The Bitcoin Lightning Network (Bitcoin Thunderbolt), led by early Bitcoin core developers and the Nubit team, has officially opened reservation channels for Thunderbolt Stations. The first-phase credential, $tsUSD, is now live, allowing institutions and qualified users to reserve network allocations and participate in mainnet rewards.
Thunderbolt Station Rollout Plan
The Thunderbolt Station will be released in three phases:
- Current Phase: Users can lock in future construction allocations using $tsUSD credentials
- Payment Options Supported: BTC, USD1, and Taproot inscription assets like BRC-20 and Runes
- Significance: Marks the first use of native Bitcoin assets in mainnet infrastructure participation
Institutional Interest and Ecosystem Impact
According to informed sources:
- Multiple institutions, family offices, and investment firms have confirmed participation
- First-round cumulative interest exceeds $10 billion
Developer communities are exploring innovative directions including:
- Composite asset design
- On-chain liquidity pools
- Bitcoin-native structured products
Network Performance Metrics
- Transactions Processed: 4+ million on-chain transactions
- Active Users: 267,000+ unique addresses
- Notable Integration: WLFI's USD1 stablecoin became one of the first native settlement assets
Technical Advancements (April 15 Update)
The Lightning Network has implemented through a soft fork:
- UTXO Bundling
- OP_CAT instructions
- Performance Improvement: 1000-2000x faster transaction verification than Bitcoin mainchain
Ecosystem Growth Indicators
- Bitcoin Alpha program received 50+ team applications
Projects leveraging the network for:
- Faster payments
- Enhanced programming capabilities
- Anticipated as Bitcoin's most significant ecosystem expansion in 12 years
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who can participate in Thunderbolt Station reservations?
A: Currently open to institutions and qualified users through $tsUSD credentials.
Q: What assets can be used for payments?
A: BTC, USD1 stablecoin, and Taproot assets including BRC-20 and Runes.
Q: How does transaction speed compare to mainchain?
A: The network currently processes transactions 1000-2000 times faster than Bitcoin's base layer.
Q: What makes this development significant?
A: It represents the first integration of native Bitcoin assets into infrastructure participation at scale.
Q: Are there any notable partnerships?
A: Yes, WLFI's USD1 stablecoin was among the first assets integrated for native settlement.
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