Yes, it's a rather open secret that LN channel abuse, esp. using Hub architecture,  can do FR just link banks. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/56ehi1/fractional_reserve_on_lightning_network/

By never closing channels it difficult to detect what's going on.

On Jan 7, 2018 6:41 PM, "juan" <juan.g71@gmail.com> wrote:

On Sun, 7 Jan 2018 18:32:19 -0800
Steven Schear <schear.steve@gmail.com> wrote:

> The way payment channels can be reasonably used enables fractional
> reserve abuses.


        Are you sure? As far as I know,  one of the main selling points
        of the LN is that it uses...bitcoins. So it's impossible to
        open a channel/make a payment except by starting with an on
        chain transaction. In other words, LN transactions are backed
        1:1 with real bitcoins.



>
> On Jan 7, 2018 6:24 PM, "juan" <juan.g71@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 7 Jan 2018 17:38:02 -0800
> > Steven Schear <schear.steve@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Off-chain, once solid tech that isn't a
> > > backdoor for CBs and WS (as LN appears to be), should easily
> > > compete with VISA.
> >
> >
> >         how is lightning network a backdoor for central banks?
> >
> >
> >