lightning skill

---
name: lightning
description: Send and receive Bitcoin Lightning payments using LNI (Lightning Node Interface). Supports LND, CLN, Phoenixd, NWC, and custodial services (Strike, Blink, Speed).
user-invocable: true
metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"⚡"}}
---

# Lightning (⚡)

Send and receive Bitcoin over Lightning Network using LNI.

*Made in 🤠 Texas ❤️ [PlebLab](https://pleblab.dev)*

![Lightning — Send sats from your chat.](https://files.catbox.moe/cjnf01.png)

---

> ⚠️ **RECKLESS MODE - READ THIS FIRST** ⚠️
>
> **Giving a bot access to your money is dangerous.**
>
> - Use a wallet with a **small amount** you can afford to lose
> - **NEVER** enable this on a bot that outsiders can access via chat
> - This skill is intended for **personal/internal use only**
> - The bot can send payments on your behalf — treat credentials like cash
> - Start small, test thoroughly, proceed with extreme caution
>
> **You have been warned. This is reckless mode.**

## Supported Backends

| Backend | Type | BOLT11 | BOLT12 | LNURL |
|---------|------|--------|--------|-------|
| CLN | Self-hosted | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| LND | Self-hosted | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Phoenixd | Self-hosted | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| NWC | Nostr Wallet | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Spark | Breez SDK | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Strike | Custodial | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Blink | Custodial | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Speed | Custodial | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

## Commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/lightning` | Show wallet info & balance |
| `/lightning invoice <sats> [memo]` | Create invoice |
| `/lightning pay <dest> [amount]` | Pay (BOLT11/BOLT12/LNURL/Address) |
| `/lightning confirm <dest> [amount]` | Confirm & send payment |
| `/lightning decode <invoice>` | Decode invoice details |
| `/lightning history [limit]` | List recent transactions |
| `/lightning contacts` | List saved contacts |
| `/lightning add <name> <dest>` | Save a contact |

## Supported Payment Destinations

The `pay` command auto-detects:
- **BOLT11**: `lnbc10u1p5...`
- **BOLT12**: `lno1pg...` (CLN/Phoenixd only)
- **Lightning Address**: `[email protected]`
- **LNURL**: `lnurl1...`
- **Contacts**: Saved names like `topher`

## Installation

### 1. Download LNI Binary

```bash
cd ~/workspace/skills/lightning
npm run download
```

This downloads the prebuilt native binary for your platform from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/lightning-node-interface/lni/releases).

### 2. Configure Backend

Create `~/.lightning-config.json`:

**CLN (Core Lightning):**
```json
{
  "backend": "cln",
  "url": "https://your-cln-node:3010",
  "rune": "your-rune-token",
  "acceptInvalidCerts": true
}
```

**LND:**
```json
{
  "backend": "lnd",
  "url": "https://your-lnd-node:8080",
  "macaroon": "hex-encoded-admin-macaroon",
  "acceptInvalidCerts": true
}
```

**Phoenixd:**
```json
{
  "backend": "phoenixd",
  "url": "http://127.0.0.1:9740",
  "password": "your-phoenixd-password"
}
```

**NWC (Nostr Wallet Connect):**
```json
{
  "backend": "nwc",
  "nwcUri": "nostr+walletconnect://..."
}
```

**Spark (Breez SDK):**
```json
{
  "backend": "spark",
  "apiKey": "your-breez-api-key",
  "mnemonic": "your 12 word seed",
  "storageDir": "/home/clawd/lightning-data",
  "network": "mainnet"
}
```

#### Provisioning a New Spark Wallet

If the user doesn't have a Spark wallet yet, walk them through these steps:

**Step 1: Generate a 12-word mnemonic seed**

Use the built-in LNI helper:
```js
const lni = require('./lib/lni_js.node');
const mnemonic = lni.generateMnemonic();
console.log(mnemonic);
```
⚠️ Tell the user to **back up their seed phrase securely** — it controls their funds.

**Step 2: Request a Breez API key**

The user must request an API key from Breez for the nodeless (Spark) SDK implementation:

1. Go to: https://breez.technology/request-api-key/#contact-us-form-sdk
2. Fill in their **email** and select the **Nodeless (Greenlight)** implementation
3. Submit the form — Breez will email the API key

**Step 3: Retrieve the API key**

After submitting the form, ask the user:
> "Do you have an email skill configured (e.g., ProtonMail)? I can check your inbox for the Breez API key if you'd like."

If they approve, use the email skill to search for the Breez API key email and extract it.

**Step 4: Create the config**

Once you have the mnemonic and API key, write `~/.lightning-config.json`:
```json
{
  "backend": "spark",
  "apiKey": "<breez-api-key>",
  "mnemonic": "<12-word-seed>",
  "storageDir": "/home/clawd/lightning-data",
  "network": "mainnet"
}
```

**Step 5: Connect and verify**
```js
const node = new lni.SparkNode(config);
await node.connect();
const info = await node.getInfo();
```

**Strike/Blink/Speed (Custodial):**
```json
{
  "backend": "strike",
  "apiKey": "your-api-key"
}
```

### Tor Support (SOCKS5 Proxy)

Connect to your node over Tor for enhanced privacy, or to reach nodes on `.onion` addresses.

**Requirements:**
1. **Tor must be running locally** — install and start the Tor service on your machine
2. Your node must be reachable via Tor (either a `.onion` address or clearnet through Tor)

**Install Tor:**
```bash
# macOS
brew install tor && brew services start tor

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install tor && sudo systemctl start tor

# Arch
sudo pacman -S tor && sudo systemctl start tor
```

**Configure with SOCKS5 proxy:**

Add `socks5Proxy` to any backend config:

```json
{
  "backend": "cln",
  "url": "http://your-node.onion:3010",
  "rune": "your-rune-token",
  "socks5Proxy": "socks5h://127.0.0.1:9050"
}
```

**Common proxy addresses:**
| Service | Address |
|---------|---------|
| Tor daemon | `socks5h://127.0.0.1:9050` |
| Tor Browser | `socks5h://127.0.0.1:9150` |

> 💡 Use `socks5h://` (not `socks5://`) so `.onion` addresses are resolved through Tor, not locally.

## Examples

```bash
# Check balance
/lightning

# Create invoice
/lightning invoice 1000 "Coffee payment"

# Pay Lightning Address
/lightning pay [email protected] 100

# Pay BOLT12 offer
/lightning pay lno1pg... 50

# Save & pay contact
/lightning add topher lno1pg...
/lightning pay topher 69
```

## Files

- `~/.lightning-config.json` - Backend credentials
- `~/.lightning-contacts.json` - Saved contacts

## Security Notes

- Never share macaroons, runes, seeds, or API keys
- Use `acceptInvalidCerts` only for self-signed certs on trusted networks
- Contacts file contains payment destinations only, no secrets

## Credits

Built on [LNI](https://github.com/lightning-node-interface/lni) (Lightning Node Interface).