The Lightning Network, a layer-2 payment solution built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, is six years old. 

Products, users and the amount of Bitcoin (BTC) sent on the Lightning Network (LN) has sky-rocketed in 2023, despite the price per Bitcoin slipping under $20,000.

The LN has benefited from the integration into the Nostr protocol — in which users can send one another satoshis (small amounts of Bitcoin) — and the proliferation of custodial and noncustodial LN wallets, and its formal integration in territories such as El Salvador and Lugano.

From Mediterranean cities to Senegal, the LN is also growing as a peer-to-peer means of payment. Nonetheless, despite its growth, concerns still stymie the network, according to key opinion leaders interviewed during Advancing Bitcoin Developer Conference in London.

Eric Sirion, co-founder of Bitcoin mobile app Fedi and maintainer of the Fedimint protocol, explained that running a Lightning node in 2023 is still difficult and that some people don’t bother when faced with the complexity:

“To keep your own Lightning node running, to keep well connected, like keep your connections up to date with the nodes that are relevant — it’s a part-time job essentially.”

Matthias Koller, co-founder of Swiss company Pocket Bitcoin, said, “It has become substantially easier compared to early 2018. However, it is still not ‘easy’ for the masses.”

“But it’s exciting to see the development around full node implementations and the progress that’s been made.”

Sirion, who wrote the open-source code Fedimint and now works on the Fedi team, explained that custodial Lightning wallets, such as Wallet of Satoshi, are popular among Bitcoin advocates. He’s right: It is the wallet of choice for Nostr, a space dominated by Bitcoiners.

However, the reliance on custodial wallets could be a problem for the LN. Trusting a third party with funds, such as Wallet of Satoshi, is contrary to the Bitcoiner mantra, “not your keys, not your coins,” Sirion said.

Furthermore, Koller explained that the reason many Bitcoiners end up sidestepping the “not your keys, not your coins” mantra is that some of the custodial solutions are just so easy. “It’s set up in seconds, ready to transact,” he said, noting:

“But in fact, it’s no different from keeping Bitcoin on an exchange — it’s not your Bitcoin. It’s risky if people aren’t aware of the risks involved and the amounts kept in custodial wallets grow in size.”

However, Koller conceded that custodial solutions are fine for “pocket money.” The LN is ideal for micropayments, but even so, trusting centralized wallet providers could erode privacy. In response to the rise in custodial wallets, one Twitter user explained, “If payments are being made from custodial mobile wallets to custodial mobile wallets it’s very simple to link senders and receivers.” 

Sirion hopes that the rollout of Fedi will undermine the reliance on third parties and provide a straightforward and privacy-centric route to using Bitcoin and Lightning. Fedi uses the open-source protocol Fedimint in which trusted members of a community share ownership of Bitcoin:

“If you’re already using custodial service, at least use one where you have a reason to trust the people that are.”

Moreover, the reliance on Lightning custodial wallets could be in part due to the difficulties in running a Lightning node. Node software businesses, such as Amboss and Umbrel, attempt to remedy the issue with improved UX, but in comparison to downloading Bitcoin Core to run a Bitcoin node, there are more steps, and a deeper understanding of Bitcoin is required to run a Lightning node.

Furthermore, in the world of Venmo, Revolut and other near-instant centralized payment services, there’s a risk that Lightning’s free and frictionless payments do not necessarily solve a pressing problem. During Advancing Bitcoin, Alex Leishman, CEO of Bitcoin firm River Financial, told Cointelegraph, “Bitcoiners use Lightning mostly because it’s interesting and it’s cool. It’s not solving deep problems in their life.”

Related: Bitcoin Lightning Network growth is organic, coming from real-world adoption

Koller joked that the LN is “Bitcoin on steroids. Fast, cheap and perfect for small, daily transactions.” Plus, it’s still substantially more private than Google Pay or using Visa or Mastercard at a checkout:

“The pain I feel every time I have to use a credit card online is just gut-wrenching. Give me Lightning everywhere!”

Leishman would like to see more people working backward from real human problems observed worldwide and see where Lightning can fit in. For example, in the West, the LN could resolve inter-institutional transactions.

“It can really move the needle on a number of things in the West and in the developing world.”

In El Salvador, some Salvadorans use the Lightning Network, but cash is still king. Leishman mentions the Taro protocol, which, once implemented, could allow for assets to be issued on the Bitcoin blockchain.

“Do people actually just want dollars? And does that mean we want to try to build stablecoins on Lightning with Taro?” he said.

These assets could be deposited into Lightning Network payment channels and transacted instantly. In theory, LN users could hold several balances in their wallets, including different stablecoins or dollars.

Currently, developers can mint, send and receive Taro assets on the test network of the Bitcoin blockchain. In the meantime, LN developers will continue to seek out more user-centric Bitcoin solutions.

Got Bitcoin ink? Many Bitcoin believers do. But what are the risks? What about privacy? And what happens if — one fateful day — Bitcoin crashes and burns to zero?

Cointelegraph spoke with Bitcoin (BTC) advocates to understand why they have permanently etched a Bitcoin logo, motif, equation or slogan onto their skin. They’ve shown permanent solidarity with the decentralized movement, expressing their support for the Bitcoin protocol and the values it represents.

Didi Taihuttu, father of the “Bitcoin family,” explained that he inked himself the moment he went “all in on Bitcoin as I thought it was a very important step in my life.” A familiar face among the crypto community, Taihuttu sold all of his family’s possessions and slept in a campsite while the price of Bitcoin was in the four-figure territory with the “B” etched on his arm.

He now travels the world evangelizing Bitcoin, with his forearm on full view:

“Bitcoin changed my way of thinking about the world and decentralizing it.”

Anita Posch, another globetrotting Bitcoin evangelist, has a lightning bolt tattooed on her forearm. In the Human B Bitcoin documentary film, she said she wouldn’t explain that the lightning bolt symbol (a nod to the Lightning Network) on her wrist is Bitcoin-related but added “Bitcoin is my life” in follow-up comments.

TatumTurnUP (not his real name), the host of the Bitcoin show “Between Two Asics,” explained that he got his tattoo of the BTC supply formula because “It’s what proves scarcity.”

“Monetary scarcity is something we’ve been deprived of until Bitcoin, and the fact I can write down what proves there will only ever be a certain amount of Bitcoin is a pretty big deal.”

The tattoo on his bicep is a common (but unfortunately not strictly accurate) formula for the supply of Bitcoin. He shared a warning with readers: “The bottom of the Sigma might be the most painful thing I ever experienced. Just a forewarning.”

But what about OpSec?

However, isn’t it risky to advertise one’s love of a digital currency on one’s skin? OpSec, or operational security, is a military term the internet has hijacked. Among the crypto community, it refers to the public sharing of identity or defining features. And a Bitcoin tattoo could put a literal target on one’s back. 

Erik Dale, whose tattoos are pictured in the above tweet, founded Norway’s “Northern Lightning” conference series. Dale told Cointelegraph he was aware of the implications. His tattoos are “Equations, no logos or tribal markers, for OpSec reasons.”

“Insiders should realize what they are, but not casual observers.”

Rikki, of content creators and investigators Bitcoin Explorers, joked, “We are not particularly concerned about bad opsec.” He added another Bitcoin tattoo to his collection during a giveaway in Guatemala. 

Bad OpSec can lead to doxing or the public reveal of people’s personal data. That’s why some Bitcoin advocates mask their online identities, using anonymous profiles on social media. Not so for Rikki and his partner Laura; they have their Bitcoin support on full view.

Piero Coen, the co-founder of Guatemala-based Osmo Wallet, told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin is a “counterculture movement, and getting a tattoo related to it is a way to show our commitment to this movement.”

“It’s like a badge of honor, showing that we are part of this group of ‘pirates’ who are challenging the traditional financial system and are convinced we’re going to change the world. “

Besides, for Rikki and Laura, much of their lives already permanently exists on camera. Rikki explained:

“We are Bitcoin content creators, and so we chose to give up our privacy years ago. Besides, there aren’t just the slightly paranoid, scheming, pessimistic, terra plat-prone Bitcoiners — there are also us, the good-looking, nice, fun, cool and sex-loving Bitcoiners!”

Laura put it even more succinctly in a recent tweet: 

For Tatum, another content creator and a recognizable face in the Bitcoin space, “Value is teaching people about Bitcoin and networking through it, so there’s a constant battle with opsec.”

“At the bottom of it, I am comfortable with my own security and what I do and do not share, but ‘WHY I love Bitcoin’ is always going to be shared.”

Tatum walks around Bitcoin conferences wearing a bulletproof vest in a jocular nod to operational security in the Bitcoin space.

But what if Bitcoin goes to zero? 

Unlike tweets, open letters or company creation, Bitcoin tattoos are tricky to delete. They require commitment. 

So what happens if the currency goes to zero, like many other failed projects from Terra to Celsius? Tatum explained, well, “sucks for me!”

“After I got it, I jokingly said, ‘Now I really hope it doesn’t go to zero or I’ll look like an idiot.’ But in reality, my tattoo is kind of why it never will go to zero. If one person finds value in Bitcoin, there’s only ever going to be so many. So they will have value.”

Billionaire Mike Novogratz’s tattoo of the failed Terra (LUNA) token is an eternal reminder of the headiness and hedonism accompanying crypto bull runs. The tattoo remains on Novogratz’s arm, while LUNA is worth next to nothing, and its creator, Do Kwon, might be facing jail time. Fortunately, Novogratz says he learned from the experience saying investing “requires humility.“

Dale explained he’s prepared to live with the tattoos on his wrists even if Bitcoin does fail. He’s committed until the very end: “If I’m wrong about this, I want to carry that reminder every day. And if not, I can’t imagine a prouder badge to wear for the rest of my days.” 

Related: Novogratz says LUNA tattoo is a constant reminder investing ‘requires humility’

For Taihuttu, it’s important to zoom out and focus on the bigger picture. Bitcoin is a long-term play:

“I believe that people who have tattoos from dollar signs or other fiat have a bigger chance of going to 0.”

He’s right; famous rappers and celebrities, including singer Kesha and actor Lena Dunham, have been inked with dollar sign tattoos. It’s unlikely that they were asked if the dollar would go to zero prior to sitting in the tattoo artist’s chair.

On a sober note, Taihuttu explained that regardless of the Bitcoin movement underway, the large tattoo on his forearm represents “an amazing 10 years of my and my family’s life since 2013, the year that I started mining Bitcoin.” And that’s more than enough reason to get Bitcoin ink.

The bear market might rage on, but that won’t stop the Bitcoin (BTC) shooters, creators and filmmakers from producing new content. 

Hosted in the capital of Poland, Warsaw, the first edition of the Bitcoin Film Festival took place in March. The Bitcoin Film Festival brought together Bitcoin advocates and film lovers from across the globe to sit through some of the best-known Bitcoin films and documentaries. 

Hosted in the Kinoteka theater in the iconic Palace of Culture and Science, the Bitcoin Film Festival festival celebrated Bitcoin’s growing global influence while underscoring the thriving cultural movement that underpins the digital network. Some of the talents from the Bitcoin movement’s first film festival, BitFilm in 2015, such as Tomer Kantor, were in attendance–and they continue to shoot Bitcoin-centric films.

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Cointelegraph premiered The Bitcoin Farmer, a short documentary about Bitcoin mining using solely renewable energy in Ireland. The film was followed by a panel discussion with Cointelegraph’s director of the video, Jackson Dumont, global reporter Joe Hall, Bitcoin Film Fest co-founder Pierre Corbin, as well as Mark Morton and Vince Giltinan from Scilling Digital Mining.

Pierre Corbin told Cointelegraph that he and cofounder Tomek Kolodziejczuk put together the Bitcoin Film Festival because it’s a “cool idea” for the community. Although the film fest was a useful means of introducing Polish people to Bitcoin, Pierre explained that Bitcoin “has been very popular here in Poland with Ukrainians coming here because of the war.”

Poland borders Ukraine, and as much as 25% of the immigrant population is Ukrainian. At the onset of the war, Bitcoin donations soared, while Pierre explains that people on the ground used the decentralized tool:

“The human rights foundation helped them [Ukrainians] transfer their wealth into Bitcoin, helping them cross the border here into Poland and then walk them through the process of getting their money back out from Bitcoin ATMs because Poland is the country in Europe with the most Bitcoin ATMs.”

Cofounder Tomek set the ball rolling for the world’s first Bitcoin film festival in November of last year. Tomek was keen to meet Pierre and screen his film, The Great Reset and the Rise of Bitcoin, at a local Bitcoin Meetup. However, the idea snowballed. Their encounter and subsequent meetings led to the showings of Bitcoin movies from around the world in one of Eastern Europe’s most iconic buildings.  

From documentaries shot in El Salvador, such as Bond to Unbind, to a snapshot of the impact of Bitcoin on individuals’ lives in The Human B, the film festival showcased the most recent and notable film production efforts. Pierre explained the selection process:

“If you select the right films that tell the right stories, then bringing people from outside will understand Bitcoin from the angle that we want them to understand.”

A crowdfunding campaign was held through the Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign Geyser Fund, in which The Satoshi Mystery by Remi Baillieux won the community-voting segment. Meanwhile, Pierre raised Sats (the smallest denomination of a Bitcoin) for his second Bitcoin documentary, The Fight for the US Dollar.

Related: Film review: ‘Human B’ shows a personal journey with Bitcoin

The film festival also piggybacked off a Libertarian conference hosted in Warsaw the same weekend. Libertarians, or proponents of minimizing the state’s encroachment on daily life, were some of the earliest adopters of Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin Film Festival is investigating whether to change the location for the 2024 installment or to keep the festival in Warsaw. While bear markets are undoubtedly for building, it appears they’re also for filming. 

Magazine: NFT Creator, Sarah Zucker: The Sarah Show’s analog past meets dizzying digital future

Paris Blockchain Week celebrated its fourth edition in spring 2023 against a backdrop of riots, protests and general civil malaise. The builders in the Bitcoin (BTC), crypto, and Web3 spaces were unfazed by protesters chanting and dancing on the doorstep of the conference venue. 

The event took place against the backdrop of ongoing protests in Paris and worsening macroeconomic conditions in France. Many attendees expressed concern about the impact of these factors on the future of the blockchain and crypto industry, particularly in Europe.

Nevertheless, the overall mood at PBW 2023 was optimistic, with many attendees citing the recent surge in Bitcoin’s price as a sign of growing mainstream acceptance of the technology. Plus, as Pascal Gauthier, CEO of Ledger, explained to Cointelegraph: “Bitcoin was designed for this.”

“Bitcoin was designed in reaction to Lehman Brothers in the 2008 crisis. It was designed because you can’t trust central authorities. And it’s designed because it’s clear that central authorities will fail. It’s not a question of if. It’s more a question of when.”

However, as protestors marched to the doorstep of the entrance to the “Les Salles du Carousel,” the crypt of the Louvre in which the event was held, there appeared to be a disconnect or rift between the Web3 space and reality.

Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, explained that “It is a little bit like we’re not recognizing what’s happening with the builders and what’s happening with the protesters.” Nir Kouris, founder of Creator Nations, told Cointelegraph that the work of Paris Blockchain Week is “super important,” but it’s important to speak to those in the mainstream world:

“We need to not live in a bubble to include, to embrace, to empower all these people from outside. They don’t have a clue about what is blockchain. So our goal is to use different and different terminology so we can include all of them into the conversation.”

Cointelegraph interviewed some of the protesters during the event; very few were aware of crypto, some had not heard the word “Bitcoin” before.

The streets of Paris saw fires, trash as well as fire extinguisher liquid–an apocalyptic scene for many of the tourists visiting France–while Parisians were unperturbed, and some called for calm. Gauthier, a Parisian through and through, shrugged his shoulders at the protests. It’s part of French culture to take to the streets, he explained.

Another key theme throughout the event was the risk that Web2 companies, including Google, NasDaq and Facebook and traditional brands such as LVMH and Gucci, could be co-opting the Web3 vision. The headliners at PBW included established brand managers from the likes of Diesel and Fiat. What are established retail brands doing at a crypto conference? Animoca Brands CEO Robby Yung wades in:

“The reason that there is a place for them in Web3 is because brands themselves have power. You know, they resonate with consumers, whether it’s gaming brands or, you know, handbag and and luxury watch brands. Brands have resonance with consumers.”

Web3 provides new ways to innovate, Yung explained. Ryan Nix, Head of Solutions Architecture at Coinbase agreed–to an extent. He explained that Web2 players want to get in on the action, but they must also “Obfuscate difficulty from their users.” Ultimately, Nix continued, to access a greater audience, simplifying the somewhat complicated crypto and blockchain tools could help.

An interesting omission for the 2023 iteration was the notable absence of the crypto exchange Binance. In 2022, Binance financed the largest stand at the conference, and the CZ, the CEO of the crypto exchange, hosted a keynote. This year, the world’s largest exchange is caught up in a U.S. lawsuit, while the crypto bear market rages on.

Related: BUSD deposits and withdrawals via OCBS suspended on Binance.US

As the industry continues to evolve, events like the PBW 2023 will play an increasingly important role in bringing together key players and driving innovation. However, the crypto space must begin to address more real-world use cases if it is to reach out to the mainstream and catch the eye of those taking to the streets.