Bitcoin is secure, but not always fast: a normal payment is confirmed in blocks, and that takes ten minutes on average or longer. For a coffee at the counter that is impractical. That is what the Lightning Network is for. What is Lightning? Lightning is a second layer (layer 2) built on top of Bitcoin. Payments do not go through the blockchain every time but through a network of payment channels. They arrive in seconds and usually cost only a fraction of a cent. The unit used is sats, the small parts of a Bitcoin. How does it work? Imagine a bar tab. You and the landlady put a shared amount …
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