Acinq has just announced the release of Eclair 0.4.2 , its implementation of the Lightning Network . This new version fixes some bugs and introduces several improvements.
It thus opens up new possibilities for plugin developers, integrates Keysend, which allows payment to be sent to a node from its ID without this node having to generate a payment request (push transaction), and supports, As an experiment, anchor outputs * allowing channel participants to increase the costs of an engagement transaction when it is broadcast.
In summary:
Each time the balance of a channel is modified, an undisclosed transaction is created and signed by the participants. This transaction is only broadcast if one party decides to unilaterally close the channel (for example because the other party no longer responds). As the on-chain resolution of such a transaction can occur a long time after its creation, the costs initially foreseen are not always well adjusted to the situation of the "mempool" which can prevent the transaction from being confirmed before the expiration. deadlines and the other party could take the opportunity to steal the funds by disseminating an obsolete report of the balance. Anchor outputs solve this problem, allowing participants to increase the costs of an engagement transaction when it is broadcast.
