Pitch: 🔵 Bitcoin Connect
Connecting lightning wallets to your webapp has never been easier.
Users can bring their existing lightning wallet or node to your lightning-powered webapp without the requirement to install an extension or switch apps to make payments. This allows users to stay with their preferred browser on desktop and mobile. PWAs just work.
The usecases for Bitcoin Connect are endless: Gaming, Value 4 Value based social media and entertainment, seamless paywalls for interacting with AI agents and other pay-per-interaction services and more.
📺 Video Pitch & Demo
<iframe class="remirror-iframe remirror-iframe-youtube" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yFwe6IBM-10?" data-embed-type="youtube" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0"></iframe>🤔 Why Bitcoin Connect?
The Alby Lightning Browser extension has changed the way lightning payments are made on the web. It allows lightning payments to be seamlessly tied to every user interaction and vastly simplifies the implementation of lightning functionality in websites by exposing a WebLN provider to the website. With WebLN developers have access to a single, simple protocol to talk to any lightning wallet or node without having to worry about what node or wallet the user has - only that they have one.
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What if we could improve this experience to provide a similar seamless experience for payments for users without having to install an extension first?
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What if we could enable developers to integrate first-class bitcoin payment experiences into their apps in minutes without worrying what device or browser a user has?
⚡ Simplifies Connecting to Lightning Apps
Bitcoin Connect provides a universal way for users to connect any lightning wallet to any web app on any device. With a few lines of code and Bitcoin Connect’s beautiful web components, you can enable lightning functionality on your website, all through the WebLN protocol lightning developers are already used to. Users no longer need to install an extension - Bitcoin Connect is provided by the website itself.
Because Bitcoin Connect uses Web Components, it works in all Web frameworks, such as React, Vue, SolidJS, and even pure HTML.
Like the Alby extension, Bitcoin Connect supports users to connect to websites with their own node. Nostr Wallet Connect is one open protocol used by Bitcoin Connect that gives the user an easy way to connect to their node but still have full control over the access and the amount of sats an app can use.
Bitcoin Connect on zap.stream (mockup of the newest version)
💯 Features
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7 wallet connectors (so far!)
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Multiple integration options for different usecases, all with only a few lines of code
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Simple but powerful developer API
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Supports all web frameworks including pure HTML via Javascript modules
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Easily customizable through standard CSS
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Amazing Payment Request UI to easily receive payments from connected and external wallets
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Supports new users to get started with a lightning wallet
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React Wrapper for even simpler integration in React apps
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Promotes self-custody through connectors powered by open protocols
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100% open source (designs included)
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Exposes the same WebLN interface developers are already used to
Bitcoin Connect on nostrudel.ninja (mockup of the newest version)
🛠️ Contributing
Bitcoin Connect is 100% open source and neutral. Find us on Github and start contributing - we currently have 15 issues marked for new contributors! We also welcome design contributions.
We also value feedback and feature requests. Feel free to create an issue on the Github repository and we’ll respond within 24 hours.
🛣️ Roadmap
Bitcoin Connect simplifies the experience of connecting a lightning wallet to applications for both developers and users. We plan to add extra connectors and expand to support other development environments and programming languages to enable Bitcoin Connect in native mobile apps and even game engines, no-code tools and other development frameworks. (Would you benefit from something like this? let us know!)
There is a definite lack of developer tools for lightning here, leading to developers using altcoin payment solutions. There is a lot we can do here, and Bitcoin Connect as an open source and neutral project using open protocols can be the guiding light for further innovation and broader support. We also plan to constantly polish UX of connecting and paying with Bitcoin Connect.
Bitcoin Connect payment modal on geyser.fund (mockup of the newest version)
💪 Achievements
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Already integrated in Zap.Stream, Nostrudel.ninja, Habla.news, Zappdit, Wherostr.social
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Amazing feedback so far:
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“It was too easy to integrate” - Zappdit
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“No payment code changes needed to support Zaps with NWC” - Habla.news
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“Also love the addition of LNC, its another thing I've had on my todo list but haven't had the time to learn” - Nostrudel.ninja
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"This is exactly what we need and were going to implement it ourselves. Bitcoin Connect will save us a lot of time" - Anonymous
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Zappdit integration completed less than 24 hours of hearing about the project. Developers can instantly see the benefit of Bitcoin Connect
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Habla.news 200,000 sats bounty to implement NWC was completed by integrating Bitcoin Connect
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Interest from Mutiny (Zapple Pay + AutoZap as an easy way for more users to connect with NWC) and currently being experimented with by one of the most popular V4V social media sites as an alternative to custody of users’ funds 👀
🧑💻 Tech Stack
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Lit Web Components
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Optional React Wrapper
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100% Typescript
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Twind styling framework
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Zustand state management
🌐 Team
👾 Try it now
Go to https://bitcoin-connect.com/ to get started.
📰 Like what you see?
Follow Alby on Twitter or Nostr to stay updated about new Bitcoin Connect features and integrations.