Lnfi First Anniversary

Today marks the first anniversary of the launch of Lnfi Network (formerly NostrAssets) and the issuance of the first Taproot Assets — TREAT & TRICK. These assets, initially intended as a modest showcase of Taproot Assets, unexpectedly played a role in spreading awareness of Nostr, Taproot Assets, and the Lightning Network.

A SUCCESSFUL ALPHA LAUNCH AND REBRANDING

This laid the foundation for a successful Alpha launch in late 2023, leading to the creation of over 300K new Nostr addresses, more than 1,550 BTC in deposits to the Lightning Network, and over 1750 BTC (120M+ USDT) in trading volume on the Lnfi P2P Marketplace — unprecedented milestones within the Lightning Network ecosystem.

As one of the pioneering projects focused on Taproot Assets in their nascent stage, we identified a significant infrastructure gap that made Taproot Assets largely unusable for everyday users. Lnfi recognized this challenge as a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the ecosystem.

Understanding the limitations of merely providing a trading platform, we concluded that the growth of the Lightning Network and Taproot Assets demanded something more transformative. This led us to embrace DeFi as a key focus area.

After extensive brainstorming, we rebranded NostrAssets as Lnfi (LightningFi) Network, aiming to reconstruct DeFi on the Lightning Network by bringing Web3 and tokenization to it. Unlike traditional DeFi on other blockchains, the Lightning Network requires a tailored approach, as its unique dynamics necessitate distinct construction methods to achieve similarly impactful outcomes.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

In the past year, we have introduced two core products:

LN Node was launched to revolutionize how we think about self-custodial Lightning Nodes, transforming them into powerful, profit-generating mining tools. This innovation kicks the status quo to the curb and redefines what’s possible in the Lightning ecosystem! With Channel Mining, LN Node users can now earn Lnfi incentives while contributing channel liquidity to the ecosystem — all without risking their Bitcoin, as it remains securely self-custodial on the Bitcoin mainnet. The excitement continues as we develop future versions that will be packed with even more features and functions to promote active channels, enhance liquidity flows, and deliver profitability for LN Node owners.

LN Exchange launched as the first order book exchange on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, but its impact extends far beyond being a mere trading platform. It plays a crucial role in addressing the inherent challenges of routing and liquidity in the Lightning Network, paving the way for Taproot Assets and DeFi to flourish.

Routing and liquidity issues are interconnected in the Lightning Network, particularly for new assets like Taproot Assets.

With LN Exchange as the Liquidity Layer, Lightning Network can facilitate atomic cross-asset settlement for any TWO assets. By utilizing an order book model, LN Exchange effectively matches buyers and sellers, establishing efficient routing for asset movement across the network, and preventing transactions from stalling in underfunded channels.

Besides these two core products, Lnfi has also introduced other ecosystem tools that are essential for the full lifecycle of a token:

• ISSUE: Issuance of Taproot Assets.
• LN STARTER: Launchpool and launchpad campaigns.
• AIRDROP: Verify participant’s wallet eligibility & distribute tokens to Nostr Addresses.
• FLASH ACCOUNT: Easy onboarding with Lightning Address binded to one’s X’s handle.
• And others…

OUR LIGHTNING PUSH

LN Ecosystem and LN Alliance

The LN Ecosystem and LN Alliance initiatives were established to drive widespread Lightning Network adoption and promote Lightning Node ownership. The LN Ecosystem highlights innovative projects building on Bitcoin, Lightning, and Nostr, while the LN Alliance showcases key partners working with Lnfi to accelerate adoption and growth.

Lightning2049 — Main Event

The Lightning2049 event, held as a premier side event during Token2049 Singapore, was co-organized by Lnfi Network, Bitdevs SG, HashKey Capital, and Waterdrip Capital. Attracting over 1,200 interested attendees, the event underscored the global excitement around Lightning Network innovation, with turnout exceeding venue capacity.

Featuring top speakers from leading Lightning projects, Lightning2049 highlighted the power of community in advancing the network. Panels explored themes of Growth & Adoption, Technological Advancements, and Investment Opportunities, emphasizing collaboration to drive the Lightning Network forward. An event recap can be found here.

Lightning2049 — Happy Hour and Flash Account

One of the most exhilarating moments came with the introduction of Flash Account during our early demo at Lightning2049 Happy Hour. Participants were among the first to experience stablecoin payments on the Lightning Network, buying drinks and food at a Lightning-enabled bar in Singapore.

Notably, weeks later, we elevated Flash Account by adding support for other Taproot Assets, such as BURGER, allowing payments to any Lightning merchant. This is a game-changer for Taproot Assets, as they will have direct payment use cases right from the start — something many tokens on other blockchains still lack even after years of development! This positions Taproot Assets uniquely in the market, opening up a significant opportunity for their adoption and utility as the ecosystem expands.

ROADMAP FOR 2025

We are excited to share our updated roadmap, reflecting the evolving landscape and our continuous commitment to innovation in the Lightning and Taproot ecosystems.

1. LN Exchange V1
Since September, we launched alpha versions of spot and perpetual trading for testing, receiving invaluable feedback from our community. This has created an effective internal feedback loop that is driving further improvements and optimizations.

2. Taproot Assets on Lightning
With the anticipated release of a stable version of the Taproot Assets Daemon, we’re fully committed to supporting Taproot Assets throughout our platform. This includes enabling Taproot Channel creation with LN Nodes and offering the capability to issue Taproot Assets at the earliest opportunity.

3. LN Node V2
A major upgrade to LN Node is underway, featuring a comprehensive Management Hub that allows users to manage their Lightning Nodes with minimal clicks. We’re also working on extending Flash Account support for LN Node holders, enabling users to issue Lightning Addresses linked to others’ X (Twitter) handles. This feature could open up new business use cases and monetization avenues.

4. LN Exchange V2
Based on the feedback received, we’re preparing a major UI/UX upgrade to enhance user experience on LN Exchange. Our Referral System will launch to reward multi-tier referrers, incentivizing new user onboarding. More exciting features will be introduced in our official main launch, further solidifying LN Exchange as the liquidity layer for Taproot Assets.

CLOSING MESSAGE FROM LNFI TEAM

In conclusion, we are thrilled to witness the vibrant growth of communities within Lnfi, with early pioneers like the NOSTR and BURGER communities leading the way. As Taproot Assets and the Lightning Network continue to mature, we are eager to cultivate even more dynamic communities and welcome passionate individuals who share our vision for this ecosystem.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community for its unwavering support and invaluable feedback. Your insights have been the foundation of our drive to continually improve and deliver the best for the ecosystem. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey! Together, we are building an exciting future and unlocking the limitless potential of Lightning!