The copy is pretty good IMO, though I am curious what an actual newbie would think. In my experience the actual process of using a lightning wallet is pretty simple for new users to get their head around. The hard part is channel management, inbound liquidity, etc.
reply
Liquidity management still makes me feel like a moron
reply
LSPs should eventually solve the inbound issue. If the only problem we’re left with is explaining outbound then it reduces to the familiar “this is how much money I have to spend.”
reply
Totally agree. Inbound is the most "unnatural" coming from a fiat world.
reply
Yeah, I'm still bullish on Lightning. The UX has improved drastically since I first started using it a few years ago.
reply
What are your thoughts?
I don't mind it. Simple explanation is good for newbies.
reply
It’s pretty spot on. It mostly explains the benefits with a hint of education on invoices vs addresses and peer to peer.
It’s interesting to see on coinbase next to a bunch of competing things (from a newb user’s perspective). It’s easier to assess whether Lightning is compelling to a non-bitcoiner in coinbase’s context.
reply
I haven't used Coinbase in a few years now but it is nice to see them putting some focus back on Bitcoin considering how much they have leaned into eth and promoting eth. I noticed eth volumes on Coinbase have been very weak recently. Maybe 10% of Bitcoin. Eth is very narrative driven so it could be it just doesn't have a current narrative to propel interest but I wonder if this persists if we see Coinbase shifting their time and attention away from eth and back to bitcoin a bit.
reply
It helped me see that Lightning doesn’t sell itself very well. It’s kind of like the internet asking us if we want to use IP or TCP. At some point Lightning (tcp) needs to be the singular interface to bitcoin (ip) or it isn’t the right abstraction.
reply
Well said. I can attest to what you are saying. Normal people don't care about L1 L2 etc. They just want to use things.
reply
Great point.
reply
Very basic. But it’s down and dirty I suppose.
reply
Is Coinbase Secure? I'm new so just asking.
reply
Whether something is secure enough for you to use depends on your threat model.
If you’re looking for generic advice, use a non-custodial Lightning wallet. If you can’t run a computer, but have a phone: Mutiny, Zeus, or Breez. If you can run a computer: look into Start9 and Umbrel.
If you want personally tailored advice, you’ll need to provide more information.
reply
Thank you so much. I see. There's actually a great difference between Coinbase and your suggestion. To break it down even further which one is good for a newbie among Zeus, Mutiny and breez?
reply
I like Mutiny for the simplicity. All of them are all hard to use for a newbie. If you’re in India, you might be able to use Phoenix which is an easier non-custodial experience.
If you are just looking to try things out with small amounts of money that you don’t mind losing, there are custodial wallets like Blink and Wallet of Satoshi that are very simple to use. But again, I’d only recommend using these with small amounts of money for learning/fun purposes. If you want to be an early bitcoin and lightning user, and security is a concern, you’re going to have to nerd out a bit and learn some technical stuff.
reply
71 sats \ 1 reply \ @Athena 18 May
Thanks for your detailed response. I will be using mutiny, I won't go custodial not even for smaller amounts.
I will also check phoenix.
reply
I like mutiny
reply
Mutiny is beginner friendly
reply
Yes, it seems so. That's why as beginner I liked it at first sight.
reply
deleted by author
reply
Interesting how coinbase is deployed lightning same time as witch-hunt had started and forced WoS, Phoenix, Alby, Bitcoin Magazine and others to leave the market or reduce their services.
reply
The graphics are truly useless.
reply
I would have preferred it if Coinbase had released this as a Learn n Earn lesson so that I could like earn maybe $3 worth of sats haha
reply
Doesnt seem so bad. Does coinbase make it easier?
reply