<blockquote>
  <p>so the lightning network, work with channel and one node for connection to a channel must spend a little of satoshi for "subscribe" to channel</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In the current implementation, the spending basically involves only one of the node opening a channel by locking some bitcoins in a multi-sig address that is controlled by both parties of the channel. However, while opening the channel the node sending the bitcoins to the multi-sig address may unconditionally send some bitcoins to other parties side of the channel. In the 1.1 implementation we will have the option where both nodes can contribute to the multi-sig.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>what is the minimum value the satoshi for "subscribe" to the channel?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There is no specified minimum value but the node needs to maintain a number of conditions to open a channel. </p>

<ol>
<li>You will need to include the amount in <code>funding_satoshis</code> field that can at least cover the transaction fees on-chain to establish the channel.</li>
<li>Since commitment transaction is signed before the funding transaction, the <code>to_remote</code> or the <code>to_local</code> outputs of that commitment transaction should be higher than the <code>channel_reserve_satoshi</code> that you specified in the <code>open_channel</code> message.</li>
<li>If the other node finds the <code>funding_satoshis</code> to be too less, it MAY fail this channel. </li>
</ol>

<p>However, there is currently a temporary <strong>maximum</strong> limit of 2<sup>24</sup> satoshi (0.1677 BTC) that can be used to fund a channel.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>with the satoshi, I finance the channel and I can spend the maximum value of the loan, right? An example, if I have a channel X with 10000 satoshi, I can't spend the value with my node > 10000?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Although the channel has a capacity of 10,000 satoshi, you can spend only the amount that belongs to your side. Also you cannot spend the maximum amount of the channel balance that you have. Your balance need to be at least equal to the <code>channel_reserve_satoshi</code> which is generally 1% of the channel balance. You can spend the rest that belongs to your side. This reserve is kept so that a node has something to lose if it were to try to broadcast an old, revoked commitment transaction.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-25T19:41:34.123Z
2019-08-25T19:48:58.240Z
2019-08-25T19:48:58.240Z
Ugam Kamat
<p>You don't subscribe to a channel you open a channel. If you open a channel with 100k Satoshi you can send up to 99k Satoshi (the rest is blocked as the channel reserve). Once you have send some satoshis you can receive them back and resend them. Thus as long as you "earn" your money back you can send as much as you wish. </p>

<p>The lower bound for channels should be 20k satoshis but many people recommend to make larger channels. I suggest to do at least 1million Satoshi per channel. In general a small channel is not very useful. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-26T09:34:15.400Z
Thanks so much, but I have a question, and I do an example for this use case, if I open a new channel, with x satoshi, I can use the x - commissionTx but If I want the close channel without use the channel, the satoshi that I use for open challe are they still mine?
vincenzopalazzo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-26T10:39:54.847Z
Yes if you close the channel you get your satoshis back (minus the onchain fees  that you pay for closing the channel. These are higher if you force close the channel) remember opening and closing are always onchain tx.
Rene Pickhardt
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-25T20:03:24.970Z
2019-08-25T20:03:24.970Z
Rene Pickhardt
<p>I'm new in the lighting network world, and now I have a question on "How it work", so the light network, work with channel and one node for connection to a channel must spend a little of satoshi for "subscribe" to channel, I hope to understand well.</p>

<p>My question is what is the minimum value the satoshi for "subscribe" to the channel?</p>

<p>Also, with the satoshi, I finance the channel and I can spend the maximum value of the loan, right?</p>

<p>An example, if I have a channel X with 10000 satoshi, I can't spend the value with my node > 10000?</p>

<lightning-network>
What the maximum expenditure on a lighting network channel depends on
vincenzopalazzo
# What the maximum expenditure on a lighting network channel depends on

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-25)

I'm new in the lighting network world, and now I have a question on "How it work", so the light network, work with channel and one node for connection to a channel must spend a little of satoshi for "subscribe" to channel, I hope to understand well.

My question is what is the minimum value the satoshi for "subscribe" to the channel?

Also, with the satoshi, I finance the channel and I can spend the maximum value of the loan, right?

An example, if I have a channel X with 10000 satoshi, I can't spend the value with my node > 10000?

**Tags:** lightning-network


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-08-25. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> so the lightning network, work with channel and one node for connection to a channel must spend a little of satoshi for "subscribe" to channel

In the current implementation, the spending basically involves only one of the node opening a channel by locking some bitcoins in a multi-sig address that is controlled by both parties of the channel. However, while opening the channel the node sending the bitcoins to the multi-sig address may unconditionally send some bitcoins to other parties side of the channel. In the 1.1 implementation we will have the option where both nodes can contribute to the multi-sig.

> what is the minimum value the satoshi for "subscribe" to the channel?

There is no specified minimum value but the node needs to maintain a number of conditions to open a channel.

1. You will need to include the amount in `funding_satoshis` field that can at least cover the transaction fees on-chain to establish the channel.
2. Since commitment transaction is signed before the funding transaction, the `to_remote` or the `to_local` outputs of that commitment transaction should be higher than the `channel_reserve_satoshi` that you specified in the `open_channel` message.
3. If the other node finds the `funding_satoshis` to be too less, it MAY fail this channel.

However, there is currently a temporary **maximum** limit of 224 satoshi (0.1677 BTC) that can be used to fund a channel.

> with the satoshi, I finance the channel and I can spend the maximum value of the loan, right? An example, if I have a channel X with 10000 satoshi, I can't spend the value with my node > 10000?

Although the channel has a capacity of 10,000 satoshi, you can spend only the amount that belongs to your side. Also you cannot spend the maximum amount of the channel balance that you have. Your balance need to be at least equal to the `channel_reserve_satoshi` which is generally 1% of the channel balance. You can spend the rest that belongs to your side. This reserve is kept so that a node has something to lose if it were to try to broadcast an old, revoked commitment transaction.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-25. Score: 1

You don't subscribe to a channel you open a channel. If you open a channel with 100k Satoshi you can send up to 99k Satoshi (the rest is blocked as the channel reserve). Once you have send some satoshis you can receive them back and resend them. Thus as long as you "earn" your money back you can send as much as you wish.

The lower bound for channels should be 20k satoshis but many people recommend to make larger channels. I suggest to do at least 1million Satoshi per channel. In general a small channel is not very useful.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks so much, but I have a question, and I do an example for this use case, if I open a new channel, with x satoshi, I can use the x - commissionTx but If I want the close channel without use the channel, the satoshi that I use for open challe are they still mine?  
> **username_2**: Yes if you close the channel you get your satoshis back (minus the onchain fees  that you pay for closing the channel. These are higher if you force close the channel) remember opening and closing are always onchain tx.  

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