<p>Whether you run a full node or a lightweight node is a first layer question. It is a question about how you keep track about what happens on the blockchain. And even though this is important for you, the <em>Lightning</em> nodes that are communicating with your Lightning node do actually not care about it and in fact they don't even (have to) know about your Bitcoin node.</p>

<p>So do not confuse Layer 1 (Bitcoin / Blockchain) with Layer 2 (off-chain payments / Lightning). On Layer 2 there are no "full nodes".</p>

<p>What we <em>do</em> have on Layer 2 however, are channels that you announce to the network and private channels (that you don't announce). 
So if Alice and Bob have a private channel, they can use it to pay each other, but they will not route any third party payments through it.</p>

<p>Yes, the channels that you will see on any Lightning network graph are only announced ones, they private cannot be seen. This is also the reason for why it is difficult to estimate the real size of the Lightning Network.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-28T18:06:26.873Z
2018-10-28T18:06:26.873Z
Dalit Sairio
<p>Is it possible to open a channel with a peer that is not a full node? Or to exchange lightning payments between two peers that are not full nodes, they both have to open a channel with full lightning node(s)?</p>

<p>I saw this map
 <a href="https://lnmainnet.gaben.win/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://lnmainnet.gaben.win/</a> and I was wondering if all the graph nodes were full nodes. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-29T15:47:16.820Z
Please split your question up, and search for existing answers first. The site relies on questions that can easily be search for.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-29T21:02:08.890Z
Ok, thank you for the advice. I have modified the question. Hope this is ok!
Bruce Wayne
<lightning-network><core-lightning><ln-opening-channels>
Lightning network: Open a channel with a peer that is not a full node?
Bruce Wayne
# Lightning network: Open a channel with a peer that is not a full node?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-29)

Is it possible to open a channel with a peer that is not a full node? Or to exchange lightning payments between two peers that are not full nodes, they both have to open a channel with full lightning node(s)?

I saw this map
<https://lnmainnet.gaben.win/> and I was wondering if all the graph nodes were full nodes.

**Tags:** lightning-network, core-lightning, ln-opening-channels

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please split your question up, and search for existing answers first. The site relies on questions that can easily be search for.  
> **username_0**: Ok, thank you for the advice. I have modified the question. Hope this is ok!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-28. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Whether you run a full node or a lightweight node is a first layer question. It is a question about how you keep track about what happens on the blockchain. And even though this is important for you, the *Lightning* nodes that are communicating with your Lightning node do actually not care about it and in fact they don't even (have to) know about your Bitcoin node.

So do not confuse Layer 1 (Bitcoin / Blockchain) with Layer 2 (off-chain payments / Lightning). On Layer 2 there are no "full nodes".

What we *do* have on Layer 2 however, are channels that you announce to the network and private channels (that you don't announce).
So if Alice and Bob have a private channel, they can use it to pay each other, but they will not route any third party payments through it.

Yes, the channels that you will see on any Lightning network graph are only announced ones, they private cannot be seen. This is also the reason for why it is difficult to estimate the real size of the Lightning Network.


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