A Lightning NetworkBitcoin, the leading second-layer solution for fast payments in Bitcoin, has reached a historic milestone by exceeding the 10,000 BTC capacity in payment channels. This achievement represents a 67% increase compared to the same period of the previous year and consolidates the network as an essential infrastructure for daily transactions.
Growth driven by trade
Major payment processors, including Strike, River and BitPay, have expanded their network integrations, allowing thousands of trades around the world to accept Bitcoin payments instantly and at near-zero rates.
1ML data indicates that the network currently has more than 85,000 assets and 430,000 open payment channels.The number of daily transactions has exceeded the 2 million mark, an express increase compared to the 500,000 daily transactions recorded at the beginning of 2025.
Technical innovations boost performance
Recent updates to the Lightning Network protocol, including the implementation of asymmetric payment channels (splicing) and improvements in payment routing, have contributed significantly to network scalability.
Decentralized social media platforms that use Nostr allow users to send and receive Bitcoin micropayments natively, creating new use cases for the Lightning Network.
Brazil stands out in Adocao
Brazil is among the five countries with the highest adoption of Lightning Network, driven by initiatives such as the integration of the network with payment systems Pix. Brazilian startups such as Bipa and ZBD have developed solutions that allow automatic conversion between Lightning and Pix, facilitating the use of Bitcoin in local trade.
In cities such as Sao Paulo and Florianopolis, dozens of establishments already accept payments via Lightning, from cafes to transportation services.The trend is expected to accelerate with the maturing of cryptocurrency regulation in the country and the increasing familiarity of traders with the technology.
Experts predict that the Lightning Network could process more than 10 million daily transactions by the end of 2026, consolidating Bitcoin as a viable alternative for fast, low-cost payments on a global scale.