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Blockchain General

Lightning Network

A Layer 2 payment channel network built on Bitcoin that enables near-instant, low-cost transactions by conducting most activity off-chain. Two parties open a channel by locking BTC in a multisig transaction, then exchange signed commitment transactions off-chain; only the opening and closing transactions are broadcast on-chain. Payments can be routed across multiple channels using Hash Time-Locked Contracts (HTLCs), enabling trustless multi-hop transfers.

IDlightning-networkAliasLightningAliasLN
Plain meaning

Plain meaning

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A Layer 2 payment channel network built on Bitcoin that enables near-instant, low-cost transactions by conducting most activity off-chain. Two parties open a channel by locking BTC in a multisig transaction, then exchange signed commitment transactions off-chain; only the opening and closing transactions are broadcast on-chain. Payments can be routed across multiple channels using Hash Time-Locked Contracts (HTLCs), enabling trustless multi-hop transfers.

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Lightning Network (lightning-network)
Category: Blockchain General
Definition: A Layer 2 payment channel network built on Bitcoin that enables near-instant, low-cost transactions by conducting most activity off-chain. Two parties open a channel by locking BTC in a multisig transaction, then exchange signed commitment transactions off-chain; only the opening and closing transactions are broadcast on-chain. Payments can be routed across multiple channels using Hash Time-Locked Contracts (HTLCs), enabling trustless multi-hop transfers.
Aliases: Lightning, LN
Related: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Layer 2, SegWit (Segregated Witness), Layer 2 (L2)
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Branch

Bitcoin

The first decentralized cryptocurrency network, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, using a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism and a UTXO-based transaction model. Bitcoin's protocol enforces a fixed supply cap of 21 million BTC, with new coins issued through mining block rewards that halve approximately every four years. It serves as both a peer-to-peer electronic cash system and a store of value, with its scripting language enabling basic programmability such as multisig and timelocks.

Proof of Work (PoW)UTXO Model
Open term
Branch

Bitcoin Layer 2

Scaling and programmability solutions built on top of Bitcoin's base layer that extend its functionality while inheriting some degree of Bitcoin's security. Major approaches include the Lightning Network (payment channels), Stacks (smart contracts via Proof of Transfer), Liquid Network (Blockstream's federated sidechain), and ZK-rollups like Citrea (using BitVM for settlement). These solutions address Bitcoin's limited throughput (~7 TPS) and restricted scripting.

BitVM
Open term
Branch

SegWit (Segregated Witness)

A Bitcoin soft fork activated in August 2017 (BIP 141) that separates transaction signature data (witness) from the transaction body, fixing transaction malleability and increasing effective block capacity from 1 MB to approximately 4 MB via a weight unit system. SegWit introduced a versioned witness program structure that enabled future upgrades like Taproot without additional soft forks. It was a prerequisite for the Lightning Network's secure operation.

Taproot
Open term
Branch

Layer 2 (L2)

A scaling solution built on top of a Layer 1 blockchain that processes transactions off-chain while inheriting the security of the base layer. L2 types include optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism), ZK rollups (zkSync, StarkNet), state channels, and sidechains. L2s post transaction data or proofs back to L1 for finality.

Layer 1 (L1)Rollup
Open term
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Blockchain General

Bitcoin

The first decentralized cryptocurrency network, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, using a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism and a UTXO-based transaction model. Bitcoin's protocol enforces a fixed supply cap of 21 million BTC, with new coins issued through mining block rewards that halve approximately every four years. It serves as both a peer-to-peer electronic cash system and a store of value, with its scripting language enabling basic programmability such as multisig and timelocks.

Open term
Blockchain General

Bitcoin Layer 2

Scaling and programmability solutions built on top of Bitcoin's base layer that extend its functionality while inheriting some degree of Bitcoin's security. Major approaches include the Lightning Network (payment channels), Stacks (smart contracts via Proof of Transfer), Liquid Network (Blockstream's federated sidechain), and ZK-rollups like Citrea (using BitVM for settlement). These solutions address Bitcoin's limited throughput (~7 TPS) and restricted scripting.

Open term
Blockchain General

SegWit (Segregated Witness)

A Bitcoin soft fork activated in August 2017 (BIP 141) that separates transaction signature data (witness) from the transaction body, fixing transaction malleability and increasing effective block capacity from 1 MB to approximately 4 MB via a weight unit system. SegWit introduced a versioned witness program structure that enabled future upgrades like Taproot without additional soft forks. It was a prerequisite for the Lightning Network's secure operation.

Open term
Blockchain General

Layer 2 (L2)

A scaling solution built on top of a Layer 1 blockchain that processes transactions off-chain while inheriting the security of the base layer. L2 types include optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism), ZK rollups (zkSync, StarkNet), state channels, and sidechains. L2s post transaction data or proofs back to L1 for finality.

Open term
Related terms

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Blockchain Generalbitcoin

Bitcoin

The first decentralized cryptocurrency network, launched in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, using a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism and a UTXO-based transaction model. Bitcoin's protocol enforces a fixed supply cap of 21 million BTC, with new coins issued through mining block rewards that halve approximately every four years. It serves as both a peer-to-peer electronic cash system and a store of value, with its scripting language enabling basic programmability such as multisig and timelocks.

Open term
Blockchain Generalbitcoin-layer-2

Bitcoin Layer 2

Scaling and programmability solutions built on top of Bitcoin's base layer that extend its functionality while inheriting some degree of Bitcoin's security. Major approaches include the Lightning Network (payment channels), Stacks (smart contracts via Proof of Transfer), Liquid Network (Blockstream's federated sidechain), and ZK-rollups like Citrea (using BitVM for settlement). These solutions address Bitcoin's limited throughput (~7 TPS) and restricted scripting.

Open term
Blockchain Generalsegwit

SegWit (Segregated Witness)

A Bitcoin soft fork activated in August 2017 (BIP 141) that separates transaction signature data (witness) from the transaction body, fixing transaction malleability and increasing effective block capacity from 1 MB to approximately 4 MB via a weight unit system. SegWit introduced a versioned witness program structure that enabled future upgrades like Taproot without additional soft forks. It was a prerequisite for the Lightning Network's secure operation.

Open term
Blockchain Generallayer-2

Layer 2 (L2)

A scaling solution built on top of a Layer 1 blockchain that processes transactions off-chain while inheriting the security of the base layer. L2 types include optimistic rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism), ZK rollups (zkSync, StarkNet), state channels, and sidechains. L2s post transaction data or proofs back to L1 for finality.

Open term
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Blockchain General

Blockchain

A distributed, append-only ledger that records transactions in cryptographically linked blocks. Each block contains a hash of the previous block, forming an immutable chain. Nodes in the network maintain copies of the ledger and reach agreement through consensus mechanisms. Blockchains enable trustless, decentralized record-keeping without a central authority.

Open term
Blockchain General

Consensus Mechanism

The protocol by which nodes in a distributed network agree on the current state of the ledger. Common mechanisms include Proof of Work (Bitcoin), Proof of Stake (Ethereum, Solana), and BFT variants. Consensus ensures all honest nodes converge on the same transaction history despite potential network delays or malicious actors.

Open term
Blockchain General

Proof of Stake (PoS)

A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to produce blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked (locked) as collateral. PoS is energy-efficient compared to Proof of Work. Misbehaving validators risk losing their stake (slashing). Solana, Ethereum (post-Merge), Cosmos, and Cardano use PoS variants.

Open term
Blockchain General

Proof of Work (PoW)

A consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve computationally expensive puzzles to produce blocks and earn rewards. PoW provides strong security (51% attack resistance) but is energy-intensive. Bitcoin and pre-Merge Ethereum use PoW. The difficulty adjusts to maintain target block times regardless of total network hash power.

Open term