BOLT Standards
What does BOLT mean?
BOLT means "Basis of Lightning Technology". It is the set of technical specifications that define how Lightning Network works in a standard and interoperable way.
BOLTs are technical documents that establish the protocols, message formats, and procedures that all Lightning nodes must follow to communicate with each other. Without these standards, each Lightning implementation would be incompatible with the others.
Complete list of BOLT specifications
BOLT 1: Base Protocol
Description: Defines the fundamentals of the Lightning protocol, including connection establishment, message types, and the communication format between nodes.
Purpose: Establishes the foundation upon which all other BOLT specifications are built.
BOLT 2: Peer Protocol for Channel Management
Description: Specifies how nodes establish and manage payment channels between peers.
Purpose: Defines the protocol for opening, closing, and maintaining payment channels securely.
BOLT 3: Bitcoin Transaction and Script Formats
Description: Defines the Bitcoin transaction and script formats used in Lightning Network.
Purpose: Establishes how on-chain transactions that support Lightning channels are structured.
BOLT 4: Onion Routing Protocol
Description: Specifies the onion routing protocol that allows sending payments through multiple nodes.
Purpose: Allows payments to travel through the network without revealing the complete route, improving privacy.
BOLT 5: Recommendations for On-chain Transaction Handling
Description: Provides recommendations for handling on-chain transactions in Lightning Network.
Purpose: Establishes best practices for managing transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain.
BOLT 7: P2P Node and Channel Discovery
Description: Defines how nodes discover other nodes and channels on the Lightning network.
Purpose: Allows nodes to find payment routes and connect with each other.
BOLT 8: Encrypted and Authenticated Transport
Description: Specifies the encrypted and authenticated transport protocol between Lightning nodes.
Purpose: Ensures that all communications between nodes are secure and private.
BOLT 9: Assigned Feature Flags
Description: Defines the assigned feature flags for different protocol functionalities.
Purpose: Allows nodes to negotiate which features they mutually support.
BOLT 10: DNS Bootstrap and Assisted Node Location
Description: Specifies how nodes can discover each other using DNS and other assisted location methods.
Purpose: Facilitates the bootstrap process for new nodes on the network.
BOLT 11: Invoice Protocol for Lightning Payments
Description: Defines the invoice format used to request payments on Lightning Network.
Purpose: Establishes a standard for creating and processing payment requests in an interoperable way.
BOLT 12: Offers Protocol
Description: Defines the offers protocol that allows creating more flexible payment requests than BOLT 11 invoices.
Purpose: Allows creating payment offers that can be modified and reused.
Importance of BOLT standards
BOLT standards are essential for Lightning Network because:
- Interoperability: They allow different Lightning implementations (such as LND, Core Lightning, Eclair) to work together.
- Security: They establish proven cryptographic and security protocols.
- Innovation: They provide a solid foundation upon which to build new functionalities.
- Adoption: They facilitate adoption by having clear and documented specifications.
Each BOLT is maintained by the Lightning community and can evolve over time to include new features and security improvements.