Understanding the Issue with LND Routing Hints

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 90 views

Bug: LND only recommends one routing hint to receive payments (+ has issues receiving on ACINQ channel)

Understanding the Issue with LND Routing Hints

When it comes to receiving payments on the Lightning Network, having multiple routing hints can be beneficial in ensuring that funds are delivered efficiently. However, a bug in the LND implementation only recommends one routing hint, which can lead to issues in receiving payments, especially when using an ACINQ channel with plenty of incoming liquidity.

The Importance of Multiple Routing Hints

In the context of the Lightning Network, routing hints are used to determine the best path for a payment to be sent. By specifying multiple routing hints, users can increase the chances of successful payment delivery, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues. This is particularly important for users who rely on the Lightning Network for their business or personal transactions.

The Current Limitation in LND

Unfortunately, the current implementation of LND only recommends one routing hint, which can lead to issues in receiving payments. This limitation is not unique to LND, as other implementations, such as LDK, can specify up to three unique counterparties. However, the LND team has confirmed that users can manually specify multiple routing hints, which can serve as a partial workaround for this issue.

The Issue with ACINQ Channels

One of the most puzzling aspects of this issue is the difficulty in receiving payments on ACINQ channels, even when there is plenty of incoming liquidity. ACINQ channels are designed to provide a high level of liquidity and efficiency, making them an attractive option for users who need to send and receive large amounts of funds. However, the current limitation in LND can lead to issues in receiving payments on these channels, which can be frustrating for users who rely on them.

Contacting the LND Team

In an effort to resolve this issue, I contacted the LND team to report the problem and seek their assistance. However, so far, there has been no mention of a bug or any plans to address this issue. While the LND team has confirmed that users can manually specify multiple routing hints, this is not a long-term solution and does not address the underlying issue.

A Partial Workaround

While the LND team has not acknowledged a bug, adding multiple routing hints can serve as a partial workaround for this issue. By specifying multiple routing hints, users can increase the chances of successful payment delivery, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues. However, this is not a substitute for a proper fix, and users should continue to report this issue to the LND team.

The Need for a Proper Fix

The current limitation in LND only recommending one routing hint is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. By specifying multiple routing hints, users can increase the chances of successful payment delivery, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues. A proper fix would involve updating the LND implementation to recommend multiple routing hints, which would provide a more efficient and reliable payment experience for users.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the bug in LND only recommending one routing hint is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. While adding multiple routing hints can serve as a partial workaround, a proper fix is necessary to provide a more efficient and reliable payment experience for users. By working together, the Lightning Network community can ensure that users have access to the best possible payment experience, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues.

Recommendations for the LND Team

Based on the information provided, the LND team should consider the following recommendations:

Update the LND implementation to recommend multiple routing hints, which would provide a more efficient and reliable payment experience for users.
Provide clear guidance on how to manually specify multiple routing hints, which would help users work around the current limitation.
Investigate the issue with ACINQ channels and provide a solution to ensure that users can receive payments efficiently, even when there is plenty of incoming liquidity.

Recommendations for Users

Based on the information provided, users should consider the following recommendations:

Add multiple routing hints to increase the chances of successful payment delivery, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues.
Report any issues with receiving payments on ACINQ channels to the LND team, which would help to identify and resolve the problem.
Continue to monitor the situation and provide feedback to the LND team, which would help to ensure that the issue is addressed promptly.
Q&A: Bug in LND only recommends one routing hint to receive payments (+ has issues receiving on ACINQ channel)

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions related to the bug in LND only recommending one routing hint to receive payments, as well as the issues with receiving payments on ACINQ channels.

Q: What is the bug in LND?

A: The bug in LND only recommends one routing hint, which can lead to issues in receiving payments, especially when using an ACINQ channel with plenty of incoming liquidity.

Q: Why is this a problem?

A: This is a problem because it can lead to issues in receiving payments, even when there is plenty of incoming liquidity. This can be frustrating for users who rely on the Lightning Network for their business or personal transactions.

Q: Can I manually specify multiple routing hints?

A: Yes, the LND team has confirmed that users can manually specify multiple routing hints, which can serve as a partial workaround for this issue.

Q: Why can't LND recommend multiple routing hints like LDK?

A: The LND team has not provided a clear explanation for why they only recommend one routing hint. However, it is possible that this is a design choice or a limitation in the current implementation.

Q: What is the issue with ACINQ channels?

A: One of the most puzzling aspects of this issue is the difficulty in receiving payments on ACINQ channels, even when there is plenty of incoming liquidity. ACINQ channels are designed to provide a high level of liquidity and efficiency, making them an attractive option for users who need to send and receive large amounts of funds.

Q: Have you contacted the LND team about this issue?

A: Yes, I have contacted the LND team to report the problem and seek their assistance. However, so far, there has been no mention of a bug or any plans to address this issue.

Q: What can I do to work around this issue?

A: One possible workaround is to add multiple routing hints, which can increase the chances of successful payment delivery, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues.

Q: Is this a bug or a feature?

A: The LND team has not acknowledged a bug, but it is clear that this is a limitation in the current implementation. Whether this is a bug or a feature is a matter of interpretation, but it is clear that it needs to be addressed.

Q: What is the impact of this issue on the Lightning Network?

A: The impact of this issue on the Lightning Network is significant, as it can lead to issues in receiving payments, even when there is plenty of incoming liquidity. This can be frustrating for users who rely on the Lightning Network for their business or personal transactions.

Q: What can the Lightning Network community do to help address this issue?

A: The Lightning Network community can help address this issue by reporting any issues with receiving payments on ACINQ channels to the LND team, providing feedback on the current implementation, and advocating for a proper fix.

Q: What is the next step in addressing this issue?

A: The next step in addressing this issue is for the LND team to acknowledge the problem and provide a plan to address it. This could involve updating the LND implementation to recommend multiple routing hints, providing clear guidance on how to manually specify multiple routing hints, and investigating the issue with ACINQ channels.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the bug in LND only recommending one routing hint is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. By working together, the Lightning Network community can ensure that users have access to the best possible payment experience, even in cases where there are network congestion or other issues.