LN Markets’ Newsletter

LN Markets’ Newsletter covers the intersections of Bitcoin, finance, and technology, focusing on developments in decentralized finance solutions on Bitcoin's network, adoption stories, and technological innovations. It provides insights on Bitcoin Finance, Lightning Network, and global adoption cases like El Salvador, alongside featuring prominent community figures.

Bitcoin Finance Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Lightning Network Global Bitcoin Adoption Bitcoin Technology Innovations Bitcoin and Blockchain Education Bitcoin Market Trends Blockchain Scalability Solutions Bitcoin Ecosystem Developments Cryptocurrency Trading and Derivatives

The hottest Substack posts of LN Markets’ Newsletter

And their main takeaways

Oracle-based Conditional payments on Bitcoin

58 implied HN points • 16 May 23
🕹 Technology Cryptocurrency Bitcoin Payment Encryption
  1. Oracle-based Conditional payments introduce a new way to handle conditional payments on Bitcoin by using oracles to attest to real-world events, allowing contracting parties to claim funds based on these attestations.
  2. Conditional payments rely on a third party for attestation, but in Oracle-based payments, the third party only attests events and does not execute contracts, improving security and trust in the process.
  3. Verifiable witness encryption plays a crucial role in setting up Oracle-based Conditional payments, ensuring that contracting parties can trust the oracle's attestations and claim funds accordingly.

#63 - Roy Sheinfeld, LNM fam & Lightning friends

39 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Bitcoin Lightning Network Cryptocurrency Blockchain Fintech
  1. Roy Sheinfeld is dedicated to revolutionizing Bitcoin's role to a medium of exchange.
  2. Lightning Network is evolving with improvements like splicing, asynchronous payments, and stuckless payments.
  3. Key advice for building a business in the Bitcoin space: Embrace the community, prioritize open communication, and seek partners, not just investors.

#61 - Matt Odell, LNM fam & Lightning friends

39 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🔮 Crypto Bitcoin Blockchain Cryptocurrency Finance Technology
  1. Matt Odell is a prominent figure in the Bitcoin community, advocating for individual freedom and supporting Bitcoin projects.
  2. Matt Odell emphasizes the importance of building Bitcoin-native projects by identifying unique needs and standing up for the mission.
  3. Matt Odell is excited about the future of Bitcoin and Lightning, particularly focusing on the need for easier-to-use privacy tools and complementary freedom tech tools.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

#34 - Adopting Bitcoin in El Salvador 🌋

78 implied HN points • 24 Nov 21
  1. The Lightning Summit in El Salvador exceeded expectations, gathering developers and companies to facilitate Bitcoin adoption.
  2. Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador is creating new opportunities and helping unbanked individuals save and invest.
  3. Institutions like Square Crypto and initiatives like Bitcoin City are pushing for further adoption and development in the country.

#27 - Bitcoin Finance, Building and much more!

98 implied HN points • 02 Jul 21
  1. Bitcoin Finance involves decentralized financial solutions built on Bitcoin's Layer 1, Layer 2, and Sidechains.
  2. Key projects in Bitcoin Finance on Layer 1 include Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) enabling trust-minimized financial agreements.
  3. In Bitcoin Finance on Layer 2, Lightning Network offers non-custodial routing fees and Lightning Pool for liquidity provision earning.

#42 - Onion Routing, Markus the LNM 🐳, downside incoming? and much more

58 implied HN points • 09 Feb 22
  1. There is a competition for the meme award in the LNM community, with @Griptoshi winning this time.
  2. Onion Routing is an important concept in the Lightning Network, enhancing privacy by hiding payment details from intermediary nodes.
  3. Binance traders are mostly net short at the moment, as indicated by the long/short ratio, suggesting a bearish sentiment in the market.

#33- Initial thoughts from El Salvador 🇸🇻

39 implied HN points • 16 Nov 21
  1. Most small shops in El Salvador do not accept Bitcoin yet.
  2. Salvadorians have differing opinions on Bitcoin, some embracing it while others find it complicated.
  3. El Salvador offers beautiful landscapes like volcanoes and beaches, making it a great destination despite safety precautions.

#9 - July 30th, 2020

78 implied HN points • 30 Jul 20
  1. LN Markets is a new type of Bitcoin derivatives trading platform accessible via Lightning Network.
  2. P2P Derivatives use Discreet Log Contracts to enable direct contracts on the Bitcoin blockchain.
  3. LNP/BP and The Alchemy of Hashpower provide informative readings on Bitcoin concepts.

#49 - SwissCryptoCat, LNM Fam, Big BTC move coming, and much more!

19 implied HN points • 25 May 22
  1. SwissCryptoCat shares insights on Bitcoin trading, strategies, and market views.
  2. LN Markets introduces new Bitcoin options for trading with improved chances of success.
  3. The Bitcoin market's future looks bright due to growing adoption and disruptive potential.

#48 - LNM Fam, Blocktank, Volatility, and much more!

19 implied HN points • 17 May 22
  1. The LNM Fam metaverse is now live with a trollbox.
  2. Synonym announced the launch of Blocktank for Lightning node services.
  3. Intraday volatility in the market reached high levels in May 2021.

LN Markets - April 7th, 2020 - Issue #1

78 implied HN points • 07 Apr 20
  1. LN Markets has seen positive usage metrics since its launch on Bitcoin Mainnet
  2. The platform aims to address challenges in Lightning Network adoption through seamless onboarding and trading experiences
  3. Users can look forward to new features on LN Markets including a liquidation killer option

#26 - The Layer 2s, Bitcoin culture and much more!

39 implied HN points • 03 Jun 21
  1. Layer 2 scaling solutions are being developed in Bitcoin and Ethereum to improve scalability while maintaining security and decentralization.
  2. State channels, plasma, and rollups are types of layer 2 solutions being explored in the blockchain community, each with unique features and trade-offs.
  3. Rollups, including ZK rollups and optimistic rollups, offer promising solutions for processing complex smart contracts off-chain while ensuring transaction validity on-chain.

#25 - Taproot, Lightning footprint, Bitcoin culture and much more!

39 implied HN points • 10 May 21
  1. Taproot upgrade in Bitcoin can bring more privacy and lower costs for Lightning Network channels.
  2. Schnorr signatures with Taproot can enhance Discreet Log Contracts for Lightning payments.
  3. Dual-funded channels can improve Lightning Network economics and payment flexibility.

#46 - Lyn Alden, Lightning Bitcoin Options, and much more!

19 implied HN points • 31 Mar 22
  1. Bitcoin could potentially challenge the current financial system by offering a harder and more reliable alternative to fiat currency.
  2. Corporate shares can be considered a store of value comparable to traditional currencies, indicating shifts in trust from central banks to big companies.
  3. The innovation happening in the Lightning Network, particularly in enabling instant and global fiat-to-BTC-to-fiat payments, is remarkable and important for the future of the payments industry.

#41 - AOPP, Bitcoin Options, and much more!

19 implied HN points • 03 Feb 22
  1. Bitcoin options traders are bearish.
  2. Options traders are hesitant on taking directional bets.
  3. AOPP protocol simplifies ownership verification for crypto users.

LN Markets - May 5th, 2020 - Issue #3

58 implied HN points • 05 May 20
  1. Metrics have shown significant growth in new users, average trade size, and global trading volume, attributed to the upcoming Bitcoin Quantitative Tightening and the ability to instantly withdraw funds.
  2. LN Markets continuously upgrades with bug fixes, UX improvements, and new features like Lightning authentication, ensuring a seamless user experience.
  3. The RGB protocol being developed aims to offer private and scalable smart contracts on the Lightning Network, potentially revolutionizing asset trading and decentralized exchanges.

#31- BOLT 12, Umbrel, Options and much more!

19 implied HN points • 20 Oct 21
  1. BOLT 12 introduces 'Offers' for Lightning wallets, allowing for reusable invoices and innovative payment methods.
  2. Umbrel is gaining popularity in the Lightning Network community, providing a platform for various Bitcoin applications and nodes.
  3. Options trading is coming to LN Markets, offering insights into market conditions like contango and implied volatility for Bitcoin options.

#29 - Adopting Bitcoin, Making Lightning invisible, New Release, Ecosystem and much more!

19 implied HN points • 13 Sep 21
  1. Nicolas Burtey has been driving Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador through Galoy and Bitcoin Beach wallet.
  2. The Lightning Network has been rapidly improving, from on-boarding a whole nation to global brands starting to accept Lightning payments.
  3. LN Markets is introducing new features like Lightning Address, enhancing the user experience for Lightning payments.

#5 - June 5th, 2020

39 implied HN points • 05 Jun 20
  1. LN Markets is not limited by a user and volume ceiling on the Lightning Network.
  2. LN Markets is continuously building and upgrading features for better user experience and risk management.
  3. Liquid network is a Bitcoin sidechain designed for fast and secure settlements, but with a trade-off of relying on a group of trusted functionaries.

#28 - $200 million, Building, Bitcoin Finance and much more!

19 implied HN points • 29 Jul 21
  1. LN Markets reached a milestone of $200 million in trading volume on the Lightning Network.
  2. Bitcoin Finance projects are emerging on Bitcoin's Layer 1, Layer 2, and sidechains with various trust assumptions.
  3. Examples like Bisq, Sovryn, and Hodl Hodl showcase different approaches in the evolving landscape of Bitcoin Finance.

#24 - New release, OmniBOLT, Bitcoin Culture and much more!

19 implied HN points • 12 Apr 21
  1. LN Markets released a major update with new features like cross margining and trading alerts.
  2. OmniBOLT is a lightning network for smart assets, aiming to enable faster and lower cost transactions for decentralized finance applications.
  3. The Bitcoin culture is evolving with advancements like Lightning circular economy and content monetization using Sphinx and Breez apps.

#23 - OKCoin, Anton - 2 builders in the LN space

19 implied HN points • 17 Mar 21
  1. OKCoin has implemented Lightning Network for instant deposits/withdrawals and reduced fees.
  2. OKCoin faces challenges integrating Lightning Network but receives help from the community.
  3. Anton is a key figure in the Lightning Network space, building user-friendly wallets and new implementations like Immortan.

#21 - February 8th, 2021

19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 21
  1. LN Markets aims to reduce counterparty risk in Bitcoin markets by using payment channels.
  2. The narrative suggesting Robinhood CEO supports DeFi is deemed false.
  3. Recent developments include major exchanges integrating Lightning Network and new software for accepting payments built on Lightning Network.

#19 - January 13th, 2021

19 implied HN points • 13 Jan 21
  1. LN Markets has been making improvements to their IT infrastructure and UI for easy trading.
  2. Phoenix wallet is coming to iOS, ZEBEDEE introduces a feature for gamers to earn Bitcoin, and Umbrel simplifies running a Bitcoin node.
  3. Bulls markets may trigger uninformed criticism of Bitcoin, but concise arguments can effectively debunk them.

#15 - November 9th, 2020

19 implied HN points • 09 Nov 20
  1. LN Markets has reached $18 million in trading volume since its launch
  2. Pool by Lightning Labs is a non-custodial marketplace for Bitcoin liquidity on Lightning
  3. Development of RGB protocol, new rust Lightning node, and exciting progress in Lightning Network ecosystem

#13 - October 19th, 2020

19 implied HN points • 19 Oct 20
  1. Christian Decker released a dataset of Lightning Network gossip messages for research purposes.
  2. LN Markets API is now open for Lightning trading bots.
  3. Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino shared insights on Lightning deposits for derivatives trading and the importance of supporting Bitcoin.

#8 - July 24th, 2020

19 implied HN points • 24 Jul 20
  1. DeFi numbers have exploded with total locked value, automated market makers, and high trading volumes.
  2. Decentralization in finance means censorship resistance, which Bitcoin provides better than DeFi.
  3. Lightning proposal allows on-the-fly upgrades of channels commitment mechanisms without closing channels.

#7 - July 16th, 2020

19 implied HN points • 16 Jul 20
  1. Bitcoin has been stable for a month, affecting trading on both centralized and decentralized exchanges.
  2. LN Markets is focusing on Lightning engineering improvements and plans to revamp its front-end design.
  3. There are developments in Lightning Network integration for hardware wallets, aiming to enhance security and ease of use.

#6 - June 26th, 2020

19 implied HN points • 26 Jun 20
  1. LN Markets introduced individual trading accounts to manage positions globally.
  2. Statistics show growth in LN Markets activity after 100 trading days.
  3. Electrum wallet's beta version 4.0 supports the Lightning Network.

LN Markets - May 19th, 2020 - Issue #4

19 implied HN points • 19 May 20
  1. LN Markets has reached $4 million in aggregate volume traded
  2. LN Markets is looking to hire a Quant Developer for their trading team
  3. Discreet Log Contracts (DLCs) can enable contracts between parties on the Bitcoin blockchain

LN Markets - April 20th, 2020 - Issue #2

19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 20
  1. LN Markets released upgrades with bug fixes and new features like LNURL-AUTH and stop-loss orders
  2. LN Markets saw increased market activity with 400 weekly active users, 3,000 trades, and $500k volume
  3. Calculating Lightning Network capacity to support major trading volume requires at least $100 million, currently around $7 million

#16 - November 19th, 2020

0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 20
  1. LN Clear introduces a new platform for OTC derivatives clearing, providing customization, security, and capital efficiency.
  2. LN Markets is focused on building the best trading experience with a robust new trading engine and public dashboard.
  3. The Lightning Network ecosystem is growing, with new projects, node management solutions, and Lightning Pool orders matching maintaining momentum.

#54 - Bitcoin Reformism with Dennis Pourteaux, LNM World Cup, Latest Strikes and much more!

0 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
  1. Bitcoin can help foster greater adoption of human rights globally by providing financial freedom and privacy protection.
  2. Bitcoin is unique and valuable due to its properties such as fair launch, regulatory clarity, and immutability.
  3. Investing in Bitcoin and crypto requires being open-minded, avoiding emotional decisions, and being aware of personal biases.

#40 - Mesh networking, blood in the streets, and much more!

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 22
  1. Bitcoin's correlation with the stock market is increasing, raising questions about its digital gold narrative.
  2. Despite recent market turmoil, liquidation volumes have been lower than in previous events.
  3. There is still high leverage in the market, with potential for significant shakeouts, especially in BTC-denominated open interest.

#43 - New release, Climate & Bitcoin, Peeling the onion and much more!

0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
  1. LN Markets has announced a new release making it easier to connect and withdraw seamlessly.
  2. The debate around Bitcoin's environmental impact is intensifying, highlighting the importance of educating about Bitcoin mining.
  3. An in-depth exploration of Onion Routing in Bitcoin payments reveals the complexities and privacy mechanisms involved.

#20 - January 28th, 2021

0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 21
  1. Kraken will launch lightning withdrawals and deposits, reducing fees and wait time
  2. Many leading exchanges are expected to join Lightning network in 2021 for better user experience
  3. LN Markets has collaborations with Breez Lightning wallet, and developers creating innovative tools for Lightning ecosystem