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Moderate 59 Bitcoin

Disallow holders from selecting 0-reserve in legacy channels

Public commit record

What the developer wrote

Authored by Leo Nash

65/100 · Adequate
Disallow holders from selecting 0-reserve in legacy channels

We still allow counterparties to set 0-reserve legacy channels, as in
prior releases.
✓ Specific, descriptive subject✓ Names a concrete action or component✓ Provides an explanatory body
The short version

What changed, and why it matters

This commit tightens the rules for a special kind of Lightning channel. In older-style ('legacy') channels, it now prevents the local side from setting a zero channel reserve. A channel reserve is a small amount of bitcoin each party must keep on their side of the channel as a security deposit. Allowing it to be zero on legacy channels could remove an economic deterrent that helps stop certain cheating tactics, so the code now rejects that configuration. Anchor-style channels, which use a newer design, can still use zero reserve.

Recommended action

Review whether counterparties setting 0-reserve on legacy channels also needs restriction, since the commit intentionally allows that direction. Ensure the new validation covers all channel-upgrade and dual-funding paths. Consider adding release-note guidance for users relying on 0-reserve trusted opens.

Security signals we found

01

0-reserve restriction added specifically for legacy/anchorless channels

02

Economic disincentive against revoked commitment broadcast may be weakened when reserve is zero

03

Validation added at channel open, accept, reestablish, and splice paths

04

Documentation updated to warn that zero-reserve is not allowed on legacy/anchorless channels

Risk score

Why this scored 59/100

Our methodology →
Potential impact 18/30
Exploitability 12/25
Stealth signal 8/15
Affected reach 10/15
Confidence 7/10
Evidence quality 4/5
Human-validated context

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