In running Breez, the founder notes the diversity of people involved in the project spanning across various countries and backgrounds. Despite this diversity, the common language used for communication is English, which serves as the default platform for interaction. This example highlights the importance of a common language in networks, defining the limits and distribution of communication. In the context of the bitcoin economy, Lightning is emerging as the common language among subnetworks, enabling seamless interaction and transactions between different nodes and networks.
Various last-mile technologies, serving as subnetworks, connect users to the higher-throughput Lightning Network and the Bitcoin mainnet. Each subnetwork may have its own unique language or protocol, but they all communicate with each other over Lightning. Just like English being the default option for communication on platforms like Telegram or Slack, Lightning has become the universal language of the emerging subnetworks based on bitcoin, ensuring interoperability and efficiency in transactions.
Lightning is considered the optimal language for Bitcoin for several reasons. Firstly, it utilizes bitcoin, the trustless bearer asset, enabling interactions between subnetworks without the need for trust. Additionally, Lightning’s transactional nature facilitates quick and seamless flow of payments, promoting communication and value exchange. Moreover, it is inherently interoperable, allowing different implementations of Lightning nodes to interact over a shared network based on common specifications.
The critical mass achieved by Lightning further solidifies its position as the common language of the bitcoin world. With a sizable community of users and nodes already utilizing Lightning, switching to a different common language would require significant restructuring and rebuilding of existing networks. Similar to how English remains prevalent due to its popularity, Lightning has established itself as the go-to language for communication between different subnetworks, ensuring its permanence and stability in the bitcoin ecosystem.
In conclusion, Lightning’s emergence as the common language of the bitcoin economy signifies a significant development in facilitating seamless interactions and transactions between different subnetworks and nodes. Just as English serves as a universal language for global communication, Lightning plays a vital role in enabling interoperability, trustless transactions, and efficiency within the bitcoin network. As Lightning continues to grow and evolve, it presents an opportunity for early adopters and newcomers to benefit from its established position as the optimal language for the future of bitcoin transactions.
