Guides
Practical Lightning guides
Short, opinionated explainers for creators, merchants, and developers. No fluff, no hype.
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Custodial vs non-custodial Lightning wallets
The single most important Lightning-wallet decision. Plain-language framing of what each means, when each is the right call, and the in-between options that now exist.
beginnercreatormerchant -
How to accept Bitcoin as a creator
Newsletter writer, podcaster, artist, open-source maintainer — the simplest path from zero to receiving Lightning tips.
creator -
How to accept Bitcoin in a café
Practical Lightning setup for in-person physical retail — counter, POS, staff training, accounting reality.
merchant -
How to accept Lightning payments
Practical setup paths for creators, merchants, and developers — without becoming a Bitcoin expert first.
creatormerchantdeveloperbeginner -
How to migrate from Wallet of Satoshi
Step-by-step migration for users affected by the November 2023 US withdrawal, or moving from custodial to self-custodial Lightning.
creatorbeginner -
How to set up BTCPay Server
Self-hosted Bitcoin and Lightning payment processing. The realistic time, cost, and steps to get from zero to first accepted payment.
merchantdeveloper -
Is the Lightning Network safe?
An honest review of the actual risks of using Lightning — and which ones matter for your specific use case.
beginnermerchantdeveloper -
Lightning fees, explained
What you'll actually pay to send and receive on the Lightning Network. Routing fees, channel-open fees, service fees, and where each hides.
beginnercreatormerchantdeveloper -
Lightning payments and MiCA
What the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation means for Lightning wallets, processors, and merchants in 2026.
merchantdeveloper -
Lightning Network taxes for creators
High-level framing of how Lightning tips and payments are typically taxed. Country-by-country pointers, not legal advice.
creator -
Lightning vs on-chain Bitcoin payments
When to use Lightning, when to use plain on-chain Bitcoin, and how to choose for your specific payment flow.
beginnermerchantdeveloper -
Lightning merchant setup checklist
Everything you need in place before taking your first customer payment over Lightning.
merchant -
Mutiny Wallet, RIP — what happened, and where Mutiny users should go now
Mutiny Wallet wound down in late 2024 / early 2025. Here's what happened, what former users should do about funds, and the closest current alternatives.
beginnerdeveloper -
BOLT11 invoice, explained
The basic unit of Lightning payment requests. What's in one, why it expires, and when to use BOLT11 vs Lightning Address vs LNURL.
developerbeginner -
Lightning Address, explained
What a Lightning Address is, how it works under the hood, and when you actually need one.
creatorbeginner -
LNURL, in plain English
What LNURL is, the four subtypes you'll actually encounter, and why it matters for wallets and merchants.
developerbeginner