Nigerian Innovator Launches Country’s First Active Bitcoin Lightning Node

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The Lightning Network hit the ground in one of the toughest operating environments. Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, welcomed a new Bitcoin Lightning Network (LN) node this week, a key step to better connect the continent to the Layer 2 payment network that sits atop Bitcoin.

The node runs on an old laptop powered by a diesel generator, as Lagos experiences regular power and power outages.

Megasleys diesel generator and laptop running the node. Source: Megasley

In a chat with Cointelegraph, Megasley, which operates Nigeria’s first Lightning Node in 2023 and the first active Lightning Node in the country (other nodes are inactive), shared his vision of bringing instant, low-cost payments cost in Africa thanks to the LN. .

Light takes 50 milliseconds to pass through the earth. It’s fast, but with many jumps, those milliseconds can add up. And when you’re at an outlet waiting for your payment to be made, it can be frustrating.

Megasley explained his wish for Africans to have payments that are instant and as free as possible. If a Nigerian Bitcoiner and a Nigerian retailer are both connected to a node in Nigeria, it will give them the best Lightning experience, Megasley added.

Nigeria Free Routing is live!

The lightning network is now live and brought to the field in Lagos.

Please share and support us by opening a channel: https://t.co/nClBZbW4zA pic.twitter.com/hGsKobyjzY

— Free Routing in Africa (@FreeRoutingAf) January 10, 2023

According to exploration services Mempool and Amboss, the operator is currently the only active node on the map in Nigeria. By spinning the node, the operator aims to make Lightning payments as accessible to Africans as possible.

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Asked about the importance of creating a large network of nodes around the world to facilitate Bitcoin payments, the node manager explained: If Bitcoin is to succeed, it must become a better, easier and faster medium of exchange than the holders. To achieve this, we need to build an extensive network of nodes around the world to facilitate these payments.

Megasley also touched on Bitcoin (BTC) price volatility and its perception in Africa: people talk about the problem of volatility, but that’s nothing when you live in a place where your money could easily lose half of its value. value in one year.

Africa has rotten money controlled by rotten people, and that’s why we need bitcoin. We will take the power of money away from them so that the enormous potential of the African people can thrive.”

Indeed, there has been an increase in Bitcoin adoption among countries that use the Central African Franc, supported by Bitcoin conferences and forums in Senegal and Ghana. Although Nigeria has shown promising signs of Bitcoin adoption, such as the legal tender discussion, the legacy financial system has imposed new restrictions in 2023.

For example, Nigerians will only be allowed to withdraw $44 per week per individual and a maximum of $11,000 for businesses in 2023, in line with government efforts to phase out cash. As a reminder, Bitcoin has no limits or restrictions on its use. To freely transact on the Bitcoin network, users only need a phone and an internet connection.

Related: Bitcoin, Sango Coin and the Central African Republic

The establishment of a Bitcoin Lightning node in Nigeria is an important step towards increasing the accessibility and adoption of cryptocurrency in the country and on the continent as a whole. Ultimately, Megasley hopes to empower individuals and businesses in Africa to take control of their financial future.

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