As some of you know, Zeus, Blixt, Breez and Lightning.Pub (ShockWallet) are "light" LN nodes, using Neutrino to sync/read the blocks necessary for the LND node backend. Is also valid if you run a desktop LND node in neutrino mode (like Lightning.Pub or other standalone LND instance) - be careful which neutrino peers you set in your config.
These LN nodes are quite powerful if you know how to use them properly, for both usage, onchain and LN. More powerful than you can imagine. And I am not joking or bullshiting you.
I was monitoring for a while the support chat groups for Zeus and Blixt and I notice some new users behavior:
- not reading the FAQ/documentation/guides. This should be the first step for all new users before they start using any Bitcoin app.
- misconception that these mobile nodes MUST work same as a dumb custodial account (instant sync)
- lack of understanding of how syncing works or even LN
- using all kind of shity networks and devices and then complain why the app is not responding well
So I would like to present some aspects, warnings, tips and how to solve these issues by YOURSELF.
1. Documentation
I wrote several guides and FAQ pages for Zeus and Blixt. Please read them, are very useful and with a lot of details and steps you can do to fix YOUR problems.
- Blixt FAQ page EN | Blixt FAQ page ES | Blixt Guides page EN | Blixt Guides page ES | Blixt DC Guide
- Zeus DC Guide | Zeus DC Advanced Guide | Zeus FAQ docs
Please read this specific FAQ entry where I explained step by step what you should do: https://blixtwallet.github.io/faq#no-sync .
2. Neutrino
Please understand how Neutrino sync works and why your connection to a neutrino peer could be banned, disconnected, slow latency etc.
Neutrino peer banning is a mechanism within the Neutrino protocol, used by Bitcoin full nodes and Lightning Network (LND) nodes, to disconnect and block malicious or unreliable peers from connecting to the node. A peer is banned when it exceeds a predefined ban threshold of bad behavior, which can include providing incorrect or outdated channel graph data or other forms of misbehavior, leading to its temporary or permanent blacklisting.
A. How it Works
- Behavior Monitoring: Neutrino nodes monitor the behavior of connected peers.
- Ban Score Threshold: Each peer is assigned a "ban score" that increases with misbehavior.
- Threshold Exceeded: When a peer's ban score exceeds a configurable threshold (e.g., banthreshold), the node disconnects and bans them.
- Ban Duration: The ban can be a temporary suspension or a more permanent disconnection.
B. Why Peers are Banned
- Fraudulent Behavior: Peers may be banned for attempting to defraud the node by providing incorrect information.
- Outdated Data: A peer that provides outdated or inaccurate channel graph data can be banned, as this can disrupt a node's understanding of the network state.
- Sync Issues: Peers that fail to sync data correctly or whose data is significantly divergent from the node's own data are prime candidates for banning.
C. Benefits
- Network Security: Banning bad actors protects the node from malicious data, ensuring the integrity of the network state.
- Bandwidth Management: By removing unreliable peers, the node conserves bandwidth and resources, especially for pruned nodes that rely on peers for data.
- Node Stability: Banning misbehaving peers helps maintain the stability and reliability of the node's operation
3. Additional mention
Also for those using these mobile nodes mostly for onchain transactions, keep in mind that sync is the key. An onchain tx will not appear instantly in your txs log like on other wallet apps. Why? Because this is how neutrino works, it will display your tx ONLY after the 1st block confirmation. So don't freak out that your tx is never get out. Just wait patiently until the 1st next block is mined with your tx.
But keep in mind: always before doing any onchain tx, be sure you are well synced to the chain. You can check that easily in Blixt and Zeus by going to "Node info" status. If you are using it more often, you can also put the app in "Persistent mode" and that will keep the LND service always active and synced well.
Another aspect: even if you do not use very often these apps, just sporadically once per week, open them more often and leave them sync. That will do 2 things: update to the chain faster, and update to the LN graph (better routes).
I hope this mini guide will help you understand how these nodes works. Ask me anything about them and I will try to answer your questions as much as I know in details.
Thank you for your attention for this matter
createwalletbefore it finishes (as doing so unintentionally triggers a full block by block rescan)