Binance working to enable Bitcoin lightning network Binance working to enable Bitcoin lightning network
Blockchain analytical firm Glassnode reported that Bitcoin was "experiencing extremely high demand for blockspace."
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Updated: Aug. 4, 2023 at 3:22 pm UTC
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Binance is working to enable Bitcoin (BTC) lightning network withdrawals for its users after experiencing issues due to the volume of pending transactions.
In a May 8 Twitter thread, the exchange explained that it had to temporarily pause BTC withdrawals due to the large volume of pending transactions. It continued that there were large volumes of BTC withdrawal transactions from the exchange that were yet to be processed.
According to Binance, the recent surge in BTC gas fees caused this failure. However, it said it would replace pending transactions with higher fees so mining pools could process them.
The exchange eventually reopened BTC withdrawals after about 2 hours, saying that it had increased the transaction fees.
“To prevent a similar recurrence in the future, our fees have been adjusted. We will continue to monitor on-chain activity and adjust accordingly if needed,” it added.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Binance has paused BTC withdrawals. The exchange had earlier paused withdrawals on May 7 for about one hour. At the time, it cited network congestion issues.
There have also been instances where Binance paused withdrawals and deposits for other digital assets due to technical issues on the exchange. In December 2022, the exchange paused USDC withdrawals because the exchange was conducting a token swap involving the Circle-backed stablecoin.
BTC network fees surge
Bitcoin transaction fees have risen significantly in the last few months and are currently around $10 after rising to as high as $26 a few hours ago. There are also over 424,000 unconfirmed transactions on the network as of press time.
While $10 might seem low, it is relatively high, given that Bitcoin transaction fees were around $1 about six months ago. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the rise in transaction fees is a sign of a bull market.
Blockchain analytical firm Glassnode reported that the network was “experiencing extremely high demand for blockspace driven by BRC-20 tokens, utilizing text-based inscriptions, and ordinals.”
Glassnode added that the average fee paid per block has risen to 2.9 BTC — nearly as high as past bull peaks.
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Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
USD Coin
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USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin fully backed by the US dollar and developed by the CENTRE consortium.
Binance
Binance is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for trading more than 100 cryptocurrencies.
Changpeng Zhao, popularly known as “CZ,” is a notable figure in the cryptocurrency world, primarily for founding and leading Binance, the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
