Today, I'd like to share some thoughts on the current state of the Lightning Network.

Why? I've just noticed that the capacity is increasing again, and it appears we will soon reach all-time highs. While channel counts have stabilized and are not yet increasing, I wonder if this development is a positive sign or a cause for concern due to the decreasing or stabilizing number of channels. What do you think? A bit less decentralized, less people using it, but better overall capacity? here is a screenshot from mempool.space (I'm ignoring all those spikes in the chart)

In my opinion, the total capacity is also an important metric, indicating greater liquidity and confidence in the system's functionality. Overall, I believe the situation isn't as negative as some might think. Why? Let's consider the number of nodes as well, where the picture becomes clearer. Since its inception, there has been a steady upward trend in node numbers; however, during the latest bear market, the number of nodes began to decline, but not really much if you look at the while picture. I view this period more as a stability phase rather than an indication of a changing trend.

The Lightning Network is here to stay for the long term. What are your thoughts on this? I don't see other L2 solutions having much success.