Lightning Network capacity hits new high: 5600+ BTC locked, trading experience upgraded again

YieldWhisperer · 2025-12-18T01:58:13+00:00

The Bitcoin Lightning Network capacity has reached a new high, exceeding 5600 BTC, mainly due to exchange support and feature optimizations. Despite a decrease in participating nodes, network liquidity has improved, demonstrating enhanced system efficiency.

YieldWhisperer

2025-12-18 01:58:13

Abstract generation in progress

【Bitcoin】Lightning Network hits new all-time high!

Recently, there’s an interesting phenomenon—the Bitcoin Layer 2 star project, the Lightning Network, has just set a new record for capacity. According to on-chain data, the network capacity has surged to over 5600 BTC, approximately $490 million, breaking the previous record from March 2023.

What’s the reason behind this? Mainly, major exchanges are increasingly supporting the Lightning Network, and its features are continuously being optimized. Especially in November and December, the capacity surge is particularly noticeable—more BTC are being locked in, enabling faster transactions at lower costs, significantly improving user experience.

However, there’s an interesting contradiction: although the amount of BTC in the network is increasing, the number of participating nodes has actually decreased. Currently, there are 14,940 nodes, well below the peak of 20,700 in March 2022. The number of channels is also now 48,678, which is less than two years ago.

What does this indicate? It suggests that the Lightning Network is evolving towards greater efficiency—although fewer participants are involved, each participant’s contribution is increasing, and the network’s liquidity is actually improving. From one perspective, this reflects an enhancement in quality.

BTC3,08%

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LiquidationKing

· 2025-12-21 01:36

Fewer nodes but the capacity has actually increased? This indicates that big players are accumulating. How are small retail investors supposed to play? Something feels off.

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MetaverseVagabond

· 2025-12-20 14:33

Locking 5600 BTC sounds crazy, but the number of nodes is actually decreasing... This reverse logic is quite interesting.

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SnapshotDayLaborer

· 2025-12-18 13:06

Fewer nodes are still increasing, indicating that big players are consolidating... Is this a sign of centralization?

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SquidTeacher

· 2025-12-18 02:28

Are the nodes actually decreasing? This is ridiculous, something doesn't seem quite right.

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metaverse_hermit

· 2025-12-18 02:26

Fewer nodes instead? This logic is so strange... Capacity hits a new high but decentralization decreases, feels a bit problematic.

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SelfCustodyBro

· 2025-12-18 02:25

Still pouring BTC into the nodes with fewer nodes? That logic is a bit... But on the other hand, it is indeed more efficient for big players to band together than for retail investors, just doesn't feel the same anymore.

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NotAFinancialAdvice

· 2025-12-18 02:23

The number of nodes is still shrinking, and that's the real problem... What's the use of having more capacity?

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0xInsomnia

· 2025-12-18 02:22

The number of nodes is actually decreasing, which is a bit awkward... It seems like whales are accumulating, and the number of ordinary users is decreasing more and more.

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BakedCatFanboy

· 2025-12-18 02:05

56,000 BTC locked? Sounds pretty impressive, but the number of nodes has actually decreased. What's going on... --- New capacity high + fewer nodes, this combo is a bit ruthless, feels centralized --- Finally, exchanges are integrated. About time. BTC speed shouldn't lag behind Ethereum's, that's the right way --- Sounds good, but I'm just worried that eventually, there will be fewer and fewer players... --- The decrease in node count is a bit awkward. Can anyone explain why this is happening? --- $490 million sounds like a lot, but it seems like not many people are actually using it? --- Exchange support is a good thing, but it feels a bit monopolized by big institutions

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