Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Technical Support
Re: How can I connect lightning network wallet to main blockchain?
by
Rath_
on 22/09/2022, 11:56:32 UTC
If I decided to be using lightning network channel, after I have gotten my appropriate wallet for it. How will I now connect my wallet or will the wallet automatically connected main blockchain?

Every Lightning-compatible wallet has its own Bitcoin wallet. You have to fund it before opening any channels. When you open a channel, some of your coins will be moved to a multi-signature address controlled by you and your channel partner. This involves a Bitcoin transaction.

Secondly must recipient also be on lightning network channel before the transaction can take place.?

If the other person has a Lightning node/wallet then you should be able to send a payment, but:

1) if you have a channel with that person then the transaction will be instantaneous and free of charge,
2) if you have a channel with some other person then the transaction will be routed through other nodes, as long as there is a path between you and the payee. You will very likely pay a fee (which is negligible for low-value transactions).

In both cases, the payment might failed due to lack of liquidity; it's a more complex topic. Let me know if you are keeping up so far.

If the other person does not have any Lightning channels, you can do a submarine swap. There are third-party services that will accept your Lightning transaction and send an on-chain transaction to the provided address.