HTLCs: How Lightning Moves Money Through Strangers

Imagine Nigeria experiences one of the worst network outages in its history. Mobile networks are down, internet providers have gone silent and every financial institution in the country is effectively disconnected. Bank transfers don't work. Fintech apps don't work. POS terminals don't work. For the first time in a long time, moving money digitally is no longer an option.

Now imagine you need to get ₦5 million from Lagos to your cousin in Kano before tomorrow morning. In a world where every payment system has failed, there is really only one way to do it. You find someone travelling to Kano, hand them the money in cash and ask them to deliver it on your behalf.

Let's call him Bob.

You don't know Bob. You've never met him before and you'll probably never meet him again after tonight. The only reason you're even considering handing him that amount of money...

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