Today, I want to dive into a technical issue that’s been on my mind lately. If you’re familiar with Nostr, you’ll know it’s a decentralized protocol somewhat akin to X (formerly Twitter). Unlike X, though, Nostr isn’t a platform — it’s a protocol, which means it’s open and flexible, with various clients to use.
In Nostr, you can receive both likes and zaps (which are small amounts of Bitcoin sent using the Lightning Network). You’ll find a wide range of features on Nostr, such as long-form content via NIP-23 or Pinstr, a tool for sharing photos. But today, I want to focus on zaps: sending and receiving Sats (short for Satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin).
For my transactions, I’ve been using Alby, a custodial Lightning wallet. The zaps are processed through the Lightning Network, and I’ve relied on Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) to link my wallet to my Nostr account. It’s been a simple and efficient system — until now.
The Problem
Alby recently announced they’re discontinuing their custodial wallet service. They’re transitioning to the Alby Hub, a non-custodial system that requires users to essentially run their own Lightning node. While this move aligns with the principles of decentralization, it comes with additional costs: roughly $12/month for hosting the node.
For someone like me, who doesn’t generate significant income from zaps on Nostr, this expense is hard to justify. I suspect many others are in the same boat, grappling with how to adapt to this change.
Seeking a Solution
At the moment, I’m still searching for a viable alternative. The simplicity and accessibility of Alby’s custodial wallet made it a great solution for users like me, who aren’t earning much through Nostr. It’s disappointing to see it go, though I understand the financial challenges of maintaining such a service.
For now, I’m reaching out to the community. Are there other Nostr users out there who have found effective solutions to this issue? Perhaps you’ve discovered a cost-effective way to manage your Lightning wallet or a workaround that doesn’t require running your own node. If so, I’d love to hear your insights.
Final Thoughts
While I’m saddened by the end of Alby’s custodial wallet, I remain hopeful that the Nostr community’s ingenuity will lead to new, user-friendly solutions. In the meantime, I’ll continue exploring my options and sharing what I learn along the way.
If you have any suggestions or experiences to share, please drop a comment or reach out. Let’s figure this out together!