Just took a look at arkpill.me and got my first look at the #Ark network thesis. Super interesting. Scalable transactions but total privacy, no liquidity constraints, and no need to directly coordinate with another peer via building channels.

But as a (former?) #lightning skeptic, I'm not sold on the ASP system. I'll need to read more about how traffic is distributed and how ASPs are set up, but the "advantage" that you don't need to set up a channel with someone else isn't really an advantage if it means you CAN'T set up a channel with someone else. I'm not sure if that's the case before I do a deeper dive but that's going to be the hardest for me to get past, if true.

#Bitcoin needs to be survivable through inevitable nation-state attacks. ASPs sound like a centralizing vector that would make great targets.

Lightning, on the other hand, would survive an attack directed at major nodes, because they're ultimately not mandatory. If you need to use lightning to send a payment and major nodes have been crippled or taken offline, you can just build your own channel directly to the intended recipient. You don't need a go-between to make that possible (like an ASP).

I could have the wrong idea here. If anyone more technical can keep me honest I'd appreciate it. 🫂

#plebchain