LN nodes are NOT banks or like banks
Please do not compare bank to the lightning network they are diff things. Here's why
"A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates credit." (WP).
The "creates credit" aspect is the central concept of a bank. A bank creates credit. Lending money is the core business model of banks. So something which doesn't lend money isn't a bank. The core concept of LN is that money in a channel needs to be funded first. A LN node doesn't lends money, so it isn't a bank.
Lending money is also the real problem, risk etc with banks:
If a bank lends out money to the wrong people, the bank can become bankrupt and all their customers deposits can't be payed back anymore which can create lots of trouble if banks hold lots of money. A LN channel only has the money which is funded first so it can't go bankrupt. People will always get their money back. There is no possibility of a bank run or economic collapse as with banks.
Also a bank can create "money from nothing" because of fractional reserve banking: The bank can lend money it doesn't have, needing only a fraction in reserves. That's what's known as "fiat money" and this has its own risks. With LN this isn't possible because channels needs to be funded with 100% of the money they contain, so also no risk here.
So LN doesn't creates "banks" again. LN nodes are no banks because the core aspect, "creating credit" is missing. People who repeat FUD like "LN just reinvents the banking system" simply have no clue how banks work and where the real risks are - or they use this analogy to push their agenda. So be aware.
Seems like most people don't realize that LN transactions are real Bitcoin transactions - when you decide to close your channel you are broadcasting a signed Bitcoin on-chain transaction to Bitcoin's network with the latest state of your balance, i.e. your last lightning transaction.
Thank you:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7mlyew/ln_nodes_are_not_banks_or_like_banks_please_stop/?st=jbsdlg2z&sh=bfe7ede4
Very interesting post. With the scope of LN nodes, it adds increased value with the added bonus of protection.
It's just alarmist crap spread by Bitcoin cash proponents, because they know their coin is fundamentally incompatible.
I've read a lot into lightening and it is going to be a game changer.
Yep! Also Core has way more scaling solutions:
https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@sames/bitcoin-newest-scaling-method-adding-bech32-plus-others
In a way, technically, Bitcoin is probably at its lowest point now, where it has not scalesld sufficiently to cater for the organic growth.
I still have have hope! Also bitcoin has a few secret weapons with sidechains. I will do a post on it and how it creates a eth killer!
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