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Alby Wallet

Alby is a popular Bitcoin Lightning wallet ecosystem with deep Nostr integration. It provides browser extensions, self-hosted nodes, and mobile apps for managing Lightning payments and Nostr identities.

Alby Products​

Alby Browser Extension​

The gateway to Lightning and Nostr on the web:

  • Lightning payments in browsers
  • Nostr key management (NIP-07)
  • NWC connections for apps
  • WebLN support for web apps

Get it:

Alby Hub​

Self-custodial Lightning node management:

  • Your own node - Full control
  • NWC server - Generate connections
  • Channel management - Easy liquidity
  • App connections - Link to services

Get it: albyhub.com

Alby Go​

Mobile app for Bitcoin on the go:

  • Companion to Alby Hub
  • Mobile payments
  • NWC mobile client

Setting Up Alby Extension​

Installation​

  1. Install from browser store
  2. Create or import account
  3. Set up PIN/password
  4. Fund via Lightning

Connecting to Nostr​

Alby can manage your Nostr keys:

  1. Go to Settings → Nostr
  2. Generate new keys OR import existing
  3. Apps can request signing (NIP-07)
// Web app requesting Nostr signature
const pubkey = await window.nostr.getPublicKey();
const signed = await window.nostr.signEvent(event);

Lightning Address​

Every Alby account gets:

yourname@getalby.com

Use this in your Nostr profile:

{
  "lud16": "yourname@getalby.com"
}

Setting Up Alby Hub​

Requirements​

  • Server (VPS, home server, Raspberry Pi)
  • Bitcoin (for channel funding)
  • Domain (optional but recommended)

Installation​

# Docker installation
docker run -d \
  --name albyhub \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  -v albyhub_data:/data \
  ghcr.io/getalby/hub:latest

Or use one-click deployment:

  • Umbrel
  • Start9
  • RaspiBlitz

Channel Management​

Alby Hub simplifies Lightning channels:

  1. Auto-channel opening - Guided process
  2. Liquidity providers - Easy inbound
  3. Channel health - Monitoring

NWC with Alby​

Generating NWC Connection​

  1. In Alby Hub: Connections → Create App
  2. Set permissions and budget
  3. Copy connection string
  4. Paste in Nostr client

Budget Controls​

Daily limit: 10,000 sats
Per-payment max: 1,000 sats
Monthly limit: 100,000 sats

Managing Connections​

View and revoke connections:

  • See active apps
  • Monitor spending
  • Revoke access instantly

Features​

For Regular Users​

FeatureExtensionHub
Receive zaps✓✓
Send zaps✓✓
Lightning address✓✓
NWC connections✓✓
Nostr key signing✓-
Self-custody-✓

For Developers​

FeatureDescription
WebLNStandard Lightning API
NIP-07Nostr key signing
NWCWallet connectivity
WebhooksEvent notifications
APIProgrammatic access

WebLN Integration​

Alby implements WebLN for web apps:

// Check if WebLN is available
if (typeof window.webln !== 'undefined') {
  await window.webln.enable();

  // Send payment
  const result = await window.webln.sendPayment('lnbc...');

  // Make invoice
  const invoice = await window.webln.makeInvoice({
    amount: 1000,
    defaultMemo: 'Test payment'
  });

  // Get info
  const info = await window.webln.getInfo();
}

2025 Transition​

Important Update

As of January 2025, Alby phased out their shared custodial wallet. Users should:

  • Set up Alby Hub for self-custody, OR
  • Connect external wallet via NWC

The browser extension continues to work for signing and connecting to external wallets.

Migration Options​

  1. Alby Hub - Self-host your own node
  2. Connect wallet - Use NWC with any compatible wallet
  3. Lightning address - Point to different provider

Best Practices​

Security​

  • Secure your seed - Backup Alby Hub seed phrase
  • Use strong PIN - Protect extension access
  • Budget connections - Limit NWC spending
  • Regular updates - Keep software current

For Zapping​

  • Set reasonable budget - Match your spending
  • Multiple connections - Different apps, different budgets
  • Monitor usage - Check spending regularly

For Receiving​

  • Share Lightning address - Easy for payers
  • Sufficient inbound - Ensure channel capacity
  • Backup regularly - Protect your channels

Troubleshooting​

Extension Issues​

Can't sign Nostr events:

  1. Check extension is unlocked
  2. Verify site has permission
  3. Check console for errors

Payments failing:

  1. Check wallet balance
  2. Verify connection active
  3. Try smaller amount

Hub Issues​

Channels not working:

  1. Check node is synced
  2. Verify channel state
  3. Check routing liquidity

NWC not connecting:

  1. Verify relay accessible
  2. Check connection string
  3. Regenerate if needed

Resources​

Ecosystem Integration

Alby's strength is its ecosystem integration - one account connects you to Lightning, Nostr, and the broader web. Start with the extension, graduate to Hub when ready for self-custody.