When using the lightning network, do you have to lock or deposit your coins somewhere? Trying to understand the lightning network some more. When using this new 2nd layer on top of bitcoin.


Do you lock your bitcoins on the lightning network so you can get "pegged" equivalent bitcoin tokens in the lightning network?
If these coins are locked and you sent half your coins to another user, now that person has a claim of 50% of your coins from your "locked" coins. So doesn't this mean its the same as depositing your coins into a 3rd party (lightning network) and letting that party deal with the transactions?
Do you lock your bitcoins on the lightning network so you can get "pegged" equivalent bitcoin tokens in the lightning network?


Yes your Bitcoin is locked into a payment channel, but you do not get "pegged" equivalent Bitcoin tokens. You are still using Bitcoin and making Bitcoin transactions, not something else.


  If these coins are locked and you sent half your coins to another user, now that person has a claim of 50% of your coins from your "locked" coins. So doesn't this mean its the same as depositing your coins into a 3rd party (lightning network) and letting that party deal with the transactions?


No. That other person cannot take your coins without you agreeing to it or doing something stupid (like broadcasting an old commitment transaction). If that person refuses to sign transactions to allow you to close the channel, you can close it yourself without risking any of your coins. You will just need to wait for the timeout to expire before you are allowed to move your coins.