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How to build a tiny self-custodial node to accept Lightning in your shop

A tutorial for installing Phoenixd and LNBits on an OrangePi Zero 2W and using Zeus Wallet as the PoS app.

Alternatively, you can use Albyhub and/or LDK, instead of LNBits and/or Phoenixd.

Cost:​

  • USA:
    • without inbound: US$44
    • with 2Msat inbound: US$69
  • Brazil:
    • without inbound: US$41
    • with 2Msat inbound: US$66
  • If you're just using a laptop or you already have access to a vps:
    • ~$FREE

Cost breakdown​

  • Hardware: US$44 if in USA, US$41 if in Brazil
  • Phoenixd autoLiquidity fee: $25 (this can potentially be waived if you transfer a seed from the mobile Phoenix Wallet app rather than creating the node on phoenixd)
  • If you're just using a laptop or you already have access to a vps:
    • ~$FREE

Hardware​

OrangePi​

  • OrangePi Zero 2W + power supply

  • 32GB MicroSD card

  • I am assuming you already have access to these:

    • A device for command line access to set everything up, either:
      • A laptop/desktop computer (for SSH access), or
      • A keyboard, mouse, and monitor (for direct access)
    • A device for flashing the sd card (probably a laptop and maybe a USB to microsd adapter)
    • An internet connection/router and a way to connect the OPi to it (wifi or ethernet, see internet connection section below)
    • At least one Android-like or iOS cell phone to use as the point-of-sale terminal
    • A Lightning-enabled wallet to pay Phoenixd's ~US$25 autoLiquidity fee

Laptop or VPS​

  • Works on Linux, Mac, or (even!) Windows
  • Feel free to use one of these just to learn, though keep in mind you will want something that you can leave powered on and connected to the internet 24/7 if you really want to use this in a shop, though. Most VPSes carry a monthly cost (though I hear it's possible to find a free VPS on Oracle. The cheapest I found was US$2/mo).

Android phone with Termux​

  • This is experimental (but ~works)

Software​

To successfully complete this tutorial, you will need:

  • A Lightning node
    • Phoenixd, or
    • Albyhub with LDK
  • A Lightning "hub" (for connecting mobile client apps and hacking with third-party extensions/connections)
    • LNBits, or
    • Albyhub
  • And a point-of-sale app
    • Zeus
      • works with albyhub and lnbits
      • albyhub with zeus requires an alby website account
    • Alby Go
      • works with albyhub
      • connects via nwc, no alby account needed
    • Buzzpay
      • works with albyhub
      • connects via nwc, no alby account needed
      • works with phoenixd backend as of v1.14 (released 2025-02-17)