# What is the bitcoin lightning network? Lightning network is a distributed network that enables instant payment across the participant network through the smart contract function, while taking advantage of the blockchain feature to eliminate the risk of hosting funds to third parties. Mainly used for instant, high-volume micropayments. In essence, it is to set up another channel outside the bitcoin main chain, where users' digital currency can make quick payments, because the lightning network is a decentralized architecture, which is fundamentally different from traditional exchanges. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.tokenpocket.pro/en/wallet-faq-en/btc-wallet/what-is-the-bitcoin-lightning-network.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.