Bitcoin\u2019s layer 2 Lightning Network has seen an estimated 1,212% growth in two years, with around 6.6 million routed transactions in August, a significant jump compared to August 2021\u2019s 503,000 transitions, according to data from the Bitcoin (BTC<\/a>)-only exchange River. <\/p>\n In an Oct. 10 report<\/a>, River research analyst Sam Wouters explained the jump in routed transactions \u2014 which use more than two nodes to facilitate a transfer \u2014 came despite a 44% fall in Bitcoin\u2019s price and considerably less online search interest.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Nobody is using Lightning\u2019 should now be a dead meme,\u201d Wouters said<\/a> in an Oct. 10 follow-up X (Twitter) post, taking a shot at Lightning critics.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody is using Lightning\u201d should now be a dead meme.<\/p>\n Launching a new #Bitcoin<\/a> report from @River<\/a>: How the Lightning Network grew by 1212% in 2 years \u26a1<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to pay attention to the incredible work of so many people in the space Link below in the pic.twitter.com\/FuGLwGHR4R<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sam Wouters (@SDWouters) October 10, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n River\u2019s 6.6 million figure for Lightning<\/a> routed transactions is a lower-bound estimate \u2014 the smallest possible value it could assess. The firm also sourced August 2021\u2019s 503,000 figure from a 2021 study<\/a> by K33, formerly Arcane Research and added it could not assess private Lightning transactions or those between only two participants.<\/p>\n $78.2 million in transaction volume was also processed on Lightning in August 2023, marking a 546% increase<\/a> from August 2021\u2019s $12.1 million figure sourced by K33. Wouters noted that Lightning is now processing at least 47% of Bitcoin\u2019s on-chain transactions.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will be an interesting metric to monitor,\u201d he added. \u201cIt is an indicator of Bitcoin becoming more of a medium of exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n In August 2023, the average Lightning transaction size was around 44,700 satoshis<\/a> or $11.84. River estimated between 279,000 and 1.1 million Lightning users were active in September.<\/p>\n The firm attributed 27% of transaction growth to the gaming, social media tipping and streaming sectors.<\/p>\n Related: <\/em><\/strong>Coinbase to integrate Bitcoin Lightning Network: CEO Brian Armstrong <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n River said the Lightning payments success rate was 99.7% on its platform in August 2023 across 308,000 transactions. The main reason for failure occurs when no payment route can be found that has enough liquidity to facilitate the transfer.<\/p>\n River\u2019s data set consisted of 2.5 million transactions. The nodes in River\u2019s data set represent 29% of all the capacity on the network<\/a> and 10% of payment channels. <\/p>\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/s3.cointelegraph.com\/uploads\/2023-10\/8a0b120d-9d81-4dd1-b140-571b47ae8b66.png\")