What is Lightning and how can it be used to send and receive payments? How does the Lightning network work? What is a Lightning wallet or a Lightning address?
How to install this simple and practical Bitcoin Lightning wallet with an individual Lightning address and deposit it with Coinsnap
To accept Bitcoin payments in your store with Coinsnap, you need a Lightning Wallet. One of the best wallets – and our recommendation – is the Misty Breez wallet. It’s easy to install without KYC details, self-managed (so extra secure) and easy to use – making it ideal for merchants to receive and store their business Bitcoin earnings.
In this article, we will show you how to set up the Misty Breez wallet to receive Bitcoin and store your individual Lightning address with Coinsnap.
The Misty Breez Wallet is a non-custodial wallet based on the Breez “Nodeless” SDK. It uses the Liquid Sidechain to enable simple and cost-effective integration of Lightning payments.
Main features of Misty Breez:
Self-custody: Users retain complete control over their private keys, which means they have sole access to their Bitcoin.
Easy to use: The wallet requires no setup of Lightning channels or nodes. Users can start sending and receiving payments immediately.
Offline payments: Misty Breez supports receiving payments even in offline mode through mobile notifications.
Broad protocol support: The wallet is compatible with BOLT 11 and BOLT 12 Invoices, LNURL-Pay, Lightning addresses, on-chain BTC addresses and BIP 353.
Open Source: Misty Breez’s source code is publicly available, allowing developers to customize the wallet or integrate it into their own applications.
Difference to other non-custodial wallets:
Misty Breez offers a ready-to-use solution without any additional configuration. This makes it particularly attractive for users looking for a straightforward way to send and receive Bitcoin payments.
In short
Misty Breez is an innovative solution in the field of Bitcoin wallets that combines user-friendliness with the security of self-custody.
By integrating innovative blockchain technology and an extremely easy-to-use user interface, it is a very attractive solution for receiving and storing their Bitcoin earnings, especially for non-tech-savvy merchants who do not want to entrust their Bitcoin to a custodian.
Where can I get the Misty Breez Wallet?
You can download the Misty Breez Wallet on the website or by clicking on the corresponding button for your smartphone:
If you want to have control over your Bitcoin earnings, download the app now and follow the step-by-step installation instructions below:
Step-by-step installation instructions for the Misty Breez Wallet
Since we all use iPhones at Coinsnap, I will guide you through the installation of the Misty Breez wallet using iOS as an example. However, I assume that the process for Android smartphones is similar enough that you can also set up your first non-custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet and Lightning address as an Android user with this step-by-step guide!
Installing the Misty Breez app on your smartphone
Click the correct button for your phone and download the app to your phone.
Click on Install [1]
Open the app [2]
And you’re in your Misty Breez Wallet! [3]
Personalize your Misty Breez Wallet
Now you need to personalize the Misty Breez app. This means you have to enter your username and name your Lightning address. Let’s start by setting your username:
Open the menu at the top left [1]
Click on the icon at the top left, then in the name field [2]
Enter desired name and save[3]
Now all you have to do is give your Lightning address your individual name, and then you have a non-custodial wallet with an individual Lightning address. And you can start accepting Bitcoin on your website right away! And this is how it works:
Click on Receive [1]
Click in the name field and on Customize Address [2]
Enter the desired name, click on Done[3]
Your Lightning address is active![4]
Create seed words to restore your wallet in the event of loss
Every Bitcoin owner’s nightmare is losing their wallet or forgetting their password. Because then (usually) your savings are gone.
Misty Breez – similar to hardware wallets such as Bitbox – takes away this worry: you can generate so-called seed words in the app, which you can use to restore your account at any time and immediately regain access to your Bitcoin assets.
Here we show you how:
Click on the warning sign [1]
Give your consent and click on continue [2]
Note the seed words and click on continue [3]
Now enter the required words and click on verify [1]
Now click on finished [2]
Your wallet is now secure (no morewarning sign !) [3]
Congratulations: You now have a highly secure, non-custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet & Lightning address!
Link Misty Breez Wallet with your Coinsnap account
To accept Bitcoin in your online store, you must have a Coinsnap account linked to your Lightning address and install the desired Coinsnap plugin in your store.
We will now show you how to create a Coinsnap account and store your Misty Breez Lightning address:
Go to coinsnap.io and click on the menu [1]
Now click on Register (or Register) [2]
Enter your e-mail address and a password and click on create account [3]
Now you have to confirm the email and go to the login [1]
The complete guide for donations, projects & campaigns
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding refers to the financing of a project by a large number of individual supporters – usually via the Internet. People donate or invest small amounts in order to achieve a larger goal together. There are different types:
Donation-Based: pure donations without consideration (e.g. for charitable purposes)
Reward-based: Donors receive something in return, e.g. a product
Equity-Based: Investors receive company shares
Lending-Based: Participation via repayment models
Crowdfunding is a billion-dollar market worldwide. According to data from Statista, the global crowdfunding volume in 2023 was over 12 billion USD – with a continuing upward trend.
Bitcoin crowdfunding is a modern variant of classic crowdfunding – with the special feature that supporters do not pay in euros or dollars, but in Bitcoin. The advantages are obvious:
The amounts are directly sent directly to the wallet of the project initiator
It does not need any middlemen or banks
Therefore, no KYC process with the payment service provider is required
Global reach: Anyone with a Bitcoin wallet can donate
Immediate credit via Lightning Network
Ideal for micro-payments – unlike FIAT money orders, no amount is too small to be credited in the Lightning Network
Large donations (over €1,000) also possible via on-chain
Technically, Bitcoin crowdfunding often runs via plugins or platforms that provide a donation form with a QR code and donation targets.
Why is Bitcoin crowdfunding particularly interesting for WordPress?
For website operators
With a market share of over 40%, WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world. For bloggers, NGOs, creators and small companies, it is the ideal tool for bringing content and projects online quickly and flexibly.
With Bitcoin crowdfunding, your own content or project can be financed directly by readers and fans – without third-party providers and without dependence on payment services.
For beginners & people with specific concerns
If you don’t have a website, you can start a WordPress.com blog for free in just a few minutes and use it, for example, to collect Bitcoin for:
medical treatment
an anniversary trip
a celebration (milestone birthday, wedding, christening, etc.)
a social concern
This also works without prior technical knowledge – e.g. with the Coinsnap pluginwhich can be installed directly in WordPress with just one click.
Bitcoin crowdfunding versus FIAT crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is nothing new – unlike Bitcoin crowdfunding. But why should you go for Bitcoin crowdfunding instead of fiat crowdfunding? In the table below you can see some of the key differences–and advantages–of Bitcoin crowdfunding versus fiat crowdfunding:
Bitcoin crowdfunding
Classic crowdfunding (e.g. GoFundMe, Kickstarter)
No fees to banks or payment services
Platform fees up to 10%
Immediate crediting to your own wallet
Payouts often delayed
Globally accessible – no currency barriers
Often country-specific restrictions
No risk of chargebacks
Chargebacks possible
No KYC/verification necessary
Complex registration and verification
Censorship resistant
Projects can be rejected or deleted
In summary, Bitcoin crowdfunding is ideal for small campaigns (target e.g. €200) that would not be possible with a large bureaucratic and cost overhead.
Bitcoin crowdfunding is also ideal for crowdfunding campaigns on topics that fiat payment service providers may not support (issue of censorship).
And of course, Bitcoin crowdfunding is unbeatable if your crowdfunding campaign relies on raising many small amounts (micro-payments) to achieve its goal – raising very small amounts of less than one Euro, for example, is not feasible with conventional fiat crowdfunding solutions!
Cost consideration – what do you get from the donation? Bitcoin versus FIAT
Let’s be honest – crowdfunding is all about one thing: money. And that’s why we now want to look at what percentage of your donors’ money actually goes NET to your crowdfunding fund. To do this, let’s first take a look at the fees:
Overview of fees (typical values)
1. platform fees
GoFundMe: 0 % platform fee (but only for fundraising campaigns), “voluntary” service fee proposed instead
Kickstarter: 5 % platform fee
Indiegogo: 5 % platform fee
Betterplace (for charitable projects): 0 % directly, but voluntary “tips” are heavily advertised
International payments or foreign currency often incur a further 1-2% charge
We will now look at what this means using the example of a donation of €100.
Example of a net payout from a donation of €100
Platform
Platform fee
Payment fee
Total deduction
Payout to project
Kickstarter
5 %
3-5 %
~8-10 %
90-92 €
Indiegogo
5 %
3-5 %
~8-10 %
90-92 €
GoFundMe
0 %
2,9 % + 0,30 €
~3,2 %
~96,80 €
Betterplace
0 %
2,5-3 %
~2,5-3 %
~97 €
Note: With PayPal and Stripe there may be additional fees for currency conversion or country limits. For a donation of €10, for example, the fixed costs can account for a disproportionately large share.
In practice, therefore, depending on the platform and payment method, usually only 90% to 92% of the donation amount actually reaches the project or campaign. And especially with smaller donations or international payment transactions, the net percentage can drop even more significantly!
Bitcoin-based solutions such as Coinsnap largely avoid all these deductions – for example, Coinsnap only charges 1% fees, but no payment processing fees and no third-party fees are due.
That means: Up to 99% of the donation ends up directly in your wallet!
For what purposes can Bitcoin crowdfunding be used?
Bitcoin donations can be used in a variety of ways – here are some practical examples:
Creative projects Book publishing, album production, art
Social emergencies Medical aid, school materials, crisis support
Community initiatives Playground construction, environmental projects, clubs
Content financing YouTube series, podcasts, blog articles
Charity Support good NGOs / activists whose goals you want to promote, such as Bitcoin Zambia (an African education initiative), or a family you know in Ukraine…
Bitcoin crowdfunding has a huge advantage over all fiat crowdfunding platforms – only one percent of the donations are lost on the way from the donor to you – or your beneficiary (infrastructure costs)! Exactly 99% of the donations are credited to your wallet and are available for the purpose of the campaign!
In short, with Bitcoin crowdfunding there are practically no limits to your ideas and creativity: Whatever you want to finance – if you have a good idea and can describe it well to your readers / visitors / followers, then you can use Bitcoin crowdfunding to collect Bitcoin for it.
No matter what it’s about – if other people are interested, you can offer them an easy, fast and secure way to get involved with Bitcoin crowdfunding!
Provider comparison: Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress
There is currently only one dedicated Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress plugin in the official plugin directory – Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding. However, there are various providers that offer external solutions, which then have to be integrated manually. Some examples are these:
Solution Provider
Payment methods
Fees
WP integration
GDPR-compliant
Special features
Coinsnap
Bitcoin (Lightning + on-chain), FIAT payout to bank account optional
1 %
Official WP plugin
Yes
Target amount, multi-amount, shout-outs
BTCPay Server
Bitcoin (on-chain + Lightning)
0 %
Manual integration
Yes
Open source, high control
Tallycoin
Bitcoin (on-chain)
0 %
Externally integrated
Yes
Profile pages, community approach
OpenNode
Bitcoin + fiat payout
~1 %
Restricted
Partially
Fiat conversion, centralized
Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress in practice using the example of Coinsnap
What does the plugin do?
The Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding Plugin for WordPress enables website operators to collect Bitcoin donations for projects, campaigns or personal causes directly on their own WordPress site. The special feature: The contributions are transferred in the form of Satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin) directly and without detours to the wallet of the creator of the campaign – either via the Bitcoin Lightning Network or as a classic on-chain transaction. Processing is completely decentralized and without the involvement of third-party providers, banks or payment service providers.
What does the user interface offer?
Users can make their Bitcoin donations conveniently using a QR code and send a public shout-out or a personal message if they wish. These donor messages can optionally be displayed live on the website – a great way to create transparency and community. The donation forms are integrated using shortcodes and can be flexibly placed anywhere within the WordPress website – whether in pages, blog posts or widgets.
What do you need to use Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding?
All you need to use the plugin – in addition to a WordPress site – is a Coinsnap account or your own BTCPay server. A Lightning wallet or a wallet address is sufficient to receive donations. The plugin is fully GDPR-compliant, as no unnecessary data is stored, and is available free of charge in the official WordPress plugin directory.
How do I install and configure Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding?
The configuration is particularly beginner-friendly: After installation from the WordPress plugin directory, the connection to Coinsnap or your own BTCPay server can be established(see installation instructions).
All campaign parameters can then be set individually: The desired target amount in Satoshis, three preset donation amounts, the description of the project, a welcome text and an optional thank you message. In addition, fields for entering the name, e-mail address and personal message can be activated. If you wish, you can also use the shoutout function, which displays public donor messages directly on the website.
The form is easily integrated via an automatically generated shortcode that can be inserted anywhere on the website. Visitors then see a compact, modern donation form with a progress bar, countdown (if desired) and donation options. After scanning the QR code and confirming, the donation amount is transferred directly to the connected wallet of the campaign creator – quickly, securely and without detours.
Can I also use the plugin with my BTCPay server?
Coinsnap offers two operating modes: In simple mode, the connection is made via a Coinsnap account, which requires no prior technical knowledge. In advanced mode, tech-savvy users can connect the plugin to their own BTCPay server, giving them maximum independence and control over all aspects of the payment processing.
Excursus: legal framework for crowdfunding in Europe
In most countries of the European Community, collecting money as part of a simple crowdfunding campaign – e.g. for a private gift, a creative idea or a social project – is generally is generally permittedas long as no consideration is promised and there is no intention to make a profit exists. In this case, it is legally a case of gifts which do not require special authorization.
Important legal information:
Donations without consideration (donation-based crowdfunding) are unproblematic as long as they are made voluntarily and without any contractual obligation.
Who regularly or commercially collects funds (e.g. for a company) could be subject to the Asset Investment Act or other financial market regulations.
For charitable donations with a donation receipt you need the status of non-profit status from the tax office – purely private individuals are not allowed to issue tax-deductible donation receipts.
For higher individual donations a gift tax may be due – this is the responsibility of the recipient, although allowances apply (e.g. €20,000 for gifts from friends).
It is recommended to maintain transparency about the purpose of the crowdfunding and to use the funds for a specific purpose as described.
As long as you are a private individual or initiative without commercial intent Bitcoin donations for a specific cause–for example via WordPress and the Coinsnap plugin–you are operating within a legally permissible framework in most of Europe. However, individual tax or legal advice is advisable in the event of uncertainties or larger amounts.
Conclusion: Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress is ideal for collecting Bitcoin quickly, cost-effectively and without any technical or bureaucratic effort
Bitcoin crowdfunding for WordPress is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to raise financial support in the form of Bitcoin quickly and easily without any prior technical knowledge, bureaucratic hurdles or complicated third-party services.
People with a specific cause – be it a private project, a social project or a creative goal – benefit in particular from the simple setup and direct payout to their own wallet.
The Coinsnap plugin makes implementation extremely easy: a campaign is live in just a few minutes, donations can be accepted immediately, and supporters from the immediate environment or the online community can contribute to the success of the project without any barriers.
So if you are looking for a modern, independent and accessible crowdfunding solution, Bitcoin Crowdfunding for WordPress offers a clear path to your goal.
Start your first Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign now
With Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding you can start today to collect Bitcoin for your projects and causes from your followers and visitors.
You only have to follow three steps and you can launch your first Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign on your WordPress website in half an hour at the latest:
1. set up a Coinsnap account
2. install & link plugin
3. configure & place campaign
Register with Coinsnap, enter your email address, your WordPress URL and your Lightning address and click on the link in the email you receive from Coinsnap. Done.
Search for Coinsnap Bitcoin Crowdfunding in the WordPress backend under Add plugin, click on Install, and then on Activate. Open the plugin settings and enter the store ID and API key that you can find in your Coinsnap account. Done.
Go to Bitcoin Crowdfunding in the WordPress dashboard on the left, click on Crowdfundings and then on New Crowdfunding. Then fill out the form fields, copy the displayed shortcode where you want to run the campaign, and all deposits will be credited directly to your Lightning Wallet.
Everything you need to know to receive Bitcoin donations!
Monetization is a key topic for bloggers, influencers and content creators. In addition to advertising, affiliate links or subscriptions, direct donations from the community are becoming increasingly important and Bitcoin donations (also known as Bitcoin donations ) are becoming an exciting alternative.
In this blog article, we shed light on what Bitcoin Donations are, why they are interesting for bloggers and influencers and how to use them easily – especially on WordPress. We compare different providers and introduce the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation plugin in detail, including its three donation models simple, multi-amount and shoutout. At the end, there is a conclusion with a call to action on how you can integrate Bitcoin donations on your website yourself.
Bitcoin donations are voluntary payments in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin that are made to support websites, projects or people. Instead of traditional currencies (fiat) such as euros or dollars, donors use Bitcoin to “reward” a blogger for a helpful article, for example, or to support an influencer for their content.
Technically, this usually works in such a way that the content creator provides a Bitcoin address or a donation button. Interested readers or followers can then send any amount using their Bitcoin wallet – worldwide worldwide, with just one click and directly to the recipient in just a few minutes.
There are two ways to transact Bitcoin: On-chain (classic Bitcoin transaction on the blockchain) and via the Lightning Network. Lightning is a secondary network that enables near real-time Bitcoin payments with minimal fees – ideal for very small amounts (micro-donations). Modern Bitcoin donation solutions often support both variants so that donors can choose whether they want to donate on-chain or via Lightning.
For you as a site operator, this means maximum flexibility: you can receive and store Bitcoin directly without having to rely on a third-party provider.
Why are Bitcoin Donations so interesting for WordPress bloggers and content creators?
Bitcoin Donations for WordPress offer their operators various advantages over the classic monetization method of fiat donations:
Global reach Bitcoin is available globally – wherever there is internet access. This means that every fan – no matter where in the world – can easily send you something. And without having to deal with bank details, PayPal & Co.
Maximum simplicity All it takes to make a Bitcoin donation is a scan and a click in the Bitcoin Lightning Wallet, and the support is on its way. This lowers the inhibition threshold for spontaneous “tips” enormously!
Low fees & no middleman With Bitcoin Donations, there are no typical payment provider fees as with credit cards or PayPal. Many Bitcoin payment solutions work with very low fees or even completely free of charge for the recipient. In addition, there are no middlemen or platforms that make money – the money goes directly to you.
No chargebacks or fraudulent payments Chargebacks or fraud are excluded in the blockchain and in the Lightning Network. You benefit from this just as much as your donor.
Independence & resistance to censorship It is particularly important for independent content creators not to be dependent on the mercy of individual payment service providers. Bitcoin is decentralized – no company can freeze your payments or “shut you down”. Even if services like PayPal or Patreon were to block you, loyal readers can continue to support you via Bitcoin. This level of independence and freedom of speech is unique!
Data protection for donors Many supporters wish to donate anonymously or under a pseudonym. With Bitcoin Donations, supporters do not have to disclose any personal data, names or addresses – just carry out a wallet transaction. This makes even security-conscious or shy supporters feel more comfortable. For you as the recipient, there are also fewer data protection issues, as hardly any personal data is processed (no credit card numbers, emails, etc.), which is in line with GDPR compliance.
Micro-donations and new interactions Lightning also enables tiny amounts (e.g. a few cents) that would never arrive with fiat due to the fees. This opens up new forms of interaction: readers could send a few Satoshi (the smallest Bitcoin unit) for each article they read as a token of appreciation. Such micro-donations add up and get the community more involved.
Reach new user groups Cryptocurrencies have long been mainstream. By accepting Bitcoin, you are showing yourself to be innovative and targeting the growing group of crypto enthusiasts. They prefer to support projects that are Bitcoin-friendly. Conversely, there are regions in the world where many people cannot use PayPal but can use Bitcoin. So you are potentially expanding your circle of supporters.
All of the above arguments make Bitcoin Donations highly attractive for bloggers, content creators and influencers, especially if they have a tech-savvy, cross-regional following and are looking for uncomplicated additional sources of income.
What business models and revenue streams are possible with Bitcoin Donations for WordPress?
Bitcoin donations are not only an expression of digital appreciation, but can also be specifically integrated into business-oriented models models. Here are some practical application scenarios for bloggers, influencers and website operators that offer more than just the classic “tip jar”:
Donate in recognition of high-quality content A classic with clear benefits: You offer free, high-quality content (e.g. specialist articles, tutorials, explanatory videos) and give your readers or viewers the opportunity to show their appreciation by donating Bitcoin. The call for donations can be placed specifically at the end of each post – e.g.: “This post helped you? Support my work with a small Bitcoin donation.” In this way, donations become conscious recognition for specific achievements.
Project or format financing (collect target amount) The aim here is to collect a clearly defined amount for a specific project – similar to traditional crowdfunding. Example: “I want to start a new video format and need 0.01 BTC for equipment and editing – help me reach my goal!” This can be integrated as a Bitcoin donation button on a landing page or in the blog. The transparency of the goal motivates many supporters – and you can display the progress as a total or as a percentage, for example.
Donations to promote a good cause Not every donation has to benefit the operator directly. Many bloggers and influencers use their reach to promote a specific cause – e.g. digital education, environmental protection or freedom of expression online. You can use a Bitcoin donation form, for example, to say: “All Bitcoin donations this month will go to the open source initiative XYZ.” Thanks to the transparency of the blockchain, it is even possible to publicly verify that the donated money has been forwarded. This creates trust – and a willingness to donate!
Donations for charitable causes (charity campaign) If you want to use your reach to do good, Bitcoin is also suitable for temporary charity campaigns. For example, you can start a campaign like: “Donate BTC for relief supplies in Ukraine – I will forward everything 1:1 to the NGO.” It is important here to communicate openly where the money is going, how the recipient will be reached and, if necessary, to provide proof. The use of shoutouts or public thank you lists can help to further increase the willingness to donate.
In short, with a little creativity, you can use Bitcoin Donations to generate Bitcoin income in a variety of ways. The important thing is that you describe the reason why you are asking for donations well and motivate your followers and visitors to donate a few sats.
Bitcoin Donations for WordPress: comparison of providers
If you use WordPress, there are now several providers and pluginsto receive Bitcoin donations. We compare three popular solutions below – Coinsnap, BTCPay Server and Coinbase Commerce – based on seven important criteria:
Criterion
Coinsnap Plugin)
BTCPay Server
Coinbase Commerce
Payment methods
Bitcoin (On-Chain & Lightning)
Bitcoin (On-Chain & Lightning)
Bitcoin + Altcoins (BTC, ETH, LTC… no Lightning!)
Fees
1%, no fixed costs
0% platform fee, self-hosting costs possible
1% transaction fee
Complexity
Very simple (plugin, no own server)
Very high: server hosting, server setup etc.
Medium (account + possibly payment system (WooComerce) necessary
Complete control (open source), but DIY/programming skills required
Specifications through Coinbase checkout, limited customization
Data protection
Very high (only email + Lightning address required)
Very high (self-hosted, no external data)
Medium (large provider as intermediary)
WP integration
Excellent (dedicated WP plugin, shortcodes)
OK (WooCommerce plugin for stores; donations via buttons linkable
Good for stores (WooCommerce), extra solution required for pure donations
other
BTPay server option integrated no payment system (e.g. WooCommerce required) can be installed directly from WordPress Pugin directory
ideal for Bitcoin experts with programming knowledge
no Lightning!
Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin in detail
After the overview we now want to take a closer look at the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin as it has been specially developed for WordPress and is therefore a very attractive solution.
Functionality and features
The plugin “Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation” allows you to receive Bitcoin donations on your WordPress site with minimal effort. It connects your website to either Coinsnap or to your own BTCPay server – depending on your settings. This gives you the choice between a convenient all-in-one service (Coinsnap hosts everything for you) or maximum control (you use your own infrastructure). In both cases, the following applies: Payments are immediately credited to your Bitcoin wallet (Lightning) without Coinsnap storing them temporarily.
Implementation is deliberately kept simple: You install the plugin from the official directory, activate it and then go to “Bitcoin Donations -> Settings”. There you enter either your Coinsnap API data (if you use Coinsnap) or the access data to your BTCPay server. After this connection you can create donation buttons or forms. The basic settings (e.g. standard amount, texts, color scheme) can be made conveniently in the admin interface. Programming knowledge is not necessary – everything is done with clicks. You can use the shortcode to place the donation button: In the post text or at the desired position, you insert the shortcode displayed to you, which is then automatically replaced by a donation form.
Special functions
The Coinsnap plugin offers some great features out-of-the-box:
Free or fixed amounts: You can decide whether the donor enters the amount freely as a number (e.g. 20 sats), or whether you specify fixed buttons for e.g. 5€, 10€, 20€ (converted into sats). Both options are possible – even simultaneously in the multi-amount form(see below).
Message from the donor: There is an option to display a message field. The donor can leave a few words there (e.g. “Thank you for your content!”). As the operator, you will see this message in the admin area when the donation is made; for single and multi donations, the message remains private between donor and operatorand the shoutout it becomes public (see next point).
Shoutout function: The outstanding unique selling point is the Shoutout option. If you activate this option, the donor can enter a comment that will be displayed publicly on the website after a successful donation. publicly on the website. This creates a kind of guestbook or “wall of fame” for supporters. The plugin offers the option of displaying all shoutouts next to the form or on a separate page – this increases community participation and encourages others to make a shoutout too. Some WordPress operators use the Shoutout Donation to keep their comment pages SPAM-free – no spammer, and certainly no bot, will pay a few sats before leaving their unwanted comments!(further information)
Enter donor data (optional): If desired, you can add additional fields to the form, such as the donor’s name or e-mail address. This can be useful if you want to thank them personally or send something to larger supporters, for example. However, these fields are optional and can be omitted to preserve the anonymity character anonymity.
Security: The plugin is based on the open source technology BTCPay Server, . All transactions run via secure channels (Coinsnap API with key, BTCPay via URL/key). This means you don’t have to worry about someone redirecting your donations without authorization – as long as you don’t pass on API keys, everything is secure. In addition, the Bitcoin does not remain in WordPress or the plugin, but goes directly to your wallet, which further minimizes the risk.
The three donation models
As already mentioned, the Coinsnap plugin provides three different types of donation forms available:
“Simple” (Bitcoin Donation Button)
This is the classic donate button. In its simplest form, it is a “Donate Bitcoin” button that can have a small input field for the amount. The visitor can usually enter the desired amount here (or there is a preset default) and optionally leave a message for you. After clicking on “Donate”, a QR code or payment link is generated, which the user can pay with their wallet. This model is suitable if you want to keep it as simple as possible ideal for sidebar buttons or at the end of blog posts with the call “If you liked the article, I’d appreciate a Bitcoin donation!”.
“Multi-Amount” (three preset donation amounts)
This is a donation form that three predefined amounts to choose from. For example, you could offer €5, €10, €20 in sats to choose from (you define the exact values in the plugin setting). The user then simply clicks on one of the buttons instead of entering an amount themselves. Of course, a message field can also be included here. Multi-Amount is suitable for giving donors an orientation many then opt for the average value. It lowers the cognitive hurdle (“How much should I give?”). Technically, the plugin generates three buttons next to each other. As soon as the user clicks on one, the payment process runs in exactly the same way as with the simple model. This format is ideal for donation pageswhere you ask for support and provide suggestions straight away.
Test Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation
[coinsnap_bitcoin_donation]
“Shoutout”
This is the special model where the donor receives a public message/comment can leave. The form asks for a nickname and the message (amount too, of course), and after payment this message is displayed on your website – either directly next to the donation form or collected on a special page: you can place the shoutout list via shortcode wherever you want.
This model is great for engaging the community: Donors feel heard because their message is visible. Example: A reader donates 500 sats and writes “Great article, helped me a lot! – Max”. This message may then appear below the article in a list of supporter comments. In this way, new visitors will also see that your work is appreciated and may be motivated to donate and write something as well.
Spam protection is automatically provided – anyone who wants to troll would have to pay at least a few satoshi, which significantly increases the inhibition threshold. Many creators use shoutouts to enable live interactions (e.g. you could read out the latest shoutouts in the stream, etc.). The Coinsnap plugin offers this function out-of-the-box, which sets it apart from other donation solutions.
With its features and user-friendliness, the Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation Plugin is an all-round well thought-out solution for WordPress: It combines user-friendliness user-friendliness, flexibility and security. Whether you simply want to add a small donation button or an interactive donation board with comments – the plugin provides the necessary functions.
In addition, it is free of charge and advertises with strong arguments such as instant credit to your wallet, absolutely beginner-friendly and GDPR-compliant. For bloggers and influencers who want to set foot in the Bitcoin world, trying out this absolutely recommend trying out this plugin!
Conclusion: Bitcoin Donations for WordPress open up new sources of income
Bitcoin Donations for WordPress are more than just hype – they offer WordPress bloggers and content creators a new, future-oriented source of income.
Low fees, global reach and technical simplicity make Bitcoin donations an attractive alternative or supplement to traditional donations via PayPal & Co. WordPress users benefit in particular from special plugins such as Coinsnap, which make integration a breeze. We have seen that anyone can set up a Bitcoin donation function on their site in just a few steps – and thus provide their community with a modern way to donate, say thank you in the form of Bitcoin in the form of Bitcoin.
For you as a blogger/influencer, this means: why not simply test? Set up Bitcoin donations on your website today – for example with the Coinsnap plugin presented here – and convince yourself of the possibilities . Your readers will love having another option to support you. And you’ll open up a source of income that fits perfectly into the digital age.
In a digital world full of bots, spam and fake surveys, it is becoming increasingly important to distinguish genuine user interaction from automated distortion. This is exactly where our new, innovative solution comes in: Bitcoin Voting with the Coinsnap plugin for WordPress.
With the Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin, you can not only offer secure, paid voting on your WordPress website, but also earn a few Satoshis – the smallest unit of Bitcoin – along the way.
Find out more in this article:
What Bitcoin Voting is
What advantages it offers – for you and your visitors
How to install and configure the Coinsnap plugin
For whom Bitcoin Voting is particularly worthwhile
How you can even use the voting plugin as a competition
What is Bitcoin Voting?
Bitcoin Voting is an innovative voting system in which participants make a small Bitcoin payment to take part in a survey or vote.
With the Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin for WordPress, this payment is processed in sats (satoshis) – micropayments that are perfect for interactions on the web.
The idea behind it: Anyone who wants to vote must pay a small amount – e.g. 50 or 100 sats. This makes participation valuable, spam-resistant and bot-proof. At the same time, the site operator receives a small reward – in the form of Bitcoin.
Why paid votes?
In traditional online surveys, it is almost impossible to prevent bots, multiple participation or manipulation.
Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting solves this problem with a simple but effective mechanism: only those who pay are allowed to vote. And of course you can also specify that each visitor can only vote once!
Advantages of Bitcoin Voting:
Protection against bots and spam votes
Higher quality interactions through real users
Small additional income through micropayments
Low entry barrier for participants (a few sats)
Full control over options, duration and conditions
Be creative and decide:
How many possible answers there are (up to four)
What choices your voters have
How many sats a vote costs
Whether multiple votes are allowed
How long the voting runs for
Whether additional information (name, e-mail, address) is requested – e.g. for competitions
How easy the Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin works
The Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin is specially developed for WordPress and is very easy to set up. It works with the Coinsnap Gateway (for which you don’t need any specialist knowledge) as well as with your BTCPay Server if you are an advanced Bitcoiner.
And, most importantly, with Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting you are completely independent of third-party providers or central payment services – so you don’t have to answer endless questions or provide extensive proof or documents: To bring Bitcoin Voting to your WordPress site with Coinsnap, all you have to do is register with your email address, your website URL and the address of your Bitcoin Lightning wallet.
Ready to go in just three steps
If you want, you can offer Bitcoin Voting on your website in just 10 minutes. It’s very simple:
Specify the voting options, define the price per vote and select the desired additional functions (e.g. conditions of participation, duration of poll, requesting information).
Place the poll
Insert the generated shortcode at the desired position on your website – done!
What are the technical requirements?
The technical requirements for using Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting are minimal. All you need is:
an up-to-date WordPress website
the Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin
a Coinsnap account (and if necessary your own BTCPay server)
a Bitcoin Lightning wallet for receiving the sats
Example: A Bitcoin vote on your website could look like this
Imagine you run a Bitcoin blog and want your readers to vote on which Bitcoin Lightning wallet is the best. In the config-tab you create a poll with four options:
Wallet of Satoshi
Blink Wallet
Strike Wallet
Aby Wallet
You specify that each vote costs 21 sats (less than a cent at the current exchange rate). Your readers choose their favourite wallet, pay the amount via Lightning – and you not only get a real result, but also a small reward!
Bitcoin voting as part of a competition
A particularly exciting feature of the Coinsnap plugin is the option to expand the voting into a competition. You can specify that participants also leave personal details such as their name, email or address so that you can send them the prize if they win.
This makes Bitcoin Voting not only a tool for voting, but also a smart tool for:
Customer loyalty
Newsletter development
Lead generation
Community campaigns
In short: Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting is more than just a voting tool. With this plugin you can activate your followers, generate new income and gain interesting insights into the opinions and interests of your crowd!
Results of a Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting poll
For which WordPress bloggers or website operators is Bitcoin Voting worthwhile?
Bitcoin Voting is suitable for all WordPress operators who want to encourage genuine user participation and at the same time benefit from a small but steady stream of income.
The plugin is particularly worthwhile for:
Content creators and bloggers Offer your community the opportunity to co-create content – in return for a small Bitcoin donation.
Shop operators Let customers vote on new products or designs – and combine the voting with exclusive discounts or giveaways.
Clubs and communities Organise democratic, tamper-proof votes within your community.
Startups and developers Test feature ideas with real users – and use the payment principle to filter out only serious opinions.
Conclusion: Bitcoin Voting – the perfect combination of user participation and monetisation
Get more out of your website with the Coinsnap Bitcoin Voting plugin. You activate your visitors, offer them an interesting form of co-determination and protect your surveys from manipulation at the same time. And best of all: you earn a few sats with every vote.
The plugin can be seamlessly integrated into WordPress, is flexibly customisable and even offers the option of running competitions. For anyone who uses Bitcoin – or wants to try it out – this tool is an easy way to combine web interaction and Bitcoin microtransactions.
In this blog, we explain what the Blink Wallet is and why it is particularly suitable for merchants who sell their offerings for Bitcoin but do not want to hold the Bitcoin for the long term, but need its equivalent value for ongoing operations.
In this article, you will learn how to install and set up a Blink Wallet and create a personal Lightning address. We’ll also explain how to choose the right account type for your business needs and how to set the wallet to your national fiat currency.
With the step-by-step guide, you can create a business-ready Bitcoin Lightning wallet in just a few minutes and start marketing your Bitcoin offering.
The Blink Wallet is a custodial Bitcoin Lightning Wallet that contains two balance accounts – one for Bitcoin, the other for US dollars (Stablesats). “Custodial” means that your funds are held by Blink. (You should therefore regularly transfer your earnings to your Bitcoin hardware wallet).
The two different balance accounts give you the choice of participating in changes in the price of Bitcoin against the dollar (Bitcoin account) or excluding the volatility risk (dollar account), see below.
And – very important – with the Blink Wallet you will also receive a Lightning address, which you can name yourself (and thus e.g. “brand”), see below. You can use this Lightning address for your Coinsnap account – so that all your incoming payments will be credited there!
Another important feature of the Blink Wallet is that you can receive (and of course make) payments with Lightning or on-chain, depending on your needs and wishes. Lightning payments are ideal for amounts under around €1,000, as Lightning payments are lightning fast and particularly cheap. If you need to receive larger amounts, we recommend the on-chain payment method, which takes a little longer and is slightly more expensive but can also process large amounts for which Lightning is not suitable.
We will show you below how to install the Blink Wallet, set up your Lightning address, select your preferred credit type and your local currency.
Install and set up a Blink Wallet
You can find the Blink Wallet in your app store for both Android and iPhones. We will now install Blink for iPhones.
To do that, go to the app store, search for “Blink” and select the “Blink (Bitcoin Beach Wallet)” App [1]. Once she has been downloaded, click on “open” [2] and then on “create new account” [3] on the app’s home screen.
Now you have to accept the terms and conditions [1], enter your phone number and click on “Send by SMS” [2]. You will then receive a code via SMS, which you enter in the next window. You will then be in your Blink Bitcoin Lightning Wallet for the first time [3].
You have now installed Blink and set up an account. To be able to work with Blink – or to use the Blink wallet to register with Coinsnap – you still need to do two things: First, to set up your Lightning address, then to select the default account. We will show you how to do this in the following two paragraphs.
Create your branded Lightning address
Without your personal Lightning address, you cannot receive or make Bitcoin Lightning payments. In particular, you need your Lightning address so that your customers’ payments can be credited to you. Blink makes it easy for you to create a personalized or branded Lightning address.
To do that, go to the menu [1] and click on “Set Your Lightning Address” [2] under “Ways to get paid” on the next screen. In the pop-up, enter the name of your address, we’ll enter “CoinsnapDemo” here, and then click on “Set Lighting address” [3].
Now you have a fully-fledged, personal Lightning address (in our case “CoinsnapDemo@blink.sv” ) – and you’re ready to accept Bitcoin payments from customers from all over the world!
Select your preferred account type (Bitcoin or Stablesats/USD)
Now all you have to do is select your preferred account type. This is important, as the Bitcoin price is subject to constant fluctuations, which can be quite significant.
If you believe in the long-term growth of the Bitcoin price and do not want to spend your Bitcoin immediately or transfer it to your company bank account in your local currency, you should choose Bitcoin as your default balance type. If you want to play it safe or realize your earnings 1-to-1, you are better off with the dollar account.
To choose your preferred account type, go to “Default Account” [1] under “Preferences”. On the next screen, you can now select “Bitcoin” or “Stablesats (USD)” [2]. (In our case, we have selected “Bitcoin”.)
Depending on what you have selected, you will now receive your earnings either on the Bitcoin account, where their value can increase (or decrease), or on the dollar account, where – regardless of the Bitcoin exchange rate – your exact sales value will be kept (in US dollars).
Select local currency
Last but not least, you should select your local currency so that you can see your balances in the currency you are selling your listings for. This is just as easy as selecting the default account.
Simply go to “Currency” [1] in the menu under “Preferences” and select your local currency from the following drop-down menu [2]. Now your home screen is switched to euros [3] and you don’t have to convert your account balances every time to know what you own (in euro-equivalent credit)!
Conclusion
The Blink wallet is quick and easy to install and is characterized by its simple operation.
The offer of a Stablesats dollar account is particularly interesting for merchants who want to act at short notice to pay invoices, for example. With the dollar account, they hedge against short-term fluctuations in the Bitcoin exchange rate and can realize their sales at the actual sales price.
The Blink wallet is therefore ideal for entrepreneurs to be credited with Bitcoin sales from their online store.
If you are unsure whether Blink is the right wallet for you, here are some other wallets that are supported by Coinsnap and that we recommend.
Offer Bitcoin payment anywhere with the Coinsnap Payment Button
Sell products, merchandise, or services easily for Bitcoin, anywhere on your WordPress website
What is a Payment Button?
The payment button allows you to sell individual products and services on your website.
You create a description of the product you want to sell on your website.
You add the Coinsnap payment button to this product description.
When the payer clicks on the payment button, the QR code is displayed and they can pay with Bitcoin Lightning.
So that you as the payee also know who the payment is from, the payer can enter their email address. You can then send a message or a digital product to this email address.
There is also a message field. Here the payer can enter a message or other information relevant to the purchase.
The payment button is interesting for websites that want to sell individual products or services and for which a shop software solution is somewhat oversized.
How can I create a payment button?
Go to the menu item Pay-Tools in the Coinsnap backend. Here you will find the submenu item Pay button and can create a new payment button (see image on the right).
You now have the option of creating the payment button according to your individual requirements.
Enter your own name in the Title field so that you can differentiate between them if you create several payment buttons.
Then enter the amount to be paid and the corresponding currency under Currency. In our example, 5 euros.
In the Redirect Url field, enter the url to which you want to be redirected after successful payment.
This can be a thank you page or a page on which the purchased content is displayed or offered for download.
In the Button Text field, you can specify what should be displayed to the payer on the payment button.
You can specify the colour of the button in the Button Background field and the colour of the text in the Button Text Color field.
If you are using a CSS theme on your website, these settings will be overwritten by the values of the theme.
This ensures that the button matches your website.
You can then choose whether you want to request the payer’s email address and whether you want to give them the option of sending you a message.
In this case, you activate Collect Email or Collect Message.
Then click on Create Payment Button and you will see a preview of the payment button:
The appearance on your website may look slightly different later, as the payment button can take over the design of your website.
You will then be shown the HTML code for your website.
You can now copy this code and paste it into the desired place on your website.
On our website, the payment button will look like this:
If you would like to integrate such a payment button on your website, open a Coinsnap account now and create your own customised payment button.
You use the service of Coinsnap and your customers can pay with Bitcoin and Lightning? Then you get the sales of your customers in the form of Lightning credited to your own Lightning Wallet.
However, you may prefer to have this Lightning credit paid out in Euros to your own bank account. In this case, you can forward your Lightning balance to a Lightning broker and it will be immediately converted into Euros and paid out to your bank account. Coinsnap itself does not offer exchange of bitcoin into euros, dollars or other currencies, but it works with partners who enable the exchange and withdrawal to a bank account.
By working with various Bitcoin brokers, it is possible to pay out in different currencies and to bank accounts in different countries and regions.
As a Coinsnap merchant, you are free to choose your Bitcoin broker
In addition to the fees, it is important to consider the country of the bank where you have your bank account and the currency in which the payout is to be made. As a rule, you have to register separately with the relevant Bitcoin brokers and enter your personal data and bank details. Each Lightning broker has different requirements for the documents and information to be submitted about your company. With some Lightning Broker, the account opening can also be started directly from Coinsnap. You will receive your own Lightning address from the Bitcoin or Lightning broker, which you can deposit with Coinsnap. All incoming Bitcoin and Lightning payments from your customers will be forwarded by Coinsnap to this Lightning address. The amount is then credited to your Lightning Broker, who converts the incoming amount into euros or another fiat currency and pays it out to your bank account. Depending on the amount, payment can be made per incoming payment or cumulatively. Instead of a Lightning address, the Lightning broker can also provide access data in another form, which you can enter in the corresponding fields of the respective provider in the Coinsnap backend.
The fiat invoice amount to be paid by the customer is calculated using the Bitcoin exchange rate provided by Lightning Brokers. The final conversion takes place at the time the payment is received by the Lightning Broker. When paying by Bitcoin (onchain), the time of crediting depends on the confirmation on the blockchain, which can take an hour or longer. If the end customer pays via Lightning, the Lightning Broker is credited within a few seconds and is virtually risk-free due to price fluctuations. Below is a list of Bitcoin and Lightning brokers to which Coinsnap offers a connection. This list of Lightning Broker connections is constantly being expanded. If your Lightning broker is not yet listed here, please inform them about the possibility of working with Coinsnap and ask them to contact us.
DFX.Swiss
DFX is a Swiss crypto exchange and offers the possibility to buy and sell Lightning.
Coinsnap customers have the possibility to automatically convert the incoming Lightning payments of their end customers into Euro or CHF and have them paid out to their own bank account.
Payments can be made to all countries that are members of the SEPA area.
The SEPA countries include the 27 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the Czech Republic), the three EEA states Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein as well as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, San Marino, Vatican City, Andorra, Montenegro and Monaco.
The fee for converting Lightning into euros or Swiss francs is 1.49% of the turnover. Merchants who wish to have their customers’ turnover paid out to a bank account must select the provider DFX in the backend under Payouts to bank account. The fields Account holder, IBAN bank details and Bank account currency can be entered there. No further details are required as long as the turnover submitted is less than CHF 1,000 / € 950 per day or CHF 100,000 / € 95,000 per year. If the turnover exceeds this limit, an additional identification check is required in accordance with Swiss law. The fee is then 1.99% of the turnover.
Strike
The Strike Wallet is a Bitcoin Lightning Wallet with a bank account.
The Strike Wallet is particularly suitable for store operators who prefer to have sales from their online store paid out to their own bank account instead of in Bitcoin.
In addition to the US and Europe, Strike is available in more than 95 other countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador and Serbia.
Any online merchant in whose country Strike is available can accept payments from their customers via Coinsnap Bitcoin Lightning and receive the credit either in Bitcoin or in their local currency to their bank account.
The Strike Wallet is an ideal addition to the use of Coinsnap. With the Strike Wallet, a Coinsnap merchant has the option of either having the transactions credited to their Bitcoin wallet or to their own bank account. Wherever Strike is available, merchants can accept Bitcoin Lightning payments in their online store and receive the payout to their own bank account via Strike. All you have to do is install the Strike app on your smartphone, verify yourself and enter your bank account. You then open an account with Coinsnap and deposit the Lightning address provided by Strike. Once you have installed the Coinsnap payment plugin in your online store, your customers can pay you with Bitcoin Lightning and the equivalent value is credited to the Strike Cash Wallet in your local currency and can be paid out to your own bank account.
> €50,000 0.79% If you turn over less than €1,000 per month with Bitcoin in your online store and want to have the equivalent value paid out to your bank account via Strike, you will pay a fee of 1.29%, for example.
You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to install the Strike app on your smartphone and deposit it with Coinsnap in the article: Withdrawal via Strike to your own bank account
Pocket Bitcoin (in implementation)
Pocket Bitcoin is a Swiss Bitcoin broker that is currently testing the purchase and sale of Lightning. The purchase of Lightning credit is already possible during the test phase. The sale of Lightning, i.e. the exchange of Lightning into euros or CHF, is not yet possible.
Coinsnap is currently integrating the sale of Lightning via Pocket Bitcoin. Completion is planned for Q3/2024.
Coinfinity (planned)
Coinfinity is an Austrian Bitcoin broker that is currently testing the purchase and sale of Lightning. The purchase of Lightning credit is already possible during the test phase. The sale of Lightning, i.e. the exchange of Lightning for euros, is not yet possible.
As soon as an API interface for the sale of Lightning is available, Coinsnap will check whether a technical integration into the Coinfinity system is possible.
21Bitcoin (requested)
21Bitcoin is an Austrian Bitcoin broker that is currently testing the purchase and sale of Lightning. The purchase of Lightning credit is already possible during the test phase. The sale of Lightning, i.e. the exchange of Lightning for euros, is not yet possible.
As soon as an API interface for the sale of Lightning is available, Coinsnap will check whether a technical integration into the 21Bitcoin system is possible.
Lightning Broker wanted
Coinsnap is interested in working with Bitcoin brokers that offer Lightning sales and withdrawals to bank accounts.
Coinsnap is looking to partner with other Lightning brokers to offer payouts in other currencies and countries.
Coinsnap is a payment service provider that enables its merchants to accept Bitcoin and Lightning payments in their online stores. Some merchants want to keep the Bitcoin sales, while others prefer to have the Bitcoin Lightning payments they receive paid out to their bank account.
Therefore, we are looking for partners where these merchants can sell the Bitcoin Lightning sales and receive a credit in fiat to their bank account.
This means that the sales process should be automated for the merchant. The merchant should not have to go to the Lightning Broker website and manually enter the data for each sale. The data should be transferred automatically by Coinsnap.
The process could look like this: The end customer orders something for €50 in the online store. Coinsnap asks the Lightning Broker for the current exchange rate and receives, for example, 100,000 sats in response. Coinsnap creates a Lightning invoice. The end customer pays 100,000 sats and Coinsnap forwards the sats to the Lightning Broker. The Lightning Broker exchanges the 100,000 sats for €50 and transfers them to the merchant’s bank account.
The implementation scenarios are listed below:
Lightning address: One solution would be for the Coinsnap customer to open an account with a Lightning broker and receive a Lightning address from them. The merchant saves the Lightning address of the Lightning broker in the Coinsnap backend. Coinsnap then forwards the merchant’s Bitcoin Lightning earnings to this Lightning address. The Lightning Broker then converts the incoming Lightning payments into fiat and pays them out to the merchant’s bank account.
API connection: Coinsnap already has some information about the merchant. This data can be transferred to the Lightning Broker when registering a new merchant or a transaction.
1. User registration is required:
The service must allow users to register. Registration includes receiving a signature message, signing it and registering via an endpoint. Users can optionally provide additional information such as wallet and transfer/bank details.
2. the requirement for KYC verification
KYC verification is subject to regional regulations and may be optional in some countries and mandatory in others. The service should offer the possibility of KYC verification based on transaction volume thresholds. However, in cases where KYC is required, users must undergo identity verification via the API to ensure compliance.
3. transaction requirements:
The service should provide an API through which users can obtain offers for the sale of cryptocurrencies.
When your customers pay with Bitcoin or Lightning in your webshop, these transactions are credited to your own Lightning wallet.
To do this, you need a Lightning wallet with your own Lightning address.
This Lightning address is stored in the Coinsnap backend and all payments are credited to your Lightning wallet via this Lightning address.
A Lightning address looks like an email address, but instead of messages, you can use it to send and receive Bitcoin via Lightning.
Most Lightning wallets are installed as an app on your smartphone.
Using the example of the Wallet of Satoshi, we will show you how to obtain a Lightning wallet with a Lightning address.
We have listed other wallet providers below where you can also obtain your own Lightning address.
Lightning address of Wallet of Satoshi
Using Wallet of Satoshi as an example, we explain how to get your own Lightning address.
The other providers we have listed below work in a similar way.
You have two options for obtaining the Wallet of Satoshi:
Either you go to the website https://www.walletofsatoshi.com/ and there you will find the two download options for the App Store or Google Play.
Or you go directly to the store on your smartphone and search for the Wallet of Satoshi there.
After you have started the Wallet of Satoshi on your smartphone, you will see a Receive button at the bottom left. Click on it.
The adjacent window opens. Below the QR code you will find the Lightning address, which looks like an e-mail address. This is your Lightning address, which you can give to anyone you want to receive sats from. You deposit this Lightning address with Coinsnap and all incoming Bitcoin and Lightning payments are credited directly to your Bitcoin Lightning wallet via the Lightning address.
Provider of a Lightning Wallet with a Lightning address
With the following Lightning Wallet providers, you will receive a Lightning Wallet with a Lightning address to be able to send and receive Lightning payments.
If you know of other Lightning wallet providers that offer users a Lightning address for receiving payments, please let us know. We would like to add them to our list of Lightning Wallet providers.
Sales in your webshop are credited to your Lightning Wallet in the form of Bitcoin Lightning. Lightning is essentially Bitcoin in a different form. This difference is comparable to the difference between physical cash, which is used for payments, and money in a bank account, which is intended for savings. If you want to store Lightning without using it for payments, it is advisable to store it in a secure Bitcoin hardware wallet. These Bitcoin hardware wallets, such as Bitbox, Trezor or Ledger, do not yet support Lightning, which is why the Lightning balance must be exchanged back into Bitcoin. This process is also known as a swap. This swap service is offered by Boltz Exchange, for example.
If we want to make a swap from Lightning to Bitcoin, we select Lightning in the top line and enter the amount in Sats that we want to swap. In our example, 1 million sats. The system automatically calculates how many Sats are credited to our Bitcoin wallet. Boltz charges a fee of 0.5% for this swap service and the network fees for the entry in the blockchain must also be paid. In the Enter BTC address field, we enter the Bitcoin address to which we would like to receive the credits. We receive this Bitcoin address from our hardware Bitcoin wallet, for example. Once we have filled in the relevant fields, we click on the button labeled: Create Atomic Swap.
We receive a Lightning Invoice in the form of a QR code. The amount of the Lightning Invoice is 1 million sats and we can pay this invoice by scanning the QR code or via Webln. If we click on Pay Invoice via Webln, we can access our Alby Lightning Wallet via the browser extension and pay. We can also use Copy Lightning Invoice to copy the Lightning Invoice to our clipboard and then paste it into the Send field in our Lightning Wallet and make the payment.
After we have paid the Lightning Invoice, this is displayed accordingly on the website.
When we click on Open Lockup Address, we are redirected to the Mempool.Space page and receive the status of our transaction. The swap was successfully completed and the bitcoins are credited to our own Bitcoin wallet after six confirmations.
It’s so easy to convert your Lightning balance into Bitcoin and load it onto your own Bitcoin wallet. Coinsnap is in the process of integrating a direct connection to Boltz Exchange. This enables automatic conversion and immediate transfer to your Bitcoin address as soon as you have a Lightning balance.
Bitcoin payments via the Lightning network enable fast, cost-effective and secure payment processing and are therefore ideal for crediting customer sales directly to the merchant.
As a Lightning payment provider, Coinsnap focuses on payment processing via Lightning and accordingly offers the forwarding of customer sales in the form of Lightning as a standardized version.
The customer’s Bitcoin or Lightning payment is forwarded as Lightning to the merchant’s Lightning Wallet.
The standard method is Lightning forwarding to a Lightning wallet with a Lightning address.
The merchant is free to choose which Lightning wallet to forward to from the solutions available on the market.
The sats credited to the Lightning Wallet are immediately available to the trader. Bitcoin via the Lightning network is ideal for payment processing and it makes sense for merchants to use the Lightning balance to pay suppliers and employees via Lightning. Most Lightning wallets with a Lightning address are externally managed (custodial) Lightning wallets. This means that the wallet balance is held by the provider of the Lightning Wallet and not by you. Accordingly, you should only leave a small amount of your Bitcoin balance on the Lightning Wallet for a short time.
When choosing a Lightning Wallet, you can opt for a self-managed (self-custody) Lightning Wallet with a Lightning address. So far, the only provider of a self-managed Lightning Wallet with a Lightning address is Zeus, but it is to be expected that other self-managed Lightning Wallet providers will offer a Lightning address. If you want to store your Lightning balance for the long term, we recommend storing it on your own Bitcoin hardware wallet. The provider Bitbox has already announced a Lightning integration. When using a pure Bitcoin hardware wallet without Lightning integration, a switch from Lightning to Bitcoin must be made. The swap from Lightning to Bitcoin can be carried out with the provider Boltz.Exchange. We have described exactly how this exchange works in the article Payout in Bitcoin.
No payment system is simpler, easier to implement and more limitless for users than Coinsnap Bitcoin – Lightning Payment. See here 11 good reasons for Bitcoin – Lighting payment from the perspective of an online store operator:
Expansion of the customer base
By accepting Bitcoin, merchants can appeal to customers who prefer or exclusively use cryptocurrencies. This expands the potential customer base and can lead to additional sales.
Lower transaction costs
Bitcoin transactions with Coinsnap are very favorable compared to traditional payment methods, especially credit cards, as Coinsnap only charges one percent (1%) of the invoice amount for payment processing. This can be particularly advantageous for international transactions, as there are no currency exchange fees.
Faster transactions
Bitcoin – Lightning transactions are processed by Coinsnap almost in real time. This is advantageous for merchants and customers who prefer fast payment processing.
No chargebacks
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. This protects merchants from chargebacks and fraud, which can occur more frequently with credit card payments.
Decentralized currency
Bitcoin – Lightning is a decentralized payment method that is not controlled by any government or institution. The Coinsnap payment method is available to merchants anywhere in the world, regardless of their business model. Whether in Andorra or Zambia – with Coinsnap, merchants sell their offers to anyone who wants to buy them with Bitcoin (without cumbersome preliminary checks by a payment provider or limits for the customer).
Internationalization
Bitcoin – Lightning allows merchants to easily sell internationally without having to worry about currency exchange or different payment methods in different countries.
Marketing benefits
Offering Bitcoin – Lightning payment can be perceived as innovative and modern and can therefore be used as a marketing tool to attract technology-savvy customers.
Protection against inflation
Bitcoin is often seen as a hedge against inflation. Traders who hold Bitcoin could also benefit from a long-term increase in the value of the cryptocurrency.
Data protection and security
Bitcoin – Lightning payments do not require customers’ personal information, which increases privacy and reduces the risk of identity theft. In particular, customers who are afraid of this feel more secure and more inclined to make a purchase.
Diversification of payment methods
By integrating Bitcoin – Lightning as a payment method, merchants diversify their payment options, which can increase resilience to outages or issues with traditional payment providers.
No hurdles for end users
In contrast to providers such as bitpay, coinbase, crypto.com etc., Coinsnap is “barrier-free”: Payers can pay with all Bitcoin and Lightning wallets, including those from bitpay, coinbase and crypto.com. Only the merchants need a Lightning Wallet for the credit.
Coinsnap: Bitcoin – Lightning payment for many applications
Coinsnap payment modules are available for the most important, most frequently used store systems and WordPress applications. And more are being added all the time.
It couldn’t be easier: earn Bitcoin with a Snap!
In just 3 steps to eCommerce with Bitcoin – Lightning:
Set up a Coinsnap account
No bureaucracy: You only need an email address and your store URL!
Connect Lightning Wallet
It really couldn’t be easier: enter the address of your Lightning Wallet and you’re done.
Install Coinsnap plugin
Simply upload the Coinsnap plugin, activate it and enter your data.
…and you already have Bitcoin – Lightning Payment in your online store!
If your customers pay with Bitcoin or Lightning in your webshop, these transactions will be credited to your own Lightning wallet.
To do this, you need a Lightning wallet with your own Lightning address.
This Lightning address is stored in the Coinsnap backend and all payments are credited to your Lightning wallet via this Lightning address.
A Lightning address looks like an email address, but instead of messages you can use it to send and receive Bitcoin via Lightning. Coinsnap is compatible with most Lightning wallets, but there are differences in usability and features. Therefore …
Coinsnap recommends the following Lightning Wallets:
Wallet of Satoshi
Ideal for “beginners”: simple setup, easy to operate, uncomplicated and secure.
Using the example of the Wallet of Satoshi, we will show you how to obtain a Lightning wallet with a Lightning address.
We have listed other wallet providers below where you can also obtain your own Lightning address.
Lightning Wallet from Wallet of Satoshi
Using Wallet of Satoshi as an example, we explain how to get your own Lightning address.
The other providers we have listed below work in a similar way.
You have two options for obtaining the Wallet of Satoshi:
Either you go to the website https://www.walletofsatoshi.com/ and there you will find the two download options for the App Store or Google Play.
Or you go directly to the store on your smartphone and search for the Wallet of Satoshi there.
After you have started the Wallet of Satoshi on your smartphone, you will see a Receive button at the bottom left. Click on it.
The adjacent window opens. Below the QR code you will find the Lightning address, which looks like an e-mail address. This is your Lightning address, which you can give to anyone you want to receive sats from.
You deposit this Lightning address with Coinsnap and all incoming Bitcoin and Lightning payments are credited directly to your Bitcoin Lightning wallet via the Lightning address.
The Blink Wallet is a custodial Bitcoin Lightning Wallet that contains two balance accounts – one for Bitcoin, the other for US dollars (Stablesats). “Custodial” means that your funds are held by Blink. (You should therefore regularly transfer your earnings to your Bitcoin hardware wallet).
With the two different balance accounts, you have the choice of whether you want to participate in the price changes of Bitcoin against the dollar (Bitcoin account) or exclude the volatility risk (dollar account), see below.
And – very importantly – with the Blink Wallet you also receive a Lightning address that you can name yourself (and thus “brand”, for example), see below. You can use this Lightning address for your Coinsnap account – so that all your incoming payments are credited there!
Another important feature of the Blink Wallet is that you can receive (and of course make) payments with Lightning or on-chain, depending on your needs and wishes. Lightning payments are ideal for amounts under around €1,000, as Lightning payments are lightning fast and particularly cheap. If you need to receive larger amounts, we recommend the on-chain payment method, which takes a little longer and is slightly more expensive, but can also process large amounts for which Lightning is not suitable.
Lightning Wallet from Misty Breez
One of the best wallets – and our recommendation for merchants – is the Misty Breez wallet.
Thanks to the integration of innovative blockchain technology and an extremely easy-to-use user interface, it is a very attractive solution for receiving and storing your Bitcoin earnings, especially for non-tech-savvy merchants who do not want to entrust their Bitcoin to a custodian (self-custody!).
It is easy to install without KYC details, self-managed (i.e. particularly secure) and easy to use – ideal for merchants to receive and store their business Bitcoin earnings.
If you prefer to have your Bitcoin transactions credited directly in euros and have no problems with a KYC check, we recommend that you get a Bringin Lightning address. This way, your transactions will be credited directly in euros and you will have no risk of exchange rate fluctuations with Bitcoin versus euros.
After you have set up a Bringin account, you must store the Bringin Lightning address with Coinsnap.
All your Bitcoin transactions will then be credited to your personal Bringin name account in euros at the real-time exchange rate. A credit to your bank account is possible for the bank account that is in the same name as your Bringin account and that you deposited when you registered with Bringin. No further KYC checks are required for sales of €10,000 per month and less than €100,000 per year. Each transfer from your Bringin account to your own account costs just €1.
If a KYC check is too time-consuming, but you still want to have your Bitcoin turnover paid out to your bank account in euros, we recommend using your wallet in combination with the Swiss Bitcoin broker DFX.
Enter the Lightning address of the wallet on Satoshi when registering with Coinsnap. In the withdrawal options, select the DFX option instead of the Lightning address. Swiss Bitcoin brokers carry out a so-called KYC-Light check.
A credit to the bank account is possible for bank accounts in the same name as the merchant. No further KYC checks are required for sales of less than €1,000 per day and less than €100,000 per year.
With the following Lightning Wallet providers, you will receive a Lightning Wallet with a Lightning address to be able to send and receive Lightning payments.
You store this Lightning address after registering with Coinsnap. Using the Lightning address, you connect your Bitcoin Lightning wallet to Coinsnap and Bitcoin payments can be credited directly to your Bitcoin Lightning wallet.
