LN+'s Posts
What the Drop in Lightning Nodes Means for LN's Future?
Posted 6 days ago
This contraction is surprising, especially considering the seeming all-time high popularity of LN by other metrics. A recent report by River highlighted a 12-fold increase in LN transactions in the last approximately two years. Most progressive exchanges support LN, and the others are planning to implement it soon. Nostr, a prominent decentralized social network, is entirely powered by Lightning. Moreover, merchants are reporting growth in LN payments.
So, what is happening? How can there be such a discrepancy between usage and node growth? Is LN still the future of payments on Bitcoin? Let me explain how I interpret the statistics of nodes and channel counts and why they might be misleading.
Overexcitement in 2021
Disillusion with Routing Earnings
High On-Chain Fees
Network Optimization
Experimentation by Companies
Private LN Networks
The Value of Bitcoin Increased
LN is Still Too Hard
Custodial LN is Easy
What the Future Holds
Improved Ratings and Top Rated Nodes Page
Posted 8 days ago
In addition, there now a new page in the Explorer for the Highest Rated Nodes.
Understanding the Lightning Network - Where Did My Sats Go?
Posted 27 days ago
Unveiling the Concept of Routing
How Routing Influences Your Sats
Clarifying a Common Misconception
A Typical Routing Scenario
- Opening a Channel: You open a channel with 1 million sats. All these sats are initially on your side.
- Routing a Payment: Your channel routes 100,000 sats to another user, decreasing your balance to 900,000 sats. Meanwhile, this routed payment is received by another one of your channels, increasing its balance correspondingly.
- Earning Fees: By facilitating this transaction, you earn a small routing fee (ex. 5 satoshis). This fee is added to your balance, incrementally increasing the total sats across all your channels.
- Understanding the Overall Impact: Although the balance of the specific channel used for routing decreases, another channel's balance increases. Therefore, the total balance across all your channels remains the same, barring the fees you've earned, which slightly increase your total holdings.
- Closing a Channel: When you close a channel, you receive the final balance of that channel, which reflects all the routing and fee earnings. If, for instance, the closing balance was 900,000 sats, this does not account for increases in your other channels.
Monitoring Your Lightning Network Activity
The Routing Benefit: A Holistic View
Public / Private Channels
Private Channels, on the other hand, are not broadcast to the entire network. Visibility is restricted to the nodes directly involved in the channel, rendering them less prominent for routing on a broad scale. Despite this, private channels can still participate in routing payments. For routing through a private channel to occur, nodes outside the channel must be informed of its existence, typically through "routing hints" provided by one of the participating nodes.
Conclusion
Posted about 1 month ago
What’s in the Name?
Work in Progress
What is a Bitcoin Lightning Network Channel Backup and How To Use It?
Posted 2 months ago
Executive Summary
However, it's important to note that the channel backup does not allow the recovery of Lightning Network channels, but it increases the chance of recovering off-chain balances. The backup is created and managed through the Lightning Network node, and it is essential to download a copy of the SCB file when opening or closing any channels. The backup is a critical security measure, and it is advisable to have a proper backup strategy in place to ensure the safety of Lightning channel funds.
What is a Bitcoin Lightning Network Channel Backup?
What it Contains: Static (unchanging) channel information:
- The channel's funding transaction
- Channel capacity
- Public key of the other node in the channel
- Other relevant channel configuration details
What it Doesn't Contain: The current channel balance or its associated commitment transactions. This information changes often.
Types of Channel Backups
- Static Channel Backup (SCB): The core backup stored as a file (often channel.backup) or multiple entries within a file. You'll need your Lightning wallet seed phrase to use an SCB effectively.
- Database Backups: Lightning Network implementations save important channel information to a database. If you have a full database backup, you can restart your node without the need to use a SCB which would close channels.
How to Use a Bitcoin Lightning Network Channel Backup
- Node Failure: Your Lightning Network node experiences a major problem (e.g., corrupted hard drive, software failure).
- New Node Setup: You install a fresh Lightning Network node.
- Restore Wallet Seed: Restore your 24-word wallet seed phrase. This recreates your on-chain Bitcoin wallet.
- Restore SCB: You transfer the SCB file to your new node or re-enter individual SCBs. Different wallets and LN tools provide the recover option in different places. In Thunderhub for example you can find it under Tools / Backups / Recover Funds from Channels / Recover.
- DLP Process:
- Your new node uses the SCB file(s) to discover the public keys of nodes you had channels with.
- Your node contacts your former channel partners, alerting them to your issue.
- Cooperative nodes will initiate force-closing the channels, returning your on-chain balance according to the last agreed-upon state in the backup.
Important Considerations
- Always Update Backups: Backup your SCB(s) whenever you open or close a Lightning channel. Outdated backups won't reflect the correct channel state.
- Secure Your Backups: Treat your SCB and wallet seed with extreme care. Anyone with access to both can steal your funds, because they can close the channels and then send out the on-chain funds to their own wallet. Store them securely, with copies in safe locations.
- Uncooperative Peers: In the worst-case scenario, where a channel partner becomes uncooperative, you risk losing some funds since the SCB doesn't hold the most recent channel state. This is rare, but highlights the importance of choosing reputable nodes as channel partners.
- Watchtowers: In order to ensure that your peers can't cheat you consider entering a Watchtower Swap.
Backup Strategies
- Automated Cloud Backups: Popular Lightning Network wallets often have built-in features to automatically back up your SCB to cloud storage (encrypted, of course). For example, if you are running an Umbrel node, they have your channel backup and you can contact them if needed.
- Manual Backups: You can periodically copy your SCB file to external drives or another computer. Different wallets and LN tools provide the link to download in different places. In Thunderhub for example you can find it under Tools / Backups / Backup All Channels / Download.
- Database Backups: If your implementation uses a database, include regular backups of it as part of your strategy.
Simple Introduction to Understanding Elliptic Curve Cryptography in Bitcoin
Posted 3 months ago
What is Elliptic Curve Cryptography?
The Role of ECC in Bitcoin
secp256k1: The Specific Curve Used in Bitcoin
Deriving the Public Key
This specific point is calculated using the elliptic curve and your Private Key, ensuring that each Public Key is unique.
Why Can’t We Reverse the Process?
This complexity arises from the Discrete Logarithm Problem in elliptic curves, a problem that is easy to compute in one direction but extremely hard in reverse.
Metaphor to Understand Irreversible Calculations
If you know the formula to create your unique green, mixing it from the primary colors again is straightforward and can be done over and over precisely without much effort. This process of mixing the colors is like generating a Public Key from a Private Key in ECC. Just like you combine specific amounts of 3 colors to get a unique green, in ECC, you perform specific mathematical operations on the Private Key to get a unique Public Key.
Similarly, in ECC, once you have the Public Key, it's computationally infeasible to reverse the process and find out the exact Private Key. The mathematical operations (like the paint mixing) ensure that while it's straightforward to go from the Private Key to the Public Key (mixing blue and yellow to make green), it's extremely hard to go in the reverse direction (separating the green back into blue and yellow).
Efficiency of ECC in Bitcoin
ECC's ability to offer equivalent security with smaller keys compared to other cryptographic methods like RSA makes it ideal for a system like Bitcoin, where speed and efficiency are crucial.
Conclusion
Aqua Wallet: A New Entrant in the Bitcoin Ecosystem
Posted 4 months ago
Bitcoin Wallet
Lightning Wallet
Liquid Bitcoin Wallet
USDt Wallet
- Liquid Network: Allows native receiving with no minimum amount.
- Ethereum Network: Facilitates on-the-fly conversion from Ethereum USDt to Liquid USDt, with a minimum of around $22 and a maximum of $25K. Conversion fees, if any, are unspecified.
- Tron Network: Features a similar setup to the Ethereum chain.
Additional Assets
Backup
Bitcoin Chip
Marketplace
User Experience
Availability
Bitcoins as Rewards: The MicroStrategy Edge
Posted 4 months ago
Why is the Lightning Rewards Platform better than cash-based systems?
MicroStrategy's Lightning Rewards program offers several advantages over traditional cash-based systems. First, it utilizes Bitcoin, which can be more appealing and innovative, potentially increasing engagement. Second, the use of Bitcoin allows for instant, global rewards without the complexities and costs associated with cross-border cash transactions. Lastly, it leverages the security and scalability of the Bitcoin network, offering a more secure and efficient rewards distribution system compared to conventional cash-based rewards.
What actions can be rewarded with the Lightning Rewards Platform?
The MicroStrategy Lightning Platform allows for rewarding various actions such as customer purchases, referrals, participation in events or surveys, and online engagement. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for enhancing user interaction across different platforms and activities, potentially reducing spam and malicious bots by incentivizing genuine engagement.
Example Use Cases
Reward employees with Satoshis for publishing articles, selecting the best answers, answering questions. The platform offers out-of-the-box integration with Salesforce (SFDC).
Employee Education
Reward employees with Satoshis for completing learning modules, achieving certifications, and viewing educational videos. The platform offers out-of-the-box integration with Wistia and Adobe.
Employee Health
Reward employees with Satoshis for achieving daily exercise time goals, hitting step count targets, and maintaining consecutive days of exercise. The platform offers integration with MoveSpring.
Mechanics
MicroStrategy's Lightning Rewards platform stands out for its innovative use of Bitcoin to incentivize and reward actions. This approach enables instant, global, and secure transactions, appealing to a wide audience. It seamlessly integrates with enterprise systems, making it versatile for various business needs. The platform's ability to track and analyze reward impact adds significant value for businesses looking to enhance engagement and measure the effectiveness of their strategies.
Liquid Lightning: A 4-Tiered Scalable Bitcoin Ecosystem
Posted 4 months ago
Brief Explanation of Liquid
The idea of Lightning Network on Liquid: "Liquid Lightning"
Liquid's functionality for a better lightning experience
- Lower Chain Fees and Faster Channel Management: Liquid's 1-minute block time can facilitate quicker and more cost-effective channel management compared to the main Bitcoin blockchain, especially during high on-chain fee times on the base Bitcoin layer.
- Advanced Op-Codes: Liquid's scripting system offers more flexibility than Bitcoin's. This could enable more advanced features in channel management.
- Privacy Enhancements: Liquid supports Confidential Transactions and Confidential Assets, which enhance privacy by hiding transaction amounts and asset types, though it should be noted that addresses are still visible.
Interoperation between Bitcoin Lightning and Liquid Lightning
Enhanced scalability through layered innovation
- Bitcoin Base Layer: Serving as the bedrock with maximal security and decentralization, ideal for large, non-urgent transfers, long-term storage and and an achor for other layers.
- Bitcoin Lightning Network: Offering faster, smaller transactions with reduced fees, suitable for everyday payments and microtransactions.
- Liquid Network: Enhancing efficiency for larger, rapid transfers and trading, with added privacy features and quicker settlement times.
- Liquid Lightning: The newest tier, combining the strengths of Liquid and Lightning Network, proposing a solution for instant, low-cost transactions, potentially with advanced features not currently feasible on the Bitcoin Lightning Network scalable to global levels.
This stratified approach allows users to choose the most appropriate layer for their transaction needs, aligning with their priorities whether it be speed, cost, or privacy, thereby unlocking a diverse range of applications and use cases within the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Risks associated with Liquid Lightning
Implementation challenges
- Developing an Ecosystem of Client Software: Robust client software needs to be developed for users to interact with Liquid Lightning, and ideally we should not rely on a single team. In Bitcoin Lightning we have at least 4 large teams working on client software. Liquid Lightning needs at least 2-3 teams as well. The good news is that Lightning in general is designed to run on any blockchain similar to Bitcoin, which is why it was relatively easy to start Lightning on Litecoin (an altcoin based on Bitcoin). Liquid Lightning was also relatively easy to implement according to Blockstream who has already created Lightning support for Liquid on Core Lightning.
- Bootstrapping Liquidity: Sufficient liquidity must be ensured for the network to function efficiently. This is possibly the biggest hurdle on the short term.
- Mobile Wallet Support: Wallets need to be developed or adapted to support Liquid Lightning and submarine swaps between it and Bitcoin Lightning. Blockstream has made good progress on this front with Greenwallet.
Conclusion
Witness the First Lightning Payment at Pingu's Burger in Vietnam, Facilitated by Neutronpay
Posted 4 months ago
Neutronpay, Pingu's chosen payment service provider, offers a range of products, including an API designed for businesses across various regions. In addition, it provides an app that caters to both businesses and individuals. There's a special emphasis on the mobile-centric markets of Asia and Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The integration of Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network at Pingu's Burger is a testament to the evolving landscape of Bitcoin adoption in Vietnam. While not the first to embrace this technology, Pingu's Burger joins a growing list of forward-thinking businesses in the region that recognize the potential of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network as a payment rail. This move highlights a broader trend among Vietnamese enterprises to incorporate innovative payment methods, offering customers both convenience and a glimpse into the future of financial transactions. It also reflects Vietnam's commitment to establishing itself as a leader in technological innovation and digital finance within Southeast Asia.
Earn Satoshis Daily: Simple Ways to Stack Bitcoin and Get Paid Over Lightning
Posted 4 months ago
Advertising
- Sign-Up Process: Register with these services using your Lightning Address.
- Earning Sats: Receive regular micro-payments in Satoshis for your engagement.
Leading Services:
Gaming
Game platforms to explore:
- THNDR Games: Engage in online gaming and earn a dozen or so sats daily.
- LN Games: Hyper-casual gaming platform that lets you earn Bitcoin while having a blast.
News & Content
- Slice: Browse with an extension and get paid for looking at ads.
- Fountain: Listen to podcasts and earn several hundred sats daily for an hour or so of your time.
- Bitcoin Magazine App: Stay updated with Bitcoin news and earn 5 sats per article.
- Stacker.news: Post content or comment and get paid by readers and the site itself daily. You can easily earn thousands of sats with popular content.
- VIDA: A platform that allows you to earn per message or per minute if someone wants to reach you.
Education
- Yzer: Learn about Bitcoin and earn hundreds of sats every day.
- Blink Wallet: This is a lightning wallet that offers bitcoin classes that pay you for viewing them.
- Binance / Coinbase: These major exchanges offer courses with rewards, but they often pay in altcoins, which may not be easy to exchange to Satoshis.
Shopping
Fitness
- sMiles: This app rewards your daily walking routine with Satoshis.
Earning Satoshis daily is an engaging way to immerse yourself in the Bitcoin universe. It's a win-win situation: You gain knowledge, support the Bitcoin community, and steadily build your Bitcoin holdings, all through simple, everyday activities.
Unconventional Use Cases of the Lightning Network
Posted 5 months ago
- Permissionless Access: Anyone with internet access can utilize a Lightning wallet, regardless of age, social status, or geographical location.
- Efficiency: Transfers over the Lightning Network are remarkably cheap, often costing a mere fraction of a cent.
- Speed: Transactions are nearly instantaneous, typically completed in a second or two.
- Streamability: Payments can be extremely small and frequent.
- Hard Currency: The network deals in Satoshis, which are fractions of Bitcoin – the most robust form of digital money, highly sought after globally.
Here's a dive into the imaginative business applications enabled by these features:
Real-Time Data Streaming Payments
Pay-Per-Use Software Features
In-Game Actions and Events
IoT Device Interactions
Crowdsourced Research and Data Collection
Public Wi-Fi Access Time
Micropayment-based Charity Donations
Pay-Per-View Educational Content
Pay-as-You-Read E-Books
Automated Micropayments for Content Attribution
Micropayment-based Environmental Actions
Dynamic Pricing for Digital Advertisements
Pay-Per-Use Home Appliances
Decentralized Content Fact-Checking Platform
Each of these ideas leverages the power of micropayments to foster innovation across various sectors. From transportation to environmental sustainability, and healthcare to education, the Lightning Network opens new avenues for community engagement and benefit. This is a call to action: draw inspiration from these concepts, build on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, and launch your venture in 2024.