How To Operate A Profitable Lightning NODE in Bitcoin
Lightning Network node operators can make a small amount of BTC by charging a fee to execute transactions over their Lightning channels. According to Alex Bosworth of Lightning Labs in February 2019, a single Lightning node might, for example, route $10,000 worth of transactions per month and earn $25 as a result (depending on network activity).
You must pass transactions from other Lightning nodes via your node and charge a fee in order to run a lucrative Lightning node (it should be noted that, even though Lightning nodes collect fees, these tend to be much smaller than the fees for on-chain BTC transactions). After creating channels with other nodes and funding your Lightning node, make sure it is operational. To do this, pay bitcoin to the node wallet address. After that, you may start using the network.
To be successful, you must set your node's charge at a level where it is low enough for the network to view you as efficient but high enough for you to make a profit. Lightning Nodes search for the most efficient method for processing transactions. You may utilize the default charge settings that come with some Lightning nodes to start and gauge your profitability.
Of course, making your node profitable first requires paying off any operating costs. This will include earning enough BTC at a specific price to cover your original hardware expenditure, time spent setting up the node, and any associated power bills. It will also involve covering your opportunity cost.
In the end, operating a Lightning Network node is probably not going to be a great way to make money. Even while it's feasible to make money, it's unlikely to do so in big sums at this stage of the network's development. However, for many people who decide to manage Lightning Network nodes, achieving financial success is not always the goal.
It's preferable not to conceive about operating a Lightning node as a method of generating money, or even of breaking even, as Reddit user dooglus stated in 2019. It's a method to benefit the network and pay relatively little in fees at the same time.
