How to use lnaddress.com to receive zaps directly to your lightning node
Im my previous post, I explained how to use your getalby ln address to receive zaps directly to your LND node. Similarly, there is an additional option that one can utilize to receive zaps directly to your lightning node: lnaddress.com.
Lnaddress.com is a federated lightning address server that you can use to create a custom ln address. Unlike using getalby, lnaddress.com can be used with any lightning implementation (not just LND). For the purposes of this write-up, I am going to use LNBits to connect an lnaddress.com lightning address with my node. And as will be the case with most of my write-ups, I am going to be using @npub126ntw5mnermmj0znhjhgdk8lh2af72sm8qfzq48umdlnhaj9kuns3le9ll OS, so users of that OS will likely find this write-up most useful, but I’m sure people using other node interfaces can infer how to complete this set up as well.
With that said, let’s dive into the step-by-step on how to create your own custom ln address with lnaddress.com and set it up to receive zaps directly to your lightning node:
*Users should have lnbits set up with their lightning node before proceeding.
Go to lnaddress.com. Input your desired username, select ‘Node Backend Type’ = LNBits, and if necessary check the box ‘This is a new lightning address’. Keep this page open in one tab as we will be returning to it to input info.
From your Start9 OS services page, go to your LNBits service. Open the ‘Properties’ page, and in a new tab, open the (Tor) Superuser Account. Page will look like this:
From this LNbits page, you can choose to ‘add a new wallet’ and use that wallet instead of your superuser account. That is up to you but the steps will be the same.
- Now, we need to grab the info needed for the ‘Host Protocol + IP or Domain + Port’ field on the lnaddress.com page. On the lnbits page, expand the ‘Api Docs’ field, and the ‘Get Wallet Details’ field found on the right hand side menu. In this ‘Get Wallet Details’ section, you will want to copy some of the URL found in the ‘curl example’ section. Copy ‘http://xxxxxx.onion’ (don’t copy any more!), and paste this into the ‘Host Protocol + IP or Domain + Port’ field found on the lnaddress.com page.
Next, we need to grab the key for your lnbits wallet. From the lnbits page, expand the API docs section found on the right hand side menu. Copy the ‘Invoice/read key’ (make sure to use the invoice/read key and not your Admin key), and paste it into the key field found on the lnaddress.com page. Upon pasting in that last piece of info, click ‘submit’ at the bottom of the page.
If all info was input correctly, your connection will be successful. If successful, you will be brought to a page that looks like this:
You will want to save this secret PIN in case you need to update info in your ln address. You’ll also find a test lightning invoice of 1 sat. Using a wallet not connected to the node we connected to our new ln address, you can test the ln address out by paying the 1 sat test invoice.
Users of Start9 OS might find the following info particularly useful: This ln address via lnaddress.com comes with a couple advantages aside from self-custodial zap receiving:
- One, you can have a custom ln address username to go with your nym or nostr username. Users of Start9 may be familiar with the ln address one can generate in the btcpay server service. This ln address is not customizable.
- Two, if you are running a tor only lightning node, you will be able to receive zaps from both tor and clear net lightning nodes. Users of Start9 may be familiar with the ln address one can generate in the btcpay server service. This ln address can only receive zaps from other tor nodes and can’t receive zaps from clear net nodes.
That is it, you should now be all set up with your new ln address hosted on lnaddress.com, and you should be all ready to receive zaps or lightning payments of any kind :)