Mastering Zaps on Nostr: Linking To Your Own Lightning Node With Voltage

If you're a Nostr user, you've likely already set up a lightning address to receive Zaps. If you're like most nostr users you probably zap and receive sats through custodial a lightning wallet provider.

Did you know that there are convenient service providers that can help you maintain complete self-custody of your funds while you enjoy the fun of zaps on nostr?

This article will walk you through setting up your own Lightning node on Voltage and connecting it to Nostr, allowing you to send and receive payments securely and without the need for a custodial solution.

Setting Up Your Lightning Node on Voltage

To set up a Lightning node on Voltage, go to the Nodes section, click on the "Create a node" button, and choose the Light Node option. This is the cheapest option and is backed by Neutrino, meaning it's not a full implementation of Bitcoin Core. After providing a name and password for your node, you can then top up your node credit by sending Bitcoin, Lightning, or paying with a credit card.

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Establishing Channels for Sending and Receiving Payments

To send and receive payments on Nostr, you'll need to establish inbound and outbound channels. You can use services like Amboss.space and Magma to get inbound channels, allowing you to receive payments. For outbound channels, terminal.lightning.engineering provides a ranked list of popular Lightning nodes to help you choose a node to open a channel with.

Linking Your Lightning Node to Nostr

After setting up your Lightning node on Voltage, you can link it to Nostr by enabling the Lightning Address and Zaps feature. This will allow you to send and receive Lightning payments directly to your own node. To further enhance your Nostr experience, you can use the Alby browser extension to connect to your Lightning node from any browser and the Zeus mobile wallet for on-the-go access.

By setting up a Lightning node on Voltage and connecting it to Nostr, you can enjoy a more secure, non-custodial way of sending and receiving Zaps while maintaining full control of your funds.