What is the Lightning Network?
The Lightning Network is a Layer 2 payment protocol built on top of Bitcoin. It enables instant, high-volume transactions with fees of fractions of a cent, making Bitcoin practical for everyday payments and micropayments.
Lightning works by creating payment channels between nodes. Once a channel is open, parties can transact unlimited times without touching the main Bitcoin blockchain, only settling the final balance on-chain.
What Does Network Capacity Mean?
Lightning Network capacity represents the total amount of Bitcoin locked in payment channels across the network. Higher capacity means more liquidity available for routing payments.
However, capacity doesn't tell the whole story. What matters for sending a payment is having a path with sufficient liquidity between sender and receiver. The network's routing capability depends on how well-connected nodes are.
Nodes vs Channels
Nodes are the computers running Lightning software (like LND, Core Lightning, or Eclair). Each node can open channels with other nodes to send and receive payments.
Channels are the actual payment pathways between two nodes. Opening a channel requires an on-chain Bitcoin transaction, but once open, thousands of payments can flow through it instantly.
The more channels and nodes, the more paths available for routing payments efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Lightning Network?
The Lightning Network contains thousands of nodes with tens of thousands of payment channels. Total capacity fluctuates but typically ranges from several thousand to over 5,000 BTC. Check the live stats above for current numbers.
Is Lightning Network capacity growing?
The Lightning Network has grown significantly since its launch in 2018. Capacity, node count, and channel count have all increased substantially as adoption spreads globally.
What is a Lightning Network channel?
A channel is a two-party payment pathway funded with Bitcoin. Once opened, the parties can send payments back and forth instantly without blockchain confirmations. Channels require an on-chain transaction to open and close.
How much does a Lightning payment cost?
Lightning fees are typically fractions of a cent, even for international payments. Fees depend on the routing path and are paid to the nodes that forward your payment. Many small payments cost less than 1 satoshi in fees.
How fast is Lightning?
Lightning payments settle in milliseconds - literally faster than you can blink. Unlike on-chain Bitcoin transactions that take 10+ minutes to confirm, Lightning provides instant finality for the sender and receiver.
What is node connectivity (Clearnet vs Tor)?
Clearnet nodes use regular IPv4/IPv6 addresses and are directly reachable. Tor nodes use the Tor network for privacy. Some nodes run both. Clearnet nodes typically have better connectivity while Tor nodes offer enhanced privacy.
Do I need to run a node to use Lightning?
No! While running your own node gives you full sovereignty, most users access Lightning through wallets and services that handle the complexity. Spark lets you use Lightning without managing channels or running infrastructure.
What is channel capacity vs node capacity?
Channel capacity is the Bitcoin locked in a single channel. Node capacity is the total Bitcoin a node has across all its channels. Average channel size indicates typical channel funding amounts across the network.
Where does this data come from?
Statistics are sourced from mempool.space, which aggregates Lightning Network data from network gossip. Data refreshes automatically every 60 seconds to show near real-time network state.
Is all Lightning activity visible in these stats?
No. These stats only show public channels announced on the network. Private channels and unannounced nodes don't appear. Actual Lightning activity - including private channel capacity and payment volume - is significantly higher than public stats suggest.
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