Finance NIPs Overview
NIPs (Nostr Implementation Possibilities) are the specifications that define how Nostr works. This section covers NIPs specifically related to finance, payments, and economic activity on Nostr.
What Are NIPs?
NIPs are proposals that define:
- Event kinds - Message types and formats
- Tags - Metadata conventions
- Protocols - Interaction patterns
- Standards - Interoperability rules
NIP Lifecycle:
Draft → Discussion → Implementation → Adoption
Finance-Related NIPs
Core Payment NIPs
| NIP | Name | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIP-47 | Nostr Wallet Connect | Wallet-app communication | Merged |
| NIP-57 | Lightning Zaps | Tipping via Lightning | Merged |
| NIP-75 | Zap Goals | Crowdfunding | Merged |
Commerce NIPs
| NIP | Name | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIP-15 | Marketplaces | E-commerce protocol | Merged |
| NIP-99 | Classifieds | Listing format | Merged |
Supporting NIPs
| NIP | Name | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| NIP-01 | Basic Protocol | Foundation |
| NIP-04 | Encrypted DMs | Payment messages |
| NIP-05 | DNS Identifiers | Verification |
| NIP-19 | Bech32 Encoding | Key formats |
Event Kinds Summary
Payment Events
| Kind | Name | NIP |
|---|---|---|
| 9734 | Zap Request | 57 |
| 9735 | Zap Receipt | 57 |
| 9041 | Zap Goal | 75 |
| 23194 | NWC Request | 47 |
| 23195 | NWC Response | 47 |
Commerce Events
| Kind | Name | NIP |
|---|---|---|
| 30017 | Stall | 15 |
| 30018 | Product | 15 |
| 30402 | Classified | 99 |
NIP Architecture
How NIPs Interact
Tag Dependencies
Taproot Native
While not a formal NIP, the cryptographic alignment between Nostr and Bitcoin Taproot is fundamental:
Shared Foundation
| Property | Nostr | Bitcoin Taproot |
|---|---|---|
| Curve | secp256k1 | secp256k1 |
| Public Key Format | x-only (32 bytes) | x-only (32 bytes) |
| Signature Scheme | Schnorr | Schnorr |
Implications
- Your npub can derive a P2TR address
- Nostr keys can sign Bitcoin transactions
- Identity and value transfer unified
Implementation Guide
For Client Developers
- Start with NIP-01 - Understand base protocol
- Add NIP-57 - Enable zapping (most requested)
- Integrate NIP-47 - Wallet connectivity
- Consider Taproot - On-chain integration
For Wallet Developers
- Implement NIP-47 - Become NWC compatible
- Support NIP-57 - Generate zap receipts
- Consider P2TR - Taproot address derivation
For Marketplace Builders
- Choose NIP-15 or NIP-99 - Based on needs
- Integrate payments - NIP-57 or NIP-47
- Add messaging - NIP-04 or NIP-17
NIP Resources
Official Repository
Reference Sites
Discussion
- GitHub Issues on NIP repo
- Nostr itself (discuss on protocol)
Contributing
Proposing a NIP
- Write the spec following existing format
- Open PR on nips repository
- Discuss with community
- Implement in at least one client
- Iterate based on feedback
Best Practices
- Study existing NIPs first
- Start with clear problem statement
- Consider edge cases
- Think about backwards compatibility
- Get community input early
See Also
Stay Updated
The NIP repository on GitHub is the source of truth. NIPs can be updated, and new finance-related NIPs are regularly proposed.