<blockquote>
  <p>When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some bitcoins in it?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Generally, yes. The person who initiates the channel creation process (i.e. the person that says "I want to open a channel with you") is the one who funds the channel.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel will be used to let me buy from Blockstream? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Not necessarily. If your channels are connected to other nodes who have channels with other nodes and eventually a channel with the merchant (which is likely the case), then you do not need to open any new channels. You can make your payment route through the Lightning Network and it will reach the merchant.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T11:48:28.687Z
Thank you very much, you have been really clear. 
Excuse me, for another question... Can one choose from which lightning node pass to do a payment to some other node?
Bruce Wayne
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T12:18:20.157Z
Theoretically, yes. However I'm not sure that that is actually implemented in current software.
Ava Chow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-28T09:48:00.747Z
Yes, the low level API which allows you to specify exactly which route to use is exposed. You can use the `getroute` and `sendpay` commands to control what happens.
cdecker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-27T11:23:05.087Z
2018-07-27T11:23:05.087Z
Ava Chow
<blockquote>
  <p>When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some
  bitcoins in it?
  Yes, you always need to put some BTC, even if the other side want to puts the BTC for you, then that way you cant pay!, you will only be able to receive. To pay you need to put some of your on-chain money in the off-chain contract (LN channel) so that money act as a temporal pool to get from your money in the pool and pay via LN in a fast way!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>think the channel as a bag with your money, you must put money in the bag if you later want to pay from there, and you must have room/place in the bag to receive a payment, if not the coins cant keep there </p>

<p>nowadays channels and one side funded, and the initiator is who funds the channel, in the future full-duplex dual funded will be initiated, where both put BTC and it will be send/receive capable.</p>

<p>anyway there are other techniques today to reverse a channel and be able to receive.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for
  example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another
  lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel
  will be used to let me buy from Blockstream?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>your previously opened (not synced) channel if its connected to a node through which a route to destiny (Blockstream) could be found! will able you to pay, without opening a channel.</p>

<p>if you have to open a channel with everyone you want to pay to. i will be the same as pay with normal BTC, as opening a channel is an on-chain operation. it will only make sense to do repeated payments to the same person, the LN is a lot more useful than that, its great!</p>

<p>think the LN network (when you have a node with good channels opened) as your real life wallet, its handy for small payments, you go and buy a candy so you open your real life pocket wallet and you pay! instantaneously, but you don't carry your hole life savings in your real life pocket wallet! 
if you have to buy a house, you go to the bank, ask for opening the safe for you, show your credentials, and you take the money (its more secure but it takes more effort to do) the bank example could be an offline paper wallet of BTC in this example. which if you want to expend from, you have to import the private key in a node, pay and wait for the tx to be included in a block, and wait some more blocks (confirmations) to be safe!... a little more time consuming and impractical than LN don't you think? but.. definitively more secure! like the Safe in the Bank </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-01T01:58:40.997Z
2019-02-01T01:58:40.997Z
Emi
<p>When I run a lightning node, I have to set up a lightning channel with, for example, a highly connected node. </p>

<p>Here a first question: When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some bitcoins in it?</p>

<p>Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel will be used to let me buy from Blockstream? </p>

<p>Thank you. </p>

<lightning-network><lightning-routing><micropayments><core-lightning><blockstream>
Clarification about lightning network
Bruce Wayne
# Clarification about lightning network

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-27)

When I run a lightning node, I have to set up a lightning channel with, for example, a highly connected node.

Here a first question: When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some bitcoins in it?

Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel will be used to let me buy from Blockstream?

Thank you.

**Tags:** lightning-network, lightning-routing, micropayments, core-lightning, blockstream


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-27. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

> When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some bitcoins in it?

Generally, yes. The person who initiates the channel creation process (i.e. the person that says "I want to open a channel with you") is the one who funds the channel.

> Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel will be used to let me buy from Blockstream?

Not necessarily. If your channels are connected to other nodes who have channels with other nodes and eventually a channel with the merchant (which is likely the case), then you do not need to open any new channels. You can make your payment route through the Lightning Network and it will reach the merchant.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much, you have been really clear.  Excuse me, for another question... Can one choose from which lightning node pass to do a payment to some other node?  
> **username_1**: Theoretically, yes. However I'm not sure that that is actually implemented in current software.  
> **username_2**: Yes, the low level API which allows you to specify exactly which route to use is exposed. You can use the `getroute` and `sendpay` commands to control what happens.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-02-01. Score: 0

> When I set up a lightning channel with a node, have I need to put some
> bitcoins in it?
> Yes, you always need to put some BTC, even if the other side want to puts the BTC for you, then that way you cant pay!, you will only be able to receive. To pay you need to put some of your on-chain money in the off-chain contract (LN channel) so that money act as a temporal pool to get from your money in the pool and pay via LN in a fast way!

think the channel as a bag with your money, you must put money in the bag if you later want to pay from there, and you must have room/place in the bag to receive a payment, if not the coins cant keep there

nowadays channels and one side funded, and the initiator is who funds the channel, in the future full-duplex dual funded will be initiated, where both put BTC and it will be send/receive capable.

anyway there are other techniques today to reverse a channel and be able to receive.

> Then, if I wanted to buy something using lightning network (for
> example, a sticker from Blockstream), will I have to open another
> lightning channel with Blockcstream? Or the previously synced channel
> will be used to let me buy from Blockstream?

your previously opened (not synced) channel if its connected to a node through which a route to destiny (Blockstream) could be found! will able you to pay, without opening a channel.

if you have to open a channel with everyone you want to pay to. i will be the same as pay with normal BTC, as opening a channel is an on-chain operation. it will only make sense to do repeated payments to the same person, the LN is a lot more useful than that, its great!

think the LN network (when you have a node with good channels opened) as your real life wallet, its handy for small payments, you go and buy a candy so you open your real life pocket wallet and you pay! instantaneously, but you don't carry your hole life savings in your real life pocket wallet!
if you have to buy a house, you go to the bank, ask for opening the safe for you, show your credentials, and you take the money (its more secure but it takes more effort to do) the bank example could be an offline paper wallet of BTC in this example. which if you want to expend from, you have to import the private key in a node, pay and wait for the tx to be included in a block, and wait some more blocks (confirmations) to be safe!... a little more time consuming and impractical than LN don't you think? but.. definitively more secure! like the Safe in the Bank


---

