To create a channel on the Lightning Network, do you have to execute an actual transaction?
I'm trying to better understand the Lightning Network. I was reading this article -- https://medium.com/coinmonks/lightning-network-how-does-it-work-ceeeda8ad21e . My question is, when two parties create a channel and one or both commit funds to that channel, is the committing of those funds an actual transaction on the Bitcoin network? That is, can the two parties involved only start using the channel when that transaction has been settled on the Bitcoin network?
transactions lightning-network ln-opening-channels
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
add a comment |
I'm trying to better understand the Lightning Network. I was reading this article -- https://medium.com/coinmonks/lightning-network-how-does-it-work-ceeeda8ad21e . My question is, when two parties create a channel and one or both commit funds to that channel, is the committing of those funds an actual transaction on the Bitcoin network? That is, can the two parties involved only start using the channel when that transaction has been settled on the Bitcoin network?
transactions lightning-network ln-opening-channels
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
add a comment |
I'm trying to better understand the Lightning Network. I was reading this article -- https://medium.com/coinmonks/lightning-network-how-does-it-work-ceeeda8ad21e . My question is, when two parties create a channel and one or both commit funds to that channel, is the committing of those funds an actual transaction on the Bitcoin network? That is, can the two parties involved only start using the channel when that transaction has been settled on the Bitcoin network?
transactions lightning-network ln-opening-channels
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
I'm trying to better understand the Lightning Network. I was reading this article -- https://medium.com/coinmonks/lightning-network-how-does-it-work-ceeeda8ad21e . My question is, when two parties create a channel and one or both commit funds to that channel, is the committing of those funds an actual transaction on the Bitcoin network? That is, can the two parties involved only start using the channel when that transaction has been settled on the Bitcoin network?
transactions lightning-network ln-opening-channels
transactions lightning-network ln-opening-channels
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
edited Dec 14 '18 at 18:30
Murch♦
34.8k27114325
34.8k27114325
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
asked Dec 14 '18 at 18:01
DaveDave
22029
22029
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Yes, a channel opening involves creating and signing 3 transactions, and broadcasting just one.
The transaction to be broadcast funds the channel, and spends to a multisig output. It is signed by whomever chooses to fund the channel. When this funding tx receives sufficient confirmation, the channel is considered open.
This multisig output is spent by two commitment transactions signed by both payment channel peers, but not broadcast. Each peer stores its own commitment transaction and only broadcasts it if it decides to unilaterally close the channel.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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Yes, a channel opening involves creating and signing 3 transactions, and broadcasting just one.
The transaction to be broadcast funds the channel, and spends to a multisig output. It is signed by whomever chooses to fund the channel. When this funding tx receives sufficient confirmation, the channel is considered open.
This multisig output is spent by two commitment transactions signed by both payment channel peers, but not broadcast. Each peer stores its own commitment transaction and only broadcasts it if it decides to unilaterally close the channel.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
add a comment |
Yes, a channel opening involves creating and signing 3 transactions, and broadcasting just one.
The transaction to be broadcast funds the channel, and spends to a multisig output. It is signed by whomever chooses to fund the channel. When this funding tx receives sufficient confirmation, the channel is considered open.
This multisig output is spent by two commitment transactions signed by both payment channel peers, but not broadcast. Each peer stores its own commitment transaction and only broadcasts it if it decides to unilaterally close the channel.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
add a comment |
Yes, a channel opening involves creating and signing 3 transactions, and broadcasting just one.
The transaction to be broadcast funds the channel, and spends to a multisig output. It is signed by whomever chooses to fund the channel. When this funding tx receives sufficient confirmation, the channel is considered open.
This multisig output is spent by two commitment transactions signed by both payment channel peers, but not broadcast. Each peer stores its own commitment transaction and only broadcasts it if it decides to unilaterally close the channel.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
Yes, a channel opening involves creating and signing 3 transactions, and broadcasting just one.
The transaction to be broadcast funds the channel, and spends to a multisig output. It is signed by whomever chooses to fund the channel. When this funding tx receives sufficient confirmation, the channel is considered open.
This multisig output is spent by two commitment transactions signed by both payment channel peers, but not broadcast. Each peer stores its own commitment transaction and only broadcasts it if it decides to unilaterally close the channel.
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
answered Dec 14 '18 at 18:08
James C.James C.
1,122113
1,122113
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
add a comment |
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Thanks for this clarification. So this might be really obvious, but in as far as the broadcasted transaction funds the channel and Bitcoin transactions usually take an hour to be confirmed, I assume that means folks can't start using the channel until that confirmation occurs an hour later?
– Dave
Dec 14 '18 at 19:42
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
– James C.
Dec 14 '18 at 19:45
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
Here’s a link to a question has a lot of related info about pending channels, the number of confirmations required before using the channel is a configurable option: bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/79580/63872
– chytrik
Dec 14 '18 at 20:43
add a comment |
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