Lightning Network Graph Visualization

An interactive web-based visualization of the Lightning Network, updated daily, developed by Bitcoin Data Labs. Explore Lightning Network nodes and channels through an intuitive interface with advanced filtering, bridge analysis, and real-time statistics.

🔗 Live Demo

Features

• Interactive Graph Visualization: Pan, zoom, and click on nodes/edges to explore the network.
• Multiple Dataset Views: Filter by channel capacity:
  • Complete Network (all channels)
  • Freeway Network (>1 BTC channels)
  • Highway Network (>5M sats channels)
• Advanced Filtering:
  • Pleb Rank: Filter nodes by top N rankings.
  • Node Bridges: Identify critical bridge nodes and network bottlenecks.
  • Channel Bridges: Highlight bridge channels connecting network clusters.
• Dynamic Force-Directed Layout: Real-time graph layout with user controls.
• Search Functionality: Find nodes by name or alias.
• Detailed Information Panels: View node and channel details in the sidebar.
• Real-time Statistics: Live node/channel counts and total network capacity.
• Responsive Design: Optimized for desktop and mobile devices.

How to Use

1. Select a Dataset

On the main page, choose from the available datasets:

• Complete Network (gall.json): All channels (≈12,000+ nodes, 40,000+ channels).
• Freeway Network (gfree.json): High-capacity channels (>1 BTC).
• Highway Network (ghigh.json): Medium-capacity channels (>5M sats).

2. Navigate the Graph

• Pan: Click and drag to move around the graph.
• Zoom: Use the mouse wheel or zoom controls.
• Reset: Click Reset to return to the default view.
• Search: Type in the search box to find nodes by name/alias.

3. Apply Filters

Use the filters panel to focus on specific network structures:

• Pleb Rank (Top N):

  • Select All or restrict to top N ranked nodes.

• Node Bridges:

  • Show All Nodes: Default view.
  • Critical Bridge Only: Show only nodes whose removal would disconnect parts of the network.
  • Any Bridge Only: Show nodes that act as bridges between clusters.

• Channel Bridges:

  • Show All Channels: Default view.
  • Bridge Channels Only: Show channels that connect different parts of the graph.

Click Apply Filters to update the view, or Clear to reset filters.

4. Explore Node and Channel Details

• Hover over nodes/edges to see quick tooltips.
• Click a node to view detailed node information (capacity, degree, connections, etc.) in the Node Information panel.
• Click a channel (edge) to view detailed channel information in the Channel Information panel.

5. Understand the Visualization

• Node Colors: Represent different network clusters/communities.
• Node Size: Proportional to the number of channels (larger = more connected).
• Edge Width: Proportional to channel capacity (thicker = higher capacity).
• Statistics Panel: Top panel shows real-time metrics such as:
  • Total nodes
  • Total channels
  • Aggregate capacity

Tech Stack

• Backend / Data Processing: Python (for statistics and network analysis).
• Frontend: JavaScript.
• Graph Rendering: Sigma.js.
• Data Format: JSON graph data, updated regularly.

Development

For detailed technical information, including data formats, architecture, and how to extend or contribute, see:

• DEVELOPER_GUIDE.md

Citation

If you find this visualization helpful in your research or work, please cite:

@misc{ln-graph-viz,
  author = {Saurabh Kumar and Bitcoin Data Labs},
  title = {Lightning Network Graph Visualization},
  year = {2025},
  publisher = {GitHub},
  url = {https://github.com/sorukumar/ln-graph-viz}
}

## License

This project is licensed under the BSD 3-Clause License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details.