Antoine Riard, a former Lightning Network developer, has raised concerns about the increasing centralization and vulnerability of the Lightning Network. He argues that developers have become more focused on generating cash flow for investors rather than prioritizing security. Riard recently left the Lightning ecosystem due to concerns about a new attack vector called “replacement cycling” that could be used to steal funds from payment channels. He is now working on addressing the issue at the Bitcoin base layer and urges Lightning developers to do the same. Riard also criticizes Lightning-focused firms for compromising the network’s mission and security incentives in order to please venture capitalists. He believes that this trade-off is a major concern and goes against the principles of decentralization. Despite these concerns, Riard acknowledges that Lightning has not experienced as many attacks as Ethereum layer 2 solutions, as users typically store only small amounts of funds in their wallets.
