The Lightning Network is a technology on top of the base blockchain for Bitcoin. It uses a micropayment channel in order to scale the capabilities of the blockchain in order to conduct transactions. The network assists in conducting transactions since it moves them away from the main blockchain. Transactions inside it are instant and are expected to assist Bitcoin's daily use. Additionally, the lightning network can be used for off chain transactions, such as atomic swaps, which enable one cryptocurrency to be traded for another without involving an intermediary. The white paper for the lightning network was published in 2016. Joseph Poon and Thaddeus Dryja published the white paper in 2016. The network was released live on January 18, 2018.