Subnostr

Ive got some questions about #Lightning analysis of a payment in flight. Hoping someone can shed some light on this. #asknostr

When a lightning node is being routed through, what information do they know about the route?

Take the following:

Payer -> Alice -> Bob -> Charlie

The Payer knows the full route that will be used. Its my understanding that Alice doesnt know that Charlie is the eventual recipient, and only knows that they have an offer to try to send to Bob.

Does Alice know that Bob isnt the final recipient?

Does Alice know that the final recipient is 1 hop away?

Does Alice know that the Payer is the originator vs it being routed through them to Alice

Can Alice compare the expiry of the invoice being paid vs htlc aging to know how much time was spent in flight to this point?

Conversely can Alice ascertain how long an htlc may have been held by Bob?

j 2y ago

1) Alice does not know if Bob is the final recipient or not

2) No

3) Alice doesn't see the invoice

4) I'm not sure what this means exactly

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Nice and Kind Vic 2y ago

Thanks. the last point is trying to find a way to know how long an htlc is being held in flight before settlement or cancellation. Still looking at ways to head off zaplocker and derivatives like zeuspay

j 2y ago

I don't think that it's possible.

You can punish their nodes by not routing payments through them, but that's all I've come up with.