Kenya now has a Bitcoin Lightning Network node

Africa Free Routing, a group of Bitcoiners, has launched its third new node on the Bitcoin layer-2 solution, Lightning Network. The latest node went live in Nairobi, Kenya just before the end of July.

The details 

• The new node, KenyaFreeRouting, is the fourth Lightning node established by the group and the third in Africa.  
• In a social media post, the group stated that the node was launched to provide a means for Kenyans to make fast Bitcoin payments. 
• Data from Mempool shows that KenyaFreeRouting is the only active Lightning node in Kenya. 

Be smart 

• The Bitcoin Lightning Network is a layer two peer-to-peer payments solution built on the blockchain. It is a sidechain used to settle transactions outside of the main Bitcoin chain at a faster rate and lower fees. 
• Payments over the Bitcoin Lightning Network are typically more efficient when the nodes exist near the payer and the payee, hence the importance of setting up nodes locally. 

Zoom out 

• AfricaFreeRouting launched its first African-based Lightning Network node— NigeriaFreeRouting— in Lagos, Nigeria earlier this year. At the time of the launch, it was the only live setup in Nigeria. 
• Speaking on the importance of setting up a Lightning node locally, the node’s operator, Megasley, said: 

“If a Nigerian bitcoiner and a Nigerian retailer are both connected to a [Lightning] node in Nigeria, it will give them the best lightning experience.” 

• The South African retail giant Pick n Pay recently partnered with CryptoConvert to accept lightning-powered Bitcoin payments across all its stores. The solution allows South African shoppers to pay for retail grocery items through their Lightning wallets linked to CryptoConvert’s mobile application.