Thinking is shutting down my lightning node. Convince me otherwise.
Discussion
then you cant get receive zaps to your node!
We are still so early and you are helping other people learn and consider options by having this and promoting actively
I was previously running a routing node. Learned a lot, but in the end I felt it wasn’t worth the time to keep it running and I didn’t enjoy having liquidity tied up and outside of cold storage.
I did spin up a new node using Alby Hub over the weekend though. Very convenient and I use it as walk around cash, and also let’s me accept payments on my website connecting to my btcpay via NWC. Just paid a few sats to get the incoming liquidity.
Run private LN nodes
Keeping your Lightning node supports decentralization, offers modest income, promotes Bitcoin adoption, and enables fast payments.
I lose money on my node and there are way faster ways of using lightning for me. e.g. using Primal as my normal spending wallet.
It will make Matt Odell sad?
I only recently started learning about lightning nodes. Routing is still elusive to me - not even sure where to start. But Alby hub was incredibly easy for a personal non-routing node. I love getting zaps to and zapping from it. Feels like magic 🪄
We need an expanding network, not a shrinking network. Keep it going.
I wrote more about how I see LN future here, as a response to somebody else that shut down his LN node:
I tried twice, last with alby hub. Which is great, but not for me. Channel operator is a job.
How was the experience with the Alby Hub?
all good until the channel has been closed :(
The Alby guys knows abotu this problem, already introduced something to fix it but what I say is: if you want to be a channel operator and spend time on it, then do it.
Just to say "I am self sovereign" on the very few funds I have on Lightning, no thanks, too much effort and time consuming.
We will simply have to wait for new devs.
Comes back to purpose imo
Most relevant node for plebs is one for personal use and NOT for routing per say:
A small number of channels with friends who are competent to maintain infra: 2-6 total
One or two channels to large well connected nodes
Channels should be chunky
Should result in minimal maintenance, stable operation, and self sovereign benefits
To me this is the right approach for 99% of folks. Running a routing node should be treated seriously. It’s hard and basically a part time job.
No one can convince a person that a couple hours of node maintenance per year is a small cost for self-sovereignty.
You either want it, or you don't. I don't judge.
Please don't.
Just run it and open a thick channel to a well known payment provider. Install Zeus on you mobile and you have a self custodial bitcoin lightning wallet. Don't run it with the expectation of making profit.
I can understand your frustration and have been thinking the same thing lately. I know my node only ends up costing me money....the traffiic is infrequent and if I charge breakeven fees all of the traffic disappears. Autofee settings and rebalancing are ineffective. Force closures are a pain in the ass. The right mix of channels never seems to exist.. I want to support the network, and I am supporting the network by providing the node 24/7. I shouldn't have to pay to route other peoples traffic. so I consider it the node of last resort with the hightest fees money can buy for now, and maybe things will change in the future. Cheers!!
Why would you want to do such a thing ?
I'm running a pleb node on an nostr:npub1aghreq2dpz3h3799hrawev5gf5zc2kt4ch9ykhp9utt0jd3gdu2qtlmhct Home, not a routing thing. Connected to my mobile phone thanks to nostr:npub1getal6ykt05fsz5nqu4uld09nfj3y3qxmv8crys4aeut53unfvlqr80nfm
hub and it's a really good feeling.
I still keep my LN node on my umbrel even though I am not routing. It’s an edge node that I control
It’s not a mobile node like an everyday wallet.
Because i have stable outbound connection, and I do not fear to be force closed, and i do not tie up a lot of liquidity, it can serve as a reserve water bucket. Meaning I don’t incur fees to keep it up and I can draw from it or top it up. Always useful and handy