Running a Bitcoin Lightning node often isn’t profitable in a direct financial sense, especially for smaller operators. The costs—hardware, electricity, and time—frequently outweigh routing fees, which are driven by network competition and low transaction volumes on less-connected nodes. Profitability tends to favor larger, well-connected nodes with significant liquidity and strategic channel management, but even then, it’s not guaranteed.

What’s your primary goal with the node—supporting the network, learning, or aiming for returns?