Just sharing some information on lighting so we can consider the cons and be better informed:
Lightning is centralized by design. It's something like a centralized ledger that is capable of pushing out finalized transaction states to the real ledger at anytime.
Just like almost all exchanges are currently doing.
But those exchanges are 100% off chain. Better put it on chain and sync with it every 30 days or so.
Much better to prove solvency and shit.
Drawbacks:
- It screws with the UTXO set, because you can't tell where the money actually is in the system
For a certain amount of time. I believe 30 days or so were proposed.
- It's 100% centralized and could be prone to regulation. I've seen them talk about this and they say if the centralized node starts to whitelist addresses or something to that effect, they'll just start another one.
It's called 'free market'.
You don't have to trade with that particular entity.
If you don't like it, use the main chain and pay a (higher) fee.
- It's incredibly complicated and will be prone to errors for the first year or two
Planes and rockets are also complicated.
Whenever there is progress, errors are made in the process. It's called evolution.
Sit still and you die.
- It's not really that useful if you're paying different people with every transaction you do. It's more useful for subscriptions or companies that are paying each other all of the time.
This is not a drawback but a feature.
It is offloading the main chain.
There is no advantage to record each throw of a dice on the main chain. Just send the balance at the end of the day. (
https://pocketdice.io/ for example)
Let them use the lightning network so we can keep the main chain cheap(er).
Lightning brings in the following
1) Centralization
2) trusting third parties
3) possible exploits.
I'm very happy to know XT is totally unable to have any exploit at all.
Do you might also know some positive points about lightning?
I'll go and read it.
