to close in the US:
My interpretation is that the IRS doesn't like the LN, as it grants some anonymity to the users.
As they are actively trying to track your funds not only on the chain but also in DeFi, it makes perfect sense to try to limit access to the Lightning Network, cutting off the most widely used Onramp interfaces.
My interpretation is that the IRS doesn't like the LN, as it grants some anonymity to the users.
As they are actively trying to track your funds not only on the chain but also in DeFi, it makes perfect sense to try to limit access to the Lightning Network, cutting off the most widely used Onramp interfaces.
A very nice event is taking place right now in Viareggio, Italy.
TUSCANY LIGHTNING SUMMIT
The event has been organised Fulgur.ventures.
The entire event will be livestreamed and accessible for free via PlanB.network !
TUSCANY LIGHTNING SUMMIT
The event has been organised Fulgur.ventures.
The entire event will be livestreamed and accessible for free via PlanB.network !
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Day 1 Program and Livestream
coinbase is sister company of DCG
DCG funded most of the work that went into pushing for LN funny part is coinbase still isnt implementing LN, it is instead just letting light spark connect to it coinbase isnt anti bitcoin.. its anti stupidity and just hires outside stupidity to keep stupidity at arms length to do its bidding if you think their aversion to flawed LN integration is "anti-bitcoin" its time you lot learned what bitcoin is, and learn LN balance of msats is not bitcoin coinbase avoiding LN for 6 years didnt make it "anti-bitcoin". fact is coinbase has the most bitcoin on coinbase keys compared to any other entity what i see as a plausible business plan/partnership is for coinbase to be the reserve custodian of coin for LN locked pegs and then let some other company be liable to the shoddy payment system of IOU balance on LN Quote with the Lightning signing keys entirely held by Coinbase, while Lightspark hosts their Lightning node. and it is done! Coinbase now officially integrates the lightning network. with the partnership with Lightspark, it is now possible to pay with lightning Long overdue move from a true anti bitcoin organisations: Coinbase the most anti-Bitcoin organisation. Make #DeleteCoinbase great again Don't forget where they come from, and where they want to go. Jump to:
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