PaymentsNova Guide
Bitcoin Lightning for payments: the architecture
The Lightning Network is a Bitcoin Layer-2 payment network that uses payment channels to support faster, lower-cost transactions than settling every payment directly on the Bitcoin base layer.
Channels and liquidity
Lightning payments depend on channel connectivity and available liquidity. Operational design therefore matters alongside wallet and processor selection.
Nodes and wallets
A Lightning node participates in the network and can manage channels. Lightning-compatible wallets abstract some or all of that complexity for end users.
Merchant fit
Lightning may fit specific payment use cases, but availability, custody model, settlement design and provider support should be evaluated before implementation.