What is Lightning Address and How to Use It

The Dear Bella Series is a series where Bella answers finance, bitcoin, and Bitnob app questions from Bitnob users. Got a question for Bella? Shoot her an email: bella@bitnob.com

Our article on 7 Clever Ways Content Creators Can Use Their Lightning Addresses To Get Paid For Their Content got a lot of attention. But there were some questions about what is lightning address and how to use it. So, I am here to help you answer those questions. 

What is a Lightning Address?

A lightning address looks like an email address but it’s actually a unique identifier through which people can send you bitcoin via the lightning network. Here’s what mine looks like: bella@bitnob.io. This works differently from a lightning invoice. 

When it comes to a lightning invoice you have to manually generate a lightning invoice for a specific amount before someone can send you bitcoin via the lightning network. But with a lightning address, you don’t have to create an invoice before someone sends you bitcoin. All you need to do is share your lightning address, and the person can send you bitcoin of any amount.  

Pretty cool, right?

A lightning address saves you the extra step and thus makes it the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to receive bitcoin from anyone with a lightning-enabled bitcoin wallet that supports lightning addresses. 

How to Create a Lightning Address on Bitnob

After you have downloaded the Bitnob app, you need to set up your lightning address. Usually, your default lightning address on Bitnob is Your Username + “bitnob.io”. You can customize it but once you’ve set up your lightning address you can no longer change it. 

This is how you set up your lightning address:

Step 1: Tap "Actions" at the bottom of your homepage on the Bitnob app and tap on Lightning

Step 2: Read through the prompt displayed. The prompt shows you your lightning address and warns you that you can no longer change your lightning address after setting it up. Next, tap "Agree"

Step 4: Select a destination for the Bitcoin sent to your Lightning Address. By default, this is set on BTC Wallet. What this means is that when someone sends you bitcoin to your lightning address, the bitcoin goes into your BTC wallet. 

You can always change the settlement destination to your USD wallet, bank account (for Nigerian users), or Momo account (for Ghanaian users). Here’s a tutorial on How to change Lightning Address destination on Bitnob. 

There you go! You’ve successfully set up your lightning address. 

How to Use Your Lightning Address?

This is the fun part. Whenever someone wants to send you bitcoin you can share your lightning address with them. On the Bitnob app, you can easily copy your lightning address by clicking on “Actions” at the bottom of the home screen and then on “Lightning”. 

There are so many ways you can use your lightning address to receive bitcoin from people. We came up with 7 creative ways you can use your lightning address. Click here to check out which one you can start off with today. 

Would you get your lightning address?

There you have it! In this article, you learned what a lightning address is, how to set your lightning address up on the Bitnob app and how to use your lightning address. 

Would you get your lightning address? Send us a tweet to our handle @bitnob_official and let us know how you’d use your lightning address.