Lightning Network capacity hit a new high this week as major exchanges put more Bitcoin into off-chain channels, boosting the network’s total liquidity and changing how users move BTC.
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Exchange Support Drives Capacity
According to reports, the Lightning Network’s public capacity climbed to about 5,606 BTC, with some trackers briefly showing a peak near 5,637 BTC. That is a clear uptick from earlier levels and marks the highest recorded total so far.
Exchanges including Binance and OKX have been named as contributors that added Bitcoin to Lightning channels, and other platforms such as Kraken and Bitfinex are expanding their support as well. These deposits are aimed at speeding up deposits and withdrawals and cutting fees for customers.
Network Activity Vs. Public Nodes
Based on reports, that increase in capacity has not been matched by a big rise in the number of public nodes or channels. Public node counts sit near 14,940, while public channels are roughly 48,678.
In other words, more Bitcoin is available inside the network, but the number of hands handling traffic has not jumped in the same way. Some of this extra liquidity is concentrated in larger, custodial channels run by exchanges, which can move big sums without creating many new public routes.
That makes on-chain metrics a bit harder to read. Transaction counts and on-chain fee savings do show real user benefits, even when the node graph looks stable.
A separate figure that shows real usage is the share of exchange traffic routed over Lightning. Based on reports, one exchange has routed around 15% of its Bitcoin transactions via Lightning rails after adopting Lightning integrations, pointing to meaningful operational changes at major platforms.
New Use Cases And Funding
Funding and protocol work are following capacity growth. Tether led a round that raised about $8 million for a startup focused on payments over Lightning, indicating interest in stablecoin flows on the network.
Announcing Taproot Assets v0.7, now with reusable addresses, a fully auditable asset supply, and larger, more reliable transactions.
With this release, we are laying the foundation for trillions of dollars to flow on bitcoin and Lightning.
Read more below. Upgrade today!
— Lightning Labs
(@lightning) December 16, 2025
Protocol upgrades — including work around Taproot-related asset handling and reliability improvements — are also being rolled out to support more varied payments and token types. These developments point to Lightning being used for things beyond tiny tips: remittances, merchant payments, and stablecoin transfers are being tested more widely.
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Market watchers say this mix of exchange liquidity, developer upgrades, and rising on-platform usage could make Lightning a more practical rail for everyday BTC movement.
Some critics warn that heavier reliance on custodial channels raises centralization risks and reduces the visibility of true peer-to-peer routing. Others note that improved user experience, lower costs, and faster finality are what ordinary users will notice first.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
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Marathon Digital Holdings has expanded its Bitcoin mining operations with the acquisition of a 200-megawatt data center in Texas for $87.3 million. This strategic step is taken at a time when the cryptocurrency industry is preparing for the coming bitcoin halving event, which should reduce mining rewards by half.
Strategic Acquisition in Texas
Marathon Digital Holdings has completed an acquisition deal with Applied Digital to buy a 200-megawatt Bitcoin mining facility based in Texas. This acquisition is set to bolster Marathon’s total bitcoin mining capacity to approximately 1.1 gigawatts. The transaction, valued at $87.3 million, is a cash deal, with Marathon utilizing its existing capital reserves. However, this growth is not only the extension in size of operations but also a shift in mining control, thus a majority of the capacity is now under Marathon’s direct order.
This acquisition will further strengthen Marathon’s total bitcoin mining capacity of nearly 1.1 gigawatts. It is a cash transaction worth $87.3 million, with Marathon using its current cash reserves.
The Texas facility is an important extension of Marathon’s portfolio, providing the company with the ability to spread its operations across numerous locations and continents. This geographical diversification and diversification are critical for reducing risks related to regional legislation, energy availability, and market fluctuation. The acquisition is expected to reduce Marathon’s cost per coin by approximately 20% at the site, highlighting the financial prudence behind the deal.
Preparing for the Bitcoin Halving
The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that reduces the reward for mining Bitcoin transactions by half. This event occurs approximately every four years and is a significant factor in Bitcoin’s economic model, influencing miners’ profitability. Marathon Digital’s acquisition and capacity expansion come at a crucial time as the industry anticipates the next halving event, expected in mid-April. The reduction in mining rewards necessitates increased efficiency and capacity for miners to maintain profitability.
Market’s strategic location and investment into new infrastructure represent the proactive attitude of this issue. Marathon highlights its strategy of enhancing its mining capacity and operational efficiencies as a means to counter the potential reduction in mining rewards post-halving. This foresight reflects Marathon’s resolute to sustain its operations and profitability in the cryptocurrency environment.
Marathon’s Competitive Edge
Marathon Digital Holdings has utilized recent expansions and strategic investments to consolidate its position as a leading player in the Bitcoin mining industry. Notwithstanding the trials brought by the so-called “crypto winter,” Marathon has managed to do better than most of its rivals many of whom filed for bankruptcy. The company’s resilience is due to strategic investments, operational efficiencies and the possibility to benefit from the market’s revival.
Marathon’s acquisition of that Texas mining center from Applied Digital indicates how the company is going for an aggressive growth strategy. This step is not only aimed at increasing the overall capacity of Marathon but also allowing it to strengthen the control over the mining process thus, making the business model more stable and predictable. With the upcoming halving event, the uptick in the mining capacity is important for Marathon, ensuring that the company stays competitive in the diminishing rewards landscape.
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The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
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