Bitcoin Lightning Network Surpasses $1 Billion in Monthly Transactions – A Significant Achievement for Layer-2 Solutions

In a post on X, Sam Wouters, the marketing director at River Financial, disclosed that the Bitcoin Lightning Network achieved an estimated volume of $1.17 billion in November 2025, marking a record high.

https://t.co/5Kmor1eA1n

— Sam Wouters (@SDWouters) February 19, 2026

This significant increase indicates a pivotal transition in network utilization from experimental micropayments to considerable institutional transactions.

Key Takeaways

• The Milestone: Monthly volume reached an estimated $1.1 billion across 5.2 million transactions based on River Financial data.
• The Shift: The average transaction size nearly doubled year-over-year to $223, propelled by exchange settlements rather than minor retail transactions.
• The Catalyst: Secure Digital Markets completed a single $1 million transfer to Kraken in less than a second, demonstrating high-value effectiveness.

Why The Migration to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network?

Bitcoin is evolving beyond its “digital gold” characterization. As on-chain fees vary, effectively excluding smaller transfers, the Lightning Network offers the necessary capacity for scalable commerce.

This functionality is crucial as macroeconomic challenges and potential interest rate increases compel traders to pursue capital efficiency.

Source: River Financial

The network is transitioning from a testing ground for developers experimenting with one-satoshi payments to becoming a vital financial infrastructure.

Although total transaction numbers have decreased from the 2023 peak of 6.6 million, the economic value settled has surged. The market is evolving, emphasizing high-value speed over low-value volume.

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Breaking Down the Numbers

River Financial’s recent analysis presents an optimistic view of Layer-2 adoption. The estimated $1.17 billion in November volume signifies approximately a 400% increase year-over-year. Data suggests the network is effectively capturing commercial activity.

Secure Digital Markets underscored this capability by sending $1 million to the crypto exchange Kraken through the Lightning Network earlier this year. The settlement was instantaneous.

Network capacity, which refers to the total coins locked to facilitate these transactions, reached a record 5,606 BTC in December 2025, according to data from Bitcoin Visuals.

Source: Bitcoin Visuals

This liquidity depth is vital for avoiding payment failures on larger transactions. Node operators such as ACINQ and specialized infrastructure providers are enhancing the network’s stability, making five-figure transfers dependable.

What Does This Mean for Bitcoin Adoption?

The narrative is transitioning from speculation to settlement. Sam Wouters anticipates that the next significant volume increase will stem from AI agents employing Lightning for automated, high-frequency machine payments, thereby creating a completely new economy of autonomous financial entities.

A broader trend is emerging in financializing Bitcoin’s utility layers. Just as Ledn is expanding Bitcoin-backed bonds for yield, Lightning is enhancing Bitcoin for speed.

The payments ecosystem is swiftly incorporating these Layer-2 solutions, as evidenced by Ether.fi transitioning consumer card products to Layer-2 networks to avoid mainnet congestion.

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