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Clarify simple_close and upfront_shutdown_script compatibility - #1348

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tnull:2026-07-simple-close-upfront-op-return
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tnull:2026-07-simple-close-upfront-op-return

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@tnull tnull commented Jul 22, 2026

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The option_upfront_shutdown_script feature mandates that a node fails the connection if the counterparty provides a shutdown script that doesn't match what was previously negotiated during channel open.

However, option_simple_close allows the counterparty to change its shutdown script to a 0-value OP_RETURN if it doesn't deem its output economical to still meet the dust threshold. Here we simply clarify that both are compatible, i.e., the OP_RETURN special case for option_simple_close shouldn't be rejected even if option_upfront_shutdown_script was negotiated.

Comment thread 02-peer-protocol.md Outdated
- MAY send a `warning`.
- MUST fail the connection.
- if both nodes advertised the `option_upfront_shutdown_script` feature, and the receiving node received a non-zero-length `shutdown_scriptpubkey` in `open_channel` or `accept_channel`, and that `shutdown_scriptpubkey` is not equal to `scriptpubkey`
- if not both nodes advertised `option_simple_close` and the `shutdown_scriptpubkey` is `OP_RETURN`:

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A negation at the beginning of a statement is hard to parse without the right parenthesis 🤓

Is this not ( (both nodes advertised option_simple_close) AND (shutdown_scriptpubkey is OP_RETURN) ) or not ( both nodes advertised option_simple_close ) AND (shutdown_scriptpubkey is OP_RETURN)?

I'd rather rewrite it without boolean gates, explicitly separating simple close from legacy close (it's more verbose but easier to parse IMHO):

- if both nodes advertised `option_simple_close`:
  - if the `shutdown_scriptpubkey` received is not using `OP_RETURN`:
    - MAY send a `warning`.
    - MUST fail the connection.
- otherwise:
  - MAY send a `warning`.
  - MUST fail the connection.

Does that correctly capture what you meant?

@tnull tnull Jul 27, 2026

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Hmm, agree it could be formulated better. The wording you propose doesn't mention option_upfront_shutdown_script though, so it would make more sense in the section on option_upfront_shutdown_script where this context is implied, no?

The main edge case that I want to clarify is the case where both nodes negotiate option_upfront_shutdown_script and option_simple_close. In that case, we should permit counterparties to send a shutdown script that is different from the pre-negotiated shutdown script if the new one is OP_RETURN etc. Otherwise option_upfront_shutdown_script and option_simple_close would simply be incompatible IIUC.

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The main edge case that I want to clarify is the case where both nodes negotiate option_upfront_shutdown_script and option_simple_close. In that case, we should permit counterparties to send a shutdown script that is different from the pre-negotiated shutdown script if the new one is OP_RETURN etc. Otherwise option_upfront_shutdown_script and option_simple_close would simply be incompatible IIUC.

Yes, I agree that this can be clarified, I was just pointing out that the current clarification is a bit hard to read and may be misinterpreted.

The wording you propose doesn't mention option_upfront_shutdown_script though, so it would make more sense in the section on option_upfront_shutdown_script where this context is implied, no?

True, feel free to move this somewhere else or change it however you think makes sense!

The `option_upfront_shutdown_script` feature requires the shutdown
script to match the script agreed during channel opening. However,
`option_simple_close` allows a zero-value `OP_RETURN` output when a
node considers its output uneconomical.

Allow this exception in both the sender and receiver requirements so
the features can be used together. Other script mismatches still fail
the connection, and the zero-value output prevents this exception from
redirecting funds to another address.

Co-Authored-By: HAL 9000
@tnull
tnull force-pushed the 2026-07-simple-close-upfront-op-return branch from 20cf8a7 to 2b2aa9d Compare September 17, 2026 08:11
@tnull
tnull requested a review from t-bast September 17, 2026 08:11
@tnull

tnull commented Sep 17, 2026

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Excuse the delay here. Amended with some changes. @t-bast let me know if that reads better.

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