Lightning Network Mean Channel Capacity
- 1M1M
- 3M3M
- 6M6M
- 1Y1Y
- ALLALL
- LinearLinear
- LogLog
About this metric
What it measures
Lightning Network Mean Channel Capacity divides the total BTC capacity of observed public channels by their number. The result, in BTC per channel, measures average channel funding rather than the balance available in either payment direction.
How to read it
A rising average means the observed channel set is more heavily funded per channel, through larger openings, small-channel closures or other changes in composition. The series rose from about 0.00478 BTC on January 26, 2018 to a recorded peak near 0.11497 BTC on December 28, 2025.
A few large channels can pull up the mean even when the typical channel stays small. Public channel capacity omits private channels and does not reveal directional balances or liquidity along a route. Compare with the median and channel count before treating a higher average as broader network growth.
- Frequency
- Daily (UTC 00:00)
- Asset
- BTC
- Category
- Lightning Network
- Type
- Single value
- Unit
- BTC
- Data since
- 2018-01-26
- Latest data
- 2026-10-27
- Data points
- 3,197
FAQ
How is mean Lightning channel capacity calculated?
Divide total observed public channel capacity in BTC by the number of those channels. Each channel contributes its capacity once to the numerator and one channel to the denominator.
Can mean channel capacity rise while total capacity falls?
Yes. If channel count falls proportionally faster than total capacity, the average rises. Closing many small channels can therefore increase the mean without adding funds to the network.
Does average channel capacity tell me how much I can send?
No. A payment needs sufficient liquidity in the right direction at every hop, and those balances are not shown by total channel funding. The network mean cannot quote the capacity of a specific payment route.
