Lightning Protocol Version 1.0 is Out With Successful Interoperability Tests
In one of the major push to Bitcoin’s scalability solutions, developers of the Lightning Network have recently the version 1.0 with successful test results of live transactions, software compatibility and interoperability across different implementations on the network.
Lightning Network is a second-level, off-chain payment layer that is built on the top of Bitcoin’s blockchain network. The plans for standardization of Lightning Network Protocol started last year and three startups - ACINQ, Blockstream, and Lightning Labs - have developed the specifications of the Lightning Network.
These three teams have just revealed the test results of successful live transactions between the different implementations on the Lightning Network. As a result, the tests have successfully tested the cross-compatibility and interoperability between different software on the network.
Each of the three teams has developed their own lightning implementations: Blockstream developed c-lightning, ACINQ developed eclair and Lightning Labs developed lnd.
In the first test performed, a sample coffee app called as Starblocks accepted an incoming payment in Bitcoin from a user paying through the lnd Lightning app routed by c-lightning. During the second test, developers made a payment from eclair by ACINQ to yalls.org - an end application routed via c-lightning.
While commenting on the successful results of the test, Christian Decker, a Blockstream infrastructure tech engineer, told Bitcoin Magazine “It's the culmination of a year's work on the protocol specification, and the tests show that we have built a solid protocol that delivers on the promises of high scalability, increased privacy, and faster payments.”
Founder of ACINQ, Pierre-Marie Padiou said: “This is the Lightning standard we've been working on for more than year. There's been a lot of work from us and from all participants. It's a big milestone.”
The Lightning developers have been working for over a year to test the interoperability between different implementations. This marks as a major breakthrough which establishes a firm foundation for all the future development to make the network available for public use and solve issues regarding the scalability of Bitcoin blockchain. While commenting on this success, Padiou said: "We've been able to make successful payments on the mainnet that goes all around the world, and which involves different compatible implementations. That's kind of a big deal.”
Elizabeth Stark, CEO of Lightning Labs, told Bitcoin Magazine "Interoperability is key to making Lightning a success. We have worked for over a year to design a specification so that we and other developers can write implementations that talk to each other. This ensures that no matter which implementation a user is using, they will be connected to one Lightning Network.”
Stark further stated that the team is now gearing up to work on its future plans which is a beta release of the Lightning implementation on Bitcoin’s mainnet. Stark said, “Our next steps are to continue testing and work as quickly as we can toward a mainnet beta, where users will be able to use small amounts on the Bitcoin mainnet.”