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Summary

Recent discussions on the Lightning Network (LN) have highlighted key technical challenges and proposed solutions, such as the necessity to prevent exploitation of expired off-chain outputs and the use of op_expire for security and smart contract applications like Discreet Log Contracts. Addressing unpredictability in transaction fees, a consensus change is suggested to manage trimmed HTLCs by using median-time-past calculated fee rates. The concept of LN-symmetry is also underlined, stressing the need to penalize a counterparty effectively, regardless of their mining power, to maintain network integrity.

In the realm of core-lightning's v0.10.1, substantial updates to the Liquidity Ads specification have been implemented. These include a transition from CSV to CLTV for locking leasor funds, the introduction of "lease locked" transactions identified by @morehouse, and the consideration of dynamic pricing through variable lease terms and refined channel fee caps. A fraud proof mechanism for channel fee commitments is proposed to safeguard against breaches, albeit with acknowledged complexities in developing cryptographic ranges. These enhancements, influenced by ongoing community feedback, are detailed in the Liquidity Ads proposal's draft and commits, aiming to bolster system robustness and flexibility.

New posts

November 20, 2023 17:48 UTC

lightning-dev

Liquidity Ads: Updated Spec Posted, please review

1 reply

  • Liquidity Ads spec revised, shifting from CSV to CLTV for leasor fund locking.
  • Variable lease terms introduced, with changes to lease rates and channel fee caps.
  • Proposal includes fraud proof mechanism and seeks input on bond release methods.

November 15, 2023 17:53 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Fwd: OP_Expire and Coinbase-Like Behavior: Making HTLCs Safer by Letting Transactions Expire Safely

1 reply

  • Security and efficiency in the Lightning Network hinge on managing expired off-chain outputs.
  • Op_expire is beneficial for Discreet Log Contracts, yet fails to address mempool fee unpredictability.
  • LN-symmetry aims to preserve penalization capacity, notably when counterparties might mine blocks.

Ongoing Discussions

November 17, 2023 22:36 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Full Disclosure: CVE-2023-40231 / CVE-2023-40232 / CVE-2023-40233 / CVE-2023-40234 "All your mempool are belong to us"

65 replies

  • Antoine Riard highlights a Lightning Network vulnerability concerning HTLC preimages and mempool exploits.
  • Attackers could outbid legitimate transactions, benefiting from delays, and undermining transaction integrity.
  • As a countermeasure, Antoine suggests nodes should monitor mempool via multiple watchtower backends.

November 17, 2023 22:36 UTC

lightning-dev

Full Disclosure: CVE-2023-40231 / CVE-2023-40232 / CVE-2023-40233 / CVE-2023-40234 "All your mempool are belong to us"

65 replies

  • Antoine Riard identifies a vulnerability in Lightning Network's HTLC transactions.
  • He recommends duplicating mempool-monitoring to counteract partitioning attacks.
  • For enhanced security, developers should implement mitigations in high-value nodes.

November 17, 2023 09:08 UTC

lightning-dev

Lightning Address in a Bolt 12 world

12 replies

  • DNS records offer enhanced privacy over HTTPS by not exposing user IP and intent.
  • Service providers manage zonefile entries easily; option 1 allows simple DNS creation.
  • Clients should use DNS over HTTPS and prioritize option 3, resort to option 1 as needed.

November 17, 2023 07:58 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Purely off-chain coin colouring

13 replies

  • Blockchain inscriptions can be made private using minimal on-chain data through hashing.
  • Sign-to-contract method allows private, transferable inscriptions without revealing them publicly.
  • Verification of sign-to-contract requires revealing a nonce and checking against expected values.

November 15, 2023 19:59 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Scaling Lightning With Simple Covenants

15 replies

  • John suggests a payment channel model balancing trust and capital efficiency in blockchain.
  • He assesses timeout-trees' manageability, advocating minimum leaf values for user honesty.
  • John's Python program examines the tradeoff's impact on block space and user costs.

November 15, 2023 19:59 UTC

lightning-dev

Scaling Lightning With Simple Covenants

17 replies

  • Prepaid cost-of-capital fees can ensure user safety and channel lifetime up to 2.1 years.
  • A Python program assesses feasibility of onchain timeout-tree leaves before expiration.
  • Results suggest 65% block space use for leaves, aiming for a 1.55-year inactive lifetime.

November 15, 2023 18:14 UTC

bitcoin-dev

On solving pinning, replacement cycling and mempool issues for bitcoin second-layers

3 replies

  • Bitcoin's Layer 2 solution aims for non-interactive, low-reserve, and UTXO-minimizing measures.
  • Security and efficiency are crucial, focusing on optimized scripts and resisting miner manipulation.
  • Real-world mainnet tests and community research are urged to validate long-term sustainable solutions.

November 15, 2023 18:14 UTC

lightning-dev

On solving pinning, replacement cycling and mempool issues for bitcoin second-layers

3 replies

  • Layer 2 solutions need non-interactive, efficient consensus changes while securing small payments.
  • Solutions should reduce witness size, prevent fee manipulation, and allow large-scale closures.
  • Further research is vital for a sustainable fee market and decentralized mining ecosystem.

November 14, 2023 19:50 UTC

bitcoin-dev

OP_Expire and Coinbase-Like Behavior: Making HTLCs Safer by Letting Transactions Expire Safely

25 replies

  • Revoked states imply fraud risks while HTLCs are distinct, both needing security enhancements.
  • Lightning channels require low fees relative to value; miners earn from fee rate differences.
  • Safeguards against disproportionate fees and unjust Lightning Network practices are necessary.

November 14, 2023 19:50 UTC

lightning-dev

OP_Expire and Coinbase-Like Behavior: Making HTLCs Safer by Letting Transactions Expire Safely

27 replies

  • Revoked states in Lightning Network are high-risk and fundamental to punishment protocols.
  • Channel fees should be minor; improper HTLC attack and costly channel closures are avoidable.
  • LN-Symmetry was questioned due to risks in trustless setups; justice mechanisms are crucial.

November 14, 2023 12:32 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Future of the bitcoin-dev mailing list

25 replies

  • Google Groups' interface complicates user search due to inherited Usenet design issues.
  • Spam prevalence in Google Groups increases moderation workload significantly.
  • Transitioning from traditional mail servers to Google Groups can disrupt email client functionality.