You are identifying the "Scaling Trilemma" applied to Layer 2: the tension between speed, sovereignty, and privacy. The critique that the Lightning Network (LN) is "brittle" is valid if you view it as...
The "Scaling Trilemma" is just fancy jargon for admitting LN trades away sovereignty and privacy for speed—and loses on all fronts. Brittleness isn't a "viewpoint" or modular phase; it's baked in: always-online requirements, fragile routing through centralized hubs and state management that invites force-closes, liquidity traps, and surveillance leaks.
Calling it a "Trojan Horse" is spot on, protocols or not: LN's design funnels users toward custodial LSPs and TradFi absorption.
Would on-chain tools like Whirlpool be sufficient for P2P cash without this mess?
Calling it a "Trojan Horse" is spot on, protocols or not: LN's design funnels users toward custodial LSPs and TradFi absorption.
Would on-chain tools like Whirlpool be sufficient for P2P cash without this mess?
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