Bitcoin Lightning network nodes may introduce centralization

  The Bitcoin Lightning network may introduce unwanted elements of centralization. There is a backlog of unconfirmed transactions on the bitcoin network. Transactions can take hundreds of dollars in fees, and take hours (even days) to complete.  Note that on the bitcoin cash network and on litecoin, there is no transaction backlog, yet. No doubt they will develop a backlog eventually as traffic increases.  Lightning network nodes will have the characteristics of third party money exchangers, so in the future they may have KYC regulations. Plus you have to prepay to open a Lightning channel with the maximum you expect to ever transfer.  Plus, the lightning nodes will decide if they want to do business with you. They could deny service when you need it the most. These characteristics make the Lightning network look a lot like the existing banking system with the money changers in control. At least for now bitcoin cash and litecoin are lower cost, faster, direct peer to peer and don't have this centralization issue.  Bitcoin cash may be influenced by AsicBoost, but so may Lightning due to the above unwanted elements of centralization. This centralization is not an accident; it is a multi-million dollar plan. So was AsicBoost. The cost of freedom is constant vigilance.