Because Lightning Network works precisely in a specific manner, you will discover that cheap lighting network transaction is a total lie. Still, you must do your research to learn that and think critically about the shortcomings of such vaporware.
Lightning requires users and node operators where node operators do all the routing and users pay all of the fees, and for a small user, it will be harder and harder economically to compete.
But for nodes operators to gain the system and have an income source, they also need that on-chain transaction fee to go high to charge for providing liquidity. If transactions fees are under $1, the Lightning network operator with large amounts of Bitcoin will provide liquidity almost for free, but once on-chain transaction fees increase, the game changes in favor of the node operator.
If on-chain transactions fees are, let's say, $10 at that point, a node operator can increase the base fee plus the routing amount in each transaction to the fact that Lightning network transactions will become even more expensive than on-chain. The excuse will be that you are paying as high as on-chain because your UXTO is instant, and that instant settlement deserves a premium.
Node operators that provide liquidity are there for the whole purpose of gaining an income by routing payments. Once transactions on-chain get expensive, they can justify a higher fee and higher than ever fee for Lightning.
Supernodes will appear because the more liquidity you have, the more you want to concentrate that same liquidity into a single point. Well-connected nodes will open super nodes between each other. The small operators will have a hard time competing because it will be too expensive to open and close channels to keep them well balanced.
Lightning requires that operators have a fair knowledge of computers, more or less a computer science degree, making it harder for regular users to run nodes. The result will be that only corporations will run routing nodes while normal users only nodes with no routing capabilities. Fortunately, this can change. The only thing needed is for developers to develop user-friendly mobile wallets.
Supernodes can centralize the network, and this will be a point where regulators can enforce regulation because large node operators will be already invested and would want their investment to pay dividends. They will comply just like fiat to crypto exchanges are doing already. You and I already know exchanges like Coinbase, Gemini, and many others, give your information to the government Lightning nodes will do the same.
If the network gets centralized enough, node operators could make classified transactions by type. One will pay more fees than other transactions—something like roaming charges on mobile phone services today. Roaming transactions will go outside a particular node operator or a transaction that goes through many nodes. Roaming transactions could carry heavy regulation and fees, and you can bet 0.01 BTC will be considered significant in the future, and you will be charged a handsome price for it.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin Cash will be processing transactions for under one penny, and I think that eventually, people will understand that such hefty fees are an issue or that will be an issue. So they will move on to other altcoins. That's why websites like read.cash will have a more significant usage where people in the future will read those in the past who were writing their ideas today to transport that knowledge into the future. Read.cash could become a source of information.
You don't need to write predictions. You need to register your ideas and leave them for future readers. They will be the ones that will judge you because the future at the end of the day is the unknown. Still, we all can use imagination to try to see it just before it happens. Still, I think that eventually, people will leave the high transaction fees network for something with fewer fees, and even when the rich are buying Bitcoin today and not altcoins, they will be forced to adapt, or they will sink together with the old world.
The crypto space is the place where ideas never die. If you think about giving up on Bitcoin Cash one day, remember that is the idea of a peer-to-peer currency for the whole world and not only those who can afford it. The price could go down thanks to propaganda and market manipulation, but as long as people like and love the idea of peer-to-peer currency for all rich and poor, Bitcoin Cash will continue.
I would like to also give thanks to those who so far have tipped me, I thank you, and I will thank you even more because you are giving me your time by reading my articles. I am humbled by it and will try to write my honest opinions and ideas. I write for the future and future holders but remember that as you are the present, you will be the future.
Thank you very much. God bless you all.
