Latest Posts
Notice: OFFLINE for a few hours due to ISP incompetence
Posted about 6 hours ago by SnowyLND
Hello dear LN+ fellows.
Due to technical problems in my ISP (according to them an undisclosed device failed and they have no substitute available, although already bought a similar and are waiting for it to arrive in the next few hours) I'm offline at the moment (12:00 GMT) and will probably be in the next couple hours.
Please behave and don't do anything you wouldn't like to be done to yourself.
Due to technical problems in my ISP (according to them an undisclosed device failed and they have no substitute available, although already bought a similar and are waiting for it to arrive in the next few hours) I'm offline at the moment (12:00 GMT) and will probably be in the next couple hours.
Please behave and don't do anything you wouldn't like to be done to yourself.
Node down between 1:30 - 8:30 GMT, May 14th
Posted 14 days ago by LNok
My node "LNok" would be down between 1:30 - 8:30 GMT, May 14th due to electrical facilities upgrade. Sorry for the inconvenience & appreciate your patience.
Check if your raspberry pi CPU is throttled using vcgencmd
Posted 14 days ago by ZEYACRY
I just read Djuri's message on Satoshi Radio ROF that the large mempool may be more taxing to the raspberry pi. It is good to check the CPU state using "vcgencmd get_throttled".
https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/17860-how-to-interpret-rpi-vcgencmd-get-throttled/
https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/17860-how-to-interpret-rpi-vcgencmd-get-throttled/
Is there a RSS feed for LN+ posts?
Posted 19 days ago by Relatively Irrelevant
I'd like to subscribe to an RSS feed for https://lightningnetwork.plus/posts/ but cannot find one. None of these normal paths are valid:
- https://lightningnetwork.plus/rss
- https://lightningnetwork.plus/feed
- https://lightningnetwork.plus/posts/rss
- https://lightningnetwork.plus/posts/feed
When I view the source of https://lightningnetwork.plus/posts/, I also do not find an HTML link tag with an href defining a RSS feed URL. I'm expecting to find something like:
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Lightning Network Plus Posts" href="https://lightningnetwork.plus/posts/feed/" />
Is anyone else able to find the RSS feed URL? If one doesn't exist, perhaps @LN+ would consider adding one.
@LN+, if you don't know anything about RSS yet, consider learning more here:
https://www.howtogeek.com/318401/how-to-find-or-create-an-rss-feed-for-any-website/
The 5 stages of getting orange pilled
Posted 22 days ago by LN+
No matter the subject, it's never easy to accept the realization that one's world view is incorrect. For many smart and educated people like Michael Saylor it took years to get it. Bitcoin's underlying philosophy itself, and its implementation challenge many well engrained ideas. It's also not a minor subject, it shakes the foundation of what you hold to be true all your life.
Bitcoiners often get disappointed with nocoiners (people who don't have Bitcoin) when trying to orange pill them (open their minds to Bitcoin), because they don't seem to understand the obvious. I urge us to be patient and understanding.
Learn to recognize the "5 stages of grief" most people go through while detoxing from fiat, and help them through the hurdles with patience and with compassion.
Bitcoiners often get disappointed with nocoiners (people who don't have Bitcoin) when trying to orange pill them (open their minds to Bitcoin), because they don't seem to understand the obvious. I urge us to be patient and understanding.
Learn to recognize the "5 stages of grief" most people go through while detoxing from fiat, and help them through the hurdles with patience and with compassion.
1. Shock and denial 😲
Initially people can't accept that fiat money and the global monetary system is not what they thought it is. They can't accept that the official narrative they have been thought in school and have been fed by mass media doesn't tell the full story. It's shocking to realize one has been manipulated.
People also can't accept that a pseudunomous economist / programmer(s) (Satoshi Nakamoto) can discover digital scarcity, and reboot the world economy with a more efficient and more just monetary system that doesn't rely on centralized powers.
This stage can take a relatively long time, because one has to learn a quite a bit about bitcoin while being in denial.
People also can't accept that a pseudunomous economist / programmer(s) (Satoshi Nakamoto) can discover digital scarcity, and reboot the world economy with a more efficient and more just monetary system that doesn't rely on centralized powers.
This stage can take a relatively long time, because one has to learn a quite a bit about bitcoin while being in denial.
2. Anger 😡
Once people get over the shock, they often get angry.
They are angry for being lied to by the system, but they are also upset because they assume they missed out on buying bitcoin early.
Some construct or buy into various narratives that Bitcoin is actually dangerous because it will replace the old established monetary systems, or because it uses too many resources to run, etc.
At one point though, people do come to accept that this is happening no matter what.
They are angry for being lied to by the system, but they are also upset because they assume they missed out on buying bitcoin early.
Some construct or buy into various narratives that Bitcoin is actually dangerous because it will replace the old established monetary systems, or because it uses too many resources to run, etc.
At one point though, people do come to accept that this is happening no matter what.
3. Bargaining 🧐
The next step for intelligent people typically is bargaining.
They will ask: can we roll back time, and instead of bitcoin use another crypto coin that they can buy into early, or can we make the properties of bitcoin different so they would fit one's personal preferences (that typically turn out to be shortsighted)?
This stage is very important because people will learn through questioning about legacy systems, the engineering decisions made for bitcoin, about complex incentive structures, and other deeper aspects of the subject.
They will ask: can we roll back time, and instead of bitcoin use another crypto coin that they can buy into early, or can we make the properties of bitcoin different so they would fit one's personal preferences (that typically turn out to be shortsighted)?
This stage is very important because people will learn through questioning about legacy systems, the engineering decisions made for bitcoin, about complex incentive structures, and other deeper aspects of the subject.
4. Depression 😕
As people understand more about the economy, financial systems, political powers, money in general, inflation, etc. they get depressed.
There is a lot of uneccessary injustice, unfairness and cruelty going on in the world, and bitcoin doesn't seem to offer a quick solution to all these problems right away. Most people in the world haven't adopted bitcoin to any level in their lives. There are massive powers who are opposed to change. How will we ever get over these hurdles?
Fortunately, most people are strong in heart and not willing to give in or give up. Many move on to the last and most important stage.
There is a lot of uneccessary injustice, unfairness and cruelty going on in the world, and bitcoin doesn't seem to offer a quick solution to all these problems right away. Most people in the world haven't adopted bitcoin to any level in their lives. There are massive powers who are opposed to change. How will we ever get over these hurdles?
Fortunately, most people are strong in heart and not willing to give in or give up. Many move on to the last and most important stage.
5. Acceptance and hope 🤩
Once people realize bitcoin is not an instant or perfect solution to all ills in the world, but it is our only fair shot to fix things, they reach the final stage. They start to see bitcoin's true value and ingenuity, and how it can be the foundation for a new fair monetary and economic system. The future doesn't seem bleak no more. Hope returns.
At this point, people start to do what they can to help to push bitcoin forward:
At this point, people start to do what they can to help to push bitcoin forward:
- Most adopt it in their lives for savings and for payments
- Some start to run a node and provide liquidity to the Lightning Network
- Some can't hold back the good news and start to talk to their friends about bitcoin
- Some transition into jobs where they can work on bitcoin and its ecosystem
This entire process is difficult, yet extremely rewarding. It not only gives back hope in the future and improves one's financials, but that hope cascades into other areas of life like health, relationships, improved moral values, etc. People start to feel empowered to take charge and embetter themselves and their communities.
If you're a bitcoiner, I don't have to convince you about the above. If you're a nocoiner, you won't believe me until you experienced the change yourself. Good luck on your journey no matter where you stand! 🚀
Photo: Aditya Vyas
12 ways to get incoming capacity for your Bitcoin Lightning Network node
Posted 25 days ago by LN+
Whether you're a merchant, freelancer, employee or any other entity hoping to receive SATs through the Bitcoin Lightning Network, incoming liquidity is critically important for you. To be able to receive funds you need to have channels that are partially or full empty from your side.
Here are 12 ways you can generate incoming liquidity in no particular order.
Here are 12 ways you can generate incoming liquidity in no particular order.
1. LightningNetwork+
Right here on LN+ you can participate in a liquidity swap or a dual funded channel. This is the only free option, but you need to open a channel to receive a channel of equivalent size. This is a good option if you wanted to open channels to be able to send funds anyway.
2. LN Big
LN Big is one of the most well connected OG node operator offering large incoming channels for a fee.
3. Thor by Bitrefill
Bitrefill is also an OG lightning service. They offer incoming channels via their lightning product called Thor.
4. Yalls.org
Yalls is an OG Lightning social bookmarking site by Alex Bosworth, Lightning Labs developer, who offers channels for a fee.
5. Blocktank by Synonym
6. LOOP by Lightning Labs
LOOP by LL allows you to send out SATs from your lightning node and receive them back on chain. You can use this service to create incoming capacity in two simple steps. First, open to any well connected node, check the node explorer right here on LN+. Second, loop out part or the entire channel capacity using Thunderhub or other tools that support looping out. You end up with a channel that is empty on your side, thus you can receive SATs immediately.
7. Flow by Voltage
Voltage is a cloud lightning node service. They offer easy purchase of channels from other nodes on the network. Flow leverages Lightning Lab's Pool.
8. Liqidity Marketplace by LnRouter
On the lightning analysis website LNRouter you can get an incoming channel for a fee from the Liquidity Ad Marketplace.
9. Magma by Amboss
On the lightning explorer website Amboss you can buy a channel for a fee at the Magma Marketplace.
10. Bitfinex
Bitfinex is a Bitcoin exchange that supports Lightning. You can create incoming capacity by opening a channel to BFX's node, and then sending a part or all of the SATs to Bitfinex, exchange the LN SATs to on-chains SATs at the exchange, and finally send the funds back to yourself on chain. This is a rather expensive option because exchanges charge fees when moving funds.
11. Kraken
Kraken is another major Bitcoin exchange that supports lightning deposits. You can do the same trick as described above for Bitfinex. Here is Kraken's node if you wish to connect to them.
12. Spend
The most obvious and perpaps somewhat overlooked way to generate incoming liquidity is to open a channel to a merchant who accepts Lightning payments and spend your SATs with them. Besides the already mentioned Bitrefill, which offers phone top ups and various gift cards, you can also spend your sats at hundreds of online merchants. Buy a hardware wallet at the Blockstream store, get plane tickets or book a hotel at Travala, gamble with Lightning Roulette, etc. Browse for more at LN Stores.
If you're aware of any other method to create incoming liquidity, please comment.
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski.
Kickback on incoming liquidity
Posted 25 days ago by Shire Society Federation
Open a 2.5M+ channel to us and we'll balance 1M up to 300ppm, set a max 100ppm fee to ensure it gets balanced.
Introducing Dual Funded Channel Agreements
Posted 27 days ago by LN+
Dual Funded Channels (DFC) are a special and efficient way to open Bitcoin Lightning Network channels. They are now available on LN+. We call them Dual Funded Channel Agreements (DFCA) or "Dual Swaps". These are special "swaps" that are created between two parties and involves only a single channel. Let me explain (to the best of my ability) what dual funded channels are and how they can benefit you, and what are its downsides compared to swaps.
Benefits
The three benefits of dual funded channels:
- You can create a channel that is twice the capacity of the funds you have available. For example if you have 1M SAT available, you can open a 2M channel.
- Your newly opened channel is instantly balanced. So, following the above example, you will be able to send 1M and receive 1M on your new 2M channel.
- You split the channel opening costs.
How to open dual funded channels?
In order to open a dual funded channel, you need to use special tools at this time. It's not available by default in LN wallets. For the popular lightning implementation LND there is an additional tool available called BOS (Balance of Satoshi) by LND developer Alex Bosworth, which helps you open dual funded channels. This is the tool we require you to use on LN+ in order to participate in the new Dual Funded Channel Agreements (DFCA).
Other lightning implementations like CLN also have experimental support for dual funded channels, but we're not yet supporting them. We will wait until the code is more mature, and we can potentially open dual funded channels cross implmentations. Until then, please only open or apply to DFCAs if you run LND and you're able to use the BOS tool.
Other lightning implementations like CLN also have experimental support for dual funded channels, but we're not yet supporting them. We will wait until the code is more mature, and we can potentially open dual funded channels cross implmentations. Until then, please only open or apply to DFCAs if you run LND and you're able to use the BOS tool.
Downsides
The three downsides of DFCAs compared to regular swaps:
- You only get connected to one node, thus you have less direct and indirect connections.
- You need to use a specialized tool like BOS, which could be potentially difficult for users, and thus there are less node operators you can work with.
- You need to cooperate closely with the other party, because when you initiate a DFC a Terminal session needs to be kept open until the other party accepts the request.
How does it work on LN+?
On LN+ the user who starts the DFCA (participant A) will set the conditions for this special kind of "swap", including the capacity. For dual funded "swaps", A should only specify their your side of the capacity (half of total channel capacity). The total capacity will be the double of the capacity A specifies. For example, if the DFCA is for 1M SAT, the channel will be 2M SAT.
The cards showing the capacity show only the funding capacity (half the total) in order to be consistent with the triangle, square and pentagon swaps. When you search for swaps you want to find swaps that match the amount of SATs you have available to open a channel.
On LN+ as soon as participant B joins, A will be notified to get ready to accept the invitiation.
B initiates the channel open invitation in BOS. Once the invitation is sent out, participant A is notified again to go ahead an accept the invitation in BOS.
Once the invitation is accepted the channel opening transaction is sent out and the DFCA is complete.
If you are familiar with BOS, open or join some DFCAs!
The cards showing the capacity show only the funding capacity (half the total) in order to be consistent with the triangle, square and pentagon swaps. When you search for swaps you want to find swaps that match the amount of SATs you have available to open a channel.
On LN+ as soon as participant B joins, A will be notified to get ready to accept the invitiation.
B initiates the channel open invitation in BOS. Once the invitation is sent out, participant A is notified again to go ahead an accept the invitation in BOS.
Once the invitation is accepted the channel opening transaction is sent out and the DFCA is complete.
If you are familiar with BOS, open or join some DFCAs!
Posted about 1 month ago by edifice
Posted about 1 month ago by edifice
I am having issues with my VM running my lightning node. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon. Otherwise, I will take the node down and try again at a later date.
Posted about 1 month ago by LN+
Following up on a popular request, I'm announcing a new feature: LN+ Messages.
LN+ Messages is similar to DMs on other platforms with one notable exception: you can only send and receive if you have logged in using your Bitcoin Lightning Network node to LightningNetwork.plus. LN+ Messages is designed specifically only for Lightning Network operators to cooperate and communicate with each other in a private and safe way.
With LN+ Messages, you don't have to reveal your Twitter, Telegram or Email address to other parties. You can message each other without revealing any personal information. You don't have to spend SATs message embedded into a lightning transaction, and hope the other party knows how to read it. LN+ Messages works in any brower and supports rich formatting and sending images too (ex. screenshots to help each other if needed). You can even send a message to node even if they are not registered on LN+. They will get your message once they claim their node.
LN+ Messages is similar to DMs on other platforms with one notable exception: you can only send and receive if you have logged in using your Bitcoin Lightning Network node to LightningNetwork.plus. LN+ Messages is designed specifically only for Lightning Network operators to cooperate and communicate with each other in a private and safe way.
With LN+ Messages, you don't have to reveal your Twitter, Telegram or Email address to other parties. You can message each other without revealing any personal information. You don't have to spend SATs message embedded into a lightning transaction, and hope the other party knows how to read it. LN+ Messages works in any brower and supports rich formatting and sending images too (ex. screenshots to help each other if needed). You can even send a message to node even if they are not registered on LN+. They will get your message once they claim their node.
Features of LN+ Messages
- New and read messages are clearly marked as such
- You can usend a message before it's been read
- You can flag messages that you consider spam or undesireable
- You can block nodes from sending you messages
- Optionally you can be notified by new messages on your email
How to Send
To message other node operators, go to their node profile (search under the Nodes navigation) and click the Message button with the envelope icon.
How to Receive
To read your messages click the Messages navigation item. You will be notified (bell icon) about any new messages you received in the navigation.
Happy messaging!
I'm eager to hear your ideas on how we can improve the service further.
Happy messaging!
I'm eager to hear your ideas on how we can improve the service further.