Lightning payments

With a Lightning address (like [email protected]), send21 can confirm Lightning payments without ever holding them. The invoice comes from the receiver's own wallet provider and pays the receiver directly.

How it works

  • The receiver gives a Lightning address, on a draft (receiverAddress with paymentMethod: "Lightning") or as a pay-link option (method: "Lightning").
  • When the payer is ready, send21 asks that address (LNURL-pay) for an invoice of the exact amount and checks the invoice's amount and network.
  • The payer scans the invoice with any Lightning wallet. The money goes straight to the receiver's wallet.
  • If the provider supports LUD-21, send21 polls its verify URL and confirms the payment once it returns a preimage that hashes to the invoice's payment hash. lightningConfirmable on the draft tells you in advance.

Limits

  • Not every Lightning wallet provider supports LUD-21. Without it the payment works but is not confirmed automatically.
  • A pasted BOLT11 invoice is never confirmed automatically.
  • Invoices expire; the rate lock ends with the invoice. Re-quote the draft for a fresh invoice.
  • The send21 fee is billed to the creator's account and settled on-chain later; a Lightning invoice cannot carry a fee output.

Related

This page is also available as Markdown: /docs/lightning.md. Questions: [email protected].