Historical retrospective · Layer 2
The Lightning paper framed payment channels as a Bitcoin scaling path
The Lightning Network’s foundational paper described routed payment channels that can settle balances on Bitcoin without recording every transfer on-chain.
Channel networks aim to reduce base-layer transaction demand while preserving the option to settle disputes using Bitcoin’s consensus rules.
The proposal helped establish a layered scaling narrative that continues to shape Bitcoin development.
Off-chain payments trade block-space use for channel liquidity, online availability and routing constraints.
Primary source
This retrospective summarizes the source below in original language. The displayed year refers to the dated event, proposal or specification; it is not the article’s publication date. This is not investment, legal or security advice.