<p>Running a Lightning Network node without any open channels doesn't really make the Lightning Network more robust. Unlike the main Bitcoin layer, the Lightning Network does not rely on or require other nodes to verify transactions. Thus a Lightning Network node without any open channels is simply a data relayer which there are many (all of the other LN nodes). There really isn't much data to relay anyways, and you relayhing it does not ultimately help LN that much.</p>

<p>The usefulness of a LN node is to provide capacity for routing payments over additional payment channels. Since you do not have any payment channels, your node isn't really helping with that.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-02T07:09:41.520Z
2018-07-02T07:09:41.520Z
Ava Chow
<p>If I have a LN node without open channels, does that improve the robustness of the network? I have a BTC and LN node running 24/7 on a Raspberry Pi 3, and no BTC at the moment to open a channel.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-02T07:07:30.700Z
What do you mean by "robustness"? Can you define that in the context of the Lightning Network?
Ava Chow
<lightning-network><full-node>
Lightning Network node without opened channels
Emilio
# Lightning Network node without opened channels

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-29)

If I have a LN node without open channels, does that improve the robustness of the network? I have a BTC and LN node running 24/7 on a Raspberry Pi 3, and no BTC at the moment to open a channel.

**Tags:** lightning-network, full-node

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by "robustness"? Can you define that in the context of the Lightning Network?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Running a Lightning Network node without any open channels doesn't really make the Lightning Network more robust. Unlike the main Bitcoin layer, the Lightning Network does not rely on or require other nodes to verify transactions. Thus a Lightning Network node without any open channels is simply a data relayer which there are many (all of the other LN nodes). There really isn't much data to relay anyways, and you relayhing it does not ultimately help LN that much.

The usefulness of a LN node is to provide capacity for routing payments over additional payment channels. Since you do not have any payment channels, your node isn't really helping with that.


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