To create a channel on the Lightning Network, do you have to execute an actual transaction?











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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?










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    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?










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      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      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?










      share|improve this question















      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






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      edited 4 hours ago









      Murch

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      asked 4 hours ago









      Dave

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      21529






















          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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            3 hours ago










          • Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
            – James C.
            3 hours ago










          • 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
            2 hours ago













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          1 Answer
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          active

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted










          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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            3 hours ago










          • Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
            – James C.
            3 hours ago










          • 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
            2 hours ago

















          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted










          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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            3 hours ago










          • Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
            – James C.
            3 hours ago










          • 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
            2 hours ago















          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          3
          down vote



          accepted






          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.






          share|improve this answer












          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.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          James C.

          76110




          76110












          • 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
            3 hours ago










          • Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
            – James C.
            3 hours ago










          • 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
            2 hours ago




















          • 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
            3 hours ago










          • Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
            – James C.
            3 hours ago










          • 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
            2 hours ago


















          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
          3 hours ago




          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
          3 hours ago












          Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
          – James C.
          3 hours ago




          Pretty much yeah, 6 confirmations or so ...
          – James C.
          3 hours ago












          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
          2 hours ago






          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
          2 hours ago




















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