When picking a Bitcoin wallet, no super-app does everything; you must pick one that focuses on your specific needs or use case. Some wallets are focused on privacy advocates, some on slick payments or multi-sig setups; whatever your preference, there is a wallet out there for you. While many Bitcoiners boot up a wallet to store funds for the medium or long term and retain self-custody, the push towards a medium of exchange gains is the obvious next step, and this will likely happen through the Lightning Network. The layer two payment network is designed for quick, cheap, and regular payments and can provide the user experience that the average consumer expects from a modern payment method. Today, the modern consumer is used to paying by scanning a QR code, a tap on a device or a sign-in to an account to connect your payment method and manage subscriptions. Consumers who transition to Bitcoin as a medium of exchange will expect the asset to perform the same, and this is where Lightning wallets have to focus on improving their user experience.

What is Nostr Wallet Connect?

Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) is a relatively new protocol in the Bitcoin ecosystem, enabling seamless connections between Lightning wallets and applications. The protocol creates a communication link between applications and your Lightning wallet, so you can request payments within a specific app without needing to return to your wallet. It provides a seamless payment experience, making it seem like a native wallet embedded in every app. It uses this secure communication channel between your wallet and various apps without requiring you to expose sensitive information.

Lightning Wallets Supporting NWC

First things first, if you're planning on using NWC, you have to have a compatible wallet; this is implied in the name of the protocol.

Alby

You can't mention Nostr Wallet Connect without talking about the browser extension that kicked it all off; Alby is one of the pioneering wallets in NWC support. As a browser extension wallet, it offers:
  • Simple NWC connection setup
  • Browser-based Lightning payments
  • Integration with numerous web applications
Once you've set up your Alby wallet, you can engage primarily on the desktop, but if you are a mobile-first user, you can install AlbyGo, a mobile app that can interact with your Alby wallet or your AlbyHub-hosted node.

Umbrel Lightning Node

For those running their own nodes, Umbrel offers an NWC app in its official marketplace. All you need to do is download and install the app on your existing Lightning node, and you can start to connect your node's Lightning wallet to various applications.
  • Umbrel's Lightning implementation supports NWC
  • Allows direct node connection to compatible apps
  • Provides full sovereignty over your Lightning experience

Mutiny Wallet

This inclusion in the list may confuse newcomers who stumble across this wallet since Mutiny Wallet has shut down operations. Mutiny wallet was a browser-based wallet that supported Bitcoin, Lightning, eCash and even FediMint, and while the hosted version is no longer available, you can still run it yourself using your Bitcoin node, such as an Umbrel or Start 9. Mutiny is still available as a self-custodial Lightning wallet with strong privacy features that include:
  • Built-in NWC support
  • Non-custodial Lightning functionality
  • Available on desktop and mobile

Coinos

If you're not up for the whole non-custodial experience, a service like Coinos has your back. Coinos picked up traction recently once Alby sunset its custodial account with several users migrating to the service, since all you need to do is sign up with an email address or nostr account. Coinos offers:
  • NWC integration for seamless app connections
  • Multi-payment functionality with support for the On-chain, Lightning, Liquid and eCash capabilities
  • Focus on professional Bitcoin users
  • Connection and account creation with a nostr nsec/npub

Cashu.Me Wallet

Cashu.me is a free and open-source Bitcoin wallet that uses ecash to keep your funds secure and private. You can set up a hosted Cashu.me wallet using the website and create a seed phrase for the wallet. Once your wallet is live, toggle the NWC option, and you can start to Connect apps to this wallet and make payments using any supported application.

Applications Supporting NWC

Once you have a wallet set up, it's time to give it a test run; there are several applications in the nostr ecosystem that support connections, such as:

Nostr Clients

Several Nostr clients leverage NWC for Lightning integration:
  • Damus: Popular iOS Nostr client with NWC support
  • Amethyst: Android Nostr client with robust NWC implementation
  • Iris: Web-based Nostr client supporting NWC connections
  • Primal: Feature-rich Nostr client with NWC capabilities

Content Platforms

  • Wavlake: Music streaming platform using NWC for artist payments
  • Fountain: Podcast platform that implements NWC for value streaming
  • Nostrplebs: Content creation platform with NWC tipping features

Gaming and Entertainment

  • ZEBEDEE: Gaming platform with NWC integration
  • Satoshis Games: Game development platform supporting NWC

Productivity and Tools

  • Stacker News: News platform with NWC for upvoting and tipping
  • Nostr.build: File hosting service with NWC support
  • LNbits: Payment management tool with NWC compatibility
  • Flash: A Bitcoin payment processing tool for businesses, eCommerce websites and freelancers

Setting Up Nostr Wallet Connect

The general process for connecting an app to your wallet via NWC involves:
  1. Generating a connection string in your NWC-compatible wallet
  2. Copying this string to the application requesting connection
  3. Approving connection permissions (one-time vs. recurring, spending limits)
Each wallet implements this slightly differently but follows the same general pattern.

Security Considerations

When using NWC, keep in mind:
  • Only connect to applications you trust or that you plan to use regularly
  • Set appropriate spending limits that you feel comfortable with spending within in that specific app
  • Regularly review connected applications and prune your list as you see fit
  • Consider using separate connection strings for different applications, making it easier to manage and

The Future of NWC

The Nostr Wallet Connect ecosystem continues to grow slowly and hopefully expands beyond the nostr ecosystem into the broader Bitcoin realm. For NWC to succeed, we would need to see:
  • More wallets adding NWC support
  • Enhanced permission management systems
  • Greater application integration diversity
  • Improved user experience for connection management

Get involved in the nostr and Lightning ecosystem

Nostr Wallet Connect is a pivotal step toward more seamless Lightning Network interactions and will help users get a feel for what Bitcoin is capable of right now. By getting your hands dirty using NWC wallets and applications, you can better navigate this ecosystem and take advantage of the growing number of Lightning-enabled experiences. Whether you're a content creator looking to receive value for your work, a gamer wanting to earn sats while playing, or simply someone who wants to support quality content across the web, NWC provides a secure and straightforward way to connect your Lightning wallet to the applications you use most.