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What Bitcoin LN node software can I run?

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What Bitcoin LN node software can I run?

A simple guide about which software you can use for running a BTC/LN node

DarthCoin ₿⚡️
Oct 31, 2021
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What Bitcoin LN node software can I run?

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🇪🇸 Español | 🇫🇷 Français | 🇭🇷 Hrvatski | 🇳🇱 Dutch


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…

Abstract from Satoshi Bitcoin Papers (31 October 2019)

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

  • Bitcoin Resources Page

  • Lightning Network Resource Page

  • More links and resources about Bitcoin / LN 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

  • Full documentation guides

  • 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

  • Install Raspiblitz on any PC x64

  • Video tutorials: Deep dive, Windows , Mac, Linux


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:

  • Official page - GitHub page - Community Matrix - Telegram Group

  • Full documentation guides

  • Install Embassy on any PC x86

  • Video tutorials


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:

  • Official page - Shop - Telegram Group

  • Full documentation guides


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:

  • Official page - GitHub - Telegram Group - Blog

  • Full documentation guides - Use Cases

  • YouTube Channel

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:

  • MiniBolt DYI LND or CLN node

  • Node Launcher - Windows, Mac node with LND

  • Eclair Node - Windows node with Eclair

  • Standard LND node - Linux node machine with Tor

  • 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:

  • CoinCharge Hosted BTCPay Server

  • Voltage Hosted LN nodes

  • 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:

  • RoninDojo web

  • Dojo Shop Nodes

  • Wiki documentation


MAY THE ₿ITCOIN BE WITH YOU!

If you appreciate DarthCoin work, you can send some satoshis through LN:

LNURL1DP68GURN8GHJ7MR9VAJKUEPWD3HXY6T5WVHXXMMD9AKXUATJD3CZ7D2TG35HGKQAF5LZH
  • or using Lightning Address to darthcoin@getalby.com or darthcoin@stacker.news


Read more of DarthCoin Bitcoin guides in English or Spanish and Memes

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What Bitcoin LN node software can I run?

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Jan 12Liked by DarthCoin ₿⚡️

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

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