Comment by strategosInfinitum on 12/01/2018 at 16:37 UTC

2 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)

View submission: ⚡ Lightning Network Megathread ⚡

I have a question.

How do you guarantee that the very last lightning transactions made in a channel before it closes are the ones used?

What prevents me maliciously forwarding a more favourable to me older transaction?

Replies

Comment by SneakerElph at 12/01/2018 at 19:23 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If an older transaction is broadcast and there's a newer one to replace it (either because your node was keeping an eye on it or other nodes were keeping an eye on it for a cut of the penalty) then the channel closes and you get all the funds that were in the channel as a penalty.

So there's pretty strong incentive for folks to *not* try to cheat the system, since there's a very low likelihood of success and the penalties for doing so are very high.

Comment by Glass_wall at 12/01/2018 at 16:51 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

OrSomeone has to watch your channel for you and make sure that if that happens, a newer transaction is posted before it confirms.

Presumably there will be company's offering this service. Hopefully trustworthy ones who won't let the scam happen for a chunk of the profit.