<p>The Lightning Network can be used across currencies, but each individual payment channel must only correspond to one currency. Furthermore, each currency must use the same inputs and outputs system that Bitcoin uses and a similar scripting system for the HTLCs to work. Other than that, I think the Lightning Network should work across multiple currencies.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What about exchange rates?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Exchange rates don't matter to anything technically, so they have no effect on LN.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-08T08:15:06.370Z
thx! When I was asking about exchanges, I was more referring to the routing. I haven't found much on this yet, but the network is suppose to figure out how to route payments. If atomic swaps can occur it has to figure that out aswell and therefore deal with exchange-rates. When I come to think of it, it's not that different from the fees for routing payments.
Kristoffer Nolgren
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-07T20:25:53.547Z
2017-10-25T08:01:23.033Z
2017-10-25T08:01:23.033Z
Ava Chow
<p>In the basic form, lightning-network is a chain of iou:s in one currency. But as far as I have understood, the plan is to put atomic swaps on lightning network. Will this mean that all currencies exist in the same lightning network? Does LN care and know about the curreny that is exchanged? Will it also work out the routing? What about exchange rates?</p>

<lightning-network><atomic-swap>
Will all crypto-currencies exist on the same lightning network?
Kristoffer Nolgren
# Will all crypto-currencies exist on the same lightning network?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-07)

In the basic form, lightning-network is a chain of iou:s in one currency. But as far as I have understood, the plan is to put atomic swaps on lightning network. Will this mean that all currencies exist in the same lightning network? Does LN care and know about the curreny that is exchanged? Will it also work out the routing? What about exchange rates?

**Tags:** lightning-network, atomic-swap


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-07. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The Lightning Network can be used across currencies, but each individual payment channel must only correspond to one currency. Furthermore, each currency must use the same inputs and outputs system that Bitcoin uses and a similar scripting system for the HTLCs to work. Other than that, I think the Lightning Network should work across multiple currencies.

> What about exchange rates?

Exchange rates don't matter to anything technically, so they have no effect on LN.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thx! When I was asking about exchanges, I was more referring to the routing. I haven't found much on this yet, but the network is suppose to figure out how to route payments. If atomic swaps can occur it has to figure that out aswell and therefore deal with exchange-rates. When I come to think of it, it's not that different from the fees for routing payments.  

---

