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46 sats \ 1 reply \ @nikotsla 13 Oct 2023 \ on: River AMA bitcoin
How do you handle the balance between be an actor in a p2p network (mesh) and force central routes (star) with the objective to have a low failed payments? It's like the behavior isn't p2p, select "good" peers, filter alternative networks, etc.
Do you think in the future there will be no reason to optimize or we are going into a centralization path?
I worry about centralization in LN yes.
However, we can't combat centralization by fighting incentives or doing sub-rational things (like peering with subpar peers, wasting liquidity, etc.). We either win (stay decentralized) by setting up the right incentives & building the right tech, or we don't. Altruism is only a method for bootstrapping, not a sustainable model for at-scale networks.
For River in the specific, we do aim to minimize failed payments, and while that requires pruning bad peers, i don't think it's as pro-centralization as it seems. The tech exists or will exist to allow anyone to be a good peer. The main challenge will be whether capital requirements drive centralization.
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