What Bitcoin LN node software can I run?
A simple guide about which software you can use for running a BTC/LN node
Today is 31 Oct 2021, and we celebrate 13 years from when Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin Whitepaper. To honor this special day, I am publishing this guide about Bitcoin and Lightning nodes, to help new users to give them more choices to run a node.
OK, so now you are a bitcoiner that start his journey into the Bitcoin deep rabbit hole and want to go deeper with running a BTC/LN node. You already know how to use / manage a BTC / LN wallet, you know how to get some BTC from exchanges, you know that is not good to leave your BTC on custodial services, is time for you to take the responsibility in your own hands. Good…
Or you are just a small merchant, you have a business that want to start accepting Bitcoin through Lightning Network payments, with no intermediaries whatsoever, as Bitcoin Papers stated in the Abstract:
A purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.
Some other resources about why running and what are the Bitcoin nodes:
What is a full Bitcoin node - Bitcoin.org
Securing your financial sovereignty - Jameson Lopp
Main reason why you should run a node - In Bitcoin We Trust
Myths and misconceptions about Bitcoin nodes - Bitcoin Wiki
Securing Your Financial Sovereignty - Jameson Lopp
Tor only Bitcoin Lightning guide - Jameson Lopp
Ubuntu Node Box Guide - Ministry of Nodes
So let’s quick review some of the best solutions that are now available. The idea is to be TOTALLY independent and managing yourself your money and payments, with no intermediary in between.
All depends of your specifics of your business activity, infrastructure, budget, tech-savvy your are, level of “independence” you want to have.
Another aspect to mention: each type of node using a specific implementation code for Lightning Network: LND, C-Lightning, Eclair, Rust, Electrum.
A Bitcoin node have to be 24/7 online and reliable. So be prepared to keep it “alive” and well connected to internet. Your node is your own bank.
Before dive into the variety of desktop nodes, we can mention that there are also versions for mobile devices, that are SPV syncing, a small part of the headers of the blocks from a trusted full node server and are keeping a non-custodial LN node on your mobile device:
Blixt node wallet (Neutrino/ LND node) - iOS, Android, macOS and soon Linux
Breez (Neutrino/LND node) - iOS, Android
OBW (Immortan LN node) - Android
Nayuta (limited Neutrino/LND node) - discontinued, soon new app
Umbrel Node - DIY and The Bitcoin Machine
Description:
This is a free, simplest and fastest way to DIY node, with your own hardware (RPi device or normal PC box/Linux) and is also totally free and open source.
Now is also offered as Bitcoin Machine, plug’n’play, ready to be used as a Personal Server, with many applications already included an blocks synced.
Right now is a Tor only node, coming with the latest Bitcoin node and LND node, with a simplistic web dashboard to manage your Bitcoin and Lightning node, settings / system status / backup / seed, Apps Store to add/remove apps, connect to wallets menu.
Once is installed and synced the blockchain data, you can start using it as your own bank, connecting many wallet apps and payment processor plugins to its included apps on top of the LND node. Some of the apps like BTCPay and LNBits, if you want to use them in clearnet, will require some modifications in configuration to be able to be “visible” out of Tor network. Guides are included.
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Rasp DebianOS adapted for dockerized apps (for RaspPi users)
any OS Linux distribution + Docker (recommended Debian for non-RPi users)
Bitcoin Core + LND node as base node software + Electrs (Electrum Server)
AppStore: BTC RPC Ecplorer, Mempool, RTL (Ride The Lightning), Thunderhub, Lightning Terminal, BTCPay Server, LNBits, Whirlpool, Sphinx Relay, Bluewallet LNDHUB, Specter, LNMarkets, Kristall Bull, VaultWarden, NextCloud, Synapse Matrix / Element, SqueakNode, PhotoPrism, Pi-Hole, SimpleTorrent, Home Assistant, Node-RED, code-server, Gitea
Resources:
Official page - GitHub page - Community Forum - Telegram Group - Blog
Getting started guide with Umbrel, explaining in depth how to start, how to install, how to manage it.
More guides on Umbrel Community Forum.
myNodeBTC - DIY and Premium
Description:
myNode is a dedicated device that provides access to the Bitcoin and Lightning Network along with a number of other features.
A complete node solution with many functionalities, you can buy the machine already installed or you can download the software and build it yourself with your own hardware.
Is offered in 3 versions: One, Premium, Community Edition (free DIY) and also you can order an RPi machine already installed and synced (myNode One)
It can run on Tor or clearnet as user decide and it comes with a simplistic web dashboard where user can manage apps and status of node services.
Once is installed and synced, user can connect to various wallet apps and payment solutions.
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Rasp DebianOS adapted for dockerized apps (for RaspPi users)
any OS Linux distribution + VM deployment
Bitcoin Core + LND node as base node software + Electrs (Electrum Server)
AppStore: BTC RPC Ecplorer, Mempool, RTL (Ride The Lightning), Thunderhub, Lightning Terminal, BTCPay Server, LNBits, Whirlpool, Dojo, JoinBox, Sphinx Relay, Bluewallet LNDHUB, Specter, CKBunker, Caravan, PyBlock, Remote Access VPN
Resources:
Official page - GitHub page - Community Forum - Telegram Group
Video tutorials - Ministry of nodes series
RaspiBlitz - DIY
Description:
DIY Bitcoin & Lightning Node on a RaspberryPi devices
Is mainly targeted for learning how to run your own node decentralized from home - because: Not your Node, Not your Rules. Discover & develop the growing ecosystem of the Lightning Network by becoming a full part of it. Build it as part of a workshop or as a weekend project yourself.
It runs by default on Tor, but also comes with service like IP2Tor for accessing it from clearnet
Hardware shops: Fulmo, DIY Nodes, LightningInABox
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Rasp DebianOS
Bitcoin Core + LND or C-Lightning node as base node software + Electrs
Apps/Plugins: BTC RPC Ecplorer, Mempool, RTL (Ride The Lightning), Thunderhub, Lightning Terminal, BTCPay Server, LNBits, JoinMarket, BoS, Circuit Breaker, Specter, PyBlock, Kindle Display, Suez, ChanTools, SyackingSats, CLBoss, Spark, Sphinx Relay, Telegraf
Resources:
Official page - GitHub page - Community Forum - Telegram Group
Full documentation guides (pdf) or YouTube video
Embassy - DIY and Premium HW + SW
Description:
Plug’n’play machine, paid license for OS if you want DIY
Easy to configure & use with its web interface, easy connections to wallet apps
Embassy is an elegant, plug’n’play personal server for running self-hosted software. It sits quietly on your shelf, running all day and night - your own private cloud.
It runs by default on Tor network, protecting user privacy
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Rasp DebianOS as base OS
Bitcoin Core + LND or C-Lightning node as base node software + Electrs
Apps/Services/Plugins: Matrix, BTCPay Server, BitWarden, File Browser, Sphinx Relay, Mastodon, CUPS, BAR, RTL, Thunderhub, Spark, Photoview, Bitcoin Proxy.
Resources:
NODL - Premium Personal Bitcoin Assistant
Description:
Plug’n’play Bitcoin Node machine, easy to configure & use
Runs on Tor, fully customization, open source
Comes in 3 versions: One, Dojo, Cloud, Rack
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Debian Linux as base OS
Bitcoin Core + LND node as base node software + Electrs
Apps/Services/Plugins: BTCPay Server, RTL, Thunderhub, Whirlpool, Dojo, BTC RPC Explorer.
Resources:
BTCPay Server - DIY and Plug’n’Play machines
Description:
Self-hosted, open-source Bitcoin payment processor. It's secure, private, censorship-resistant and free.
DIY on your own PC Linux, or buy Plug’n’Play machine available, easy to install and configure, also hosted versions available
The primary purpose of BTCPay Server is to remove dependencies on trusted third-parties. The Apps are built in applications that obsolete central-authorities and allow users an easy way to extend the use case of the software. Users can self-host all sorts of customizable applications that work out of the box.
Direct, peer-to-peer Bitcoin payments, no transaction fees (other than the network fee, no processing fees, no middleman, No KYC, Non-custodial (complete control over the private key), Enhanced privacy & security, Tor support, Pull Payments
User Management, Stores Mangement
Software used, applications available / included:
OS Debian Linux as base OS or Rasp DebianOS
Bitcoin Core + LND or C-Lightning or Eclair node + Electrum Server
Apps/Services: BTCPay Server, RTL, PayJoin, Wordpress, Pi-Hole, JoinMarket
Easy-embeddable Payment buttons, Point of sale app, Crowdfunding app, Payment Requests, Internal, full-node reliant wallet with hardware wallet integration, Payjoin Support, Lightning Network Apps, Accounting
Plugins for Woocommerce, Shopify, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop
Resources:
Shops/Hosting machines ready to use:
LightningInABox, NODL, BitcoinPOS, CoinCharge, Voltage.Cloud
CypherPunkPay - a lite version of BTCPay Server
DIY Simple Home Nodes
Description:
Node software that you can install in your own normal PC, for testing purposes or just to have a simple Bitcoin & Lightning node for personal use
No need of advanced tech skills
Limited in options and extra applications, but enough to be able to transact over the Lightning Network in a self-custody way
Can connect various wallet apps to your own node
Software used:
Windows OS, Linux OS, MacOS
Bitcoin Core, LND, Eclair, C-Lightning
Resources:
ParmanNode - simplistic on line command install
NixBitcoin - collection of Nix packages and NixOS modules for easily installing full-featured Bitcoin nodes with an emphasis on security.
CypherPunkPay - a lite version of BTCPay Server
Hosted Node solution
Description:
You do not have option to self-host your own node machine or you need a more secured and reliable solution
You do not have full control over the machine, but you still control the software
Have higher costs for maintenance and services
No technical skills necessary
Software used:
Usually is Linux OS base
LND, C-Lightning, BTCPay Server, Wordpress/Woocommerce
Resources:
GreenLight Blockstream - still in beta version, but free
Ronin Dojo Node
Description:
Full Privacy focused nodes
ONLY onchain Bitcoin node, no Lightning
No technical skills necessary
Plug’n’play device
Software used:
Linux OS base
Bitcoin Core
Whirlpool coinjoin
Resources:
MAY THE ₿ITCOIN BE WITH YOU!
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Embassy OS is free for DIY. Super easy to set up. Several new services in the marketplace as well, including Nextcloud, JAM, SearXNG, LNBits, Cryptpad, Spark Wallet