<p>Payment channels are a specific form of state channels used for forwarding payments (as in the Lightning network). State channels are a more abstract idea: In theory you could use the ideas of cryptographically securing a state between two or more participants (the balance in payment channels) backed by a blockchain for something else than payments (like games). But, just as with blockchains, it is highly doubtful if this actually makes sense economically for anything else than money itself.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-30T08:53:42.847Z
2019-01-30T08:53:42.847Z
stefanwouldgo
<p>We use "<code>micro-payment channels</code>" such as "<a href="https://dci.mit.edu/lightning-network/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bitcoin Lightning Network</a>" or "<a href="https://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/file/716b955c130e6c703fac336ea17b1670/duplex-micropayment-channels.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Duplex Micro-Payment Channels</a>" for saving transaction fee, accelerating payments, supporting better micro-payment and scaling blockchain.</p>

<p>Is there any difference between "<code>state channel</code>" v.s "<code>micro-payment channe</code>l"? and if so, what are <strong>differences</strong>?</p>

<blockchain><lightning-network><micropaymentchannels><micropayments><off-chain>
"state channel" v.s "micro-payment channel" : are they the same?
Questioner
# "state channel" v.s "micro-payment channel" : are they the same?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-26)

We use "`micro-payment channels`" such as "[Bitcoin Lightning Network](https://dci.mit.edu/lightning-network/)" or "[Duplex Micro-Payment Channels](https://www.tik.ee.ethz.ch/file/716b955c130e6c703fac336ea17b1670/duplex-micropayment-channels.pdf)" for saving transaction fee, accelerating payments, supporting better micro-payment and scaling blockchain.

Is there any difference between "`state channel`" v.s "`micro-payment channe`l"? and if so, what are **differences**?

**Tags:** blockchain, lightning-network, micropaymentchannels, micropayments, off-chain


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-30. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Payment channels are a specific form of state channels used for forwarding payments (as in the Lightning network). State channels are a more abstract idea: In theory you could use the ideas of cryptographically securing a state between two or more participants (the balance in payment channels) backed by a blockchain for something else than payments (like games). But, just as with blockchains, it is highly doubtful if this actually makes sense economically for anything else than money itself.


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