Hardware & Merchants FAQ

Common questions about NFC/Boltcards, point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, vending machines, and merchant setups.

• Can I use NFC cards / Boltcards with LNbits?
• What hardware tools work with LNbits?
• Can I use LNbits as a merchant?
• How do I set up a point-of-sale terminal?
• How do I build a Bitcoin ATM with LNbits?
• Can I use LNbits for vending machines?
• How do I accept tips with LNbits?
• How do I set up split payments for revenue sharing?
• Related Pages

Can I use NFC cards / Boltcards with LNbits?

Yes. The Bolt Cards extension lets you program NFC cards for tap-to-pay:

1. Enable the Bolt Cards extension
2. Add a new card - set the wallet, daily limit, and per-transaction limit
3. Enter the card UID (or tap to auto-fill on Android)
4. Write the keys to an NTAG424 NFC card using the Boltcard NFC Card Creator app
5. Users tap the card to make payments from the linked wallet

Each card uses one-time LNURL-withdraw links with configurable limits (max per transaction, max per day).

What hardware tools work with LNbits?

LNbits integrates with various physical devices through dedicated extensions:

Hardware	Extension	Use case
NFC cards (Boltcards)	Bolt Cards	Tap-to-pay
Point-of-sale terminal	TPoS	Accept Lightning payments
Bitcoin ATM	FOSSA	Sell Bitcoin for cash
IoT device control	Bitcoin Switch	Activate devices on payment (doors, vending)
Hardware PoS terminal	LNPoS	Offline-capable hardware terminal
Thermal printer	-	Receipt printing (community integrations)

INFO

The LNURLdevice extension is deprecated. It has been replaced by FOSSA, LNPoS, and Bitcoin Switch - each focused on a specific use case. Bolt Cards is a separate, independent extension for NFC tap-to-pay cards.

Can I use LNbits as a merchant?

Yes. LNbits is well-suited for merchant use with these key extensions:

• TPoS - touchscreen point-of-sale terminal (works on tablets and phones)
• SatsPay - payment pages for online stores (Lightning + on-chain)
• LNURLp - static payment QR codes for print or display
• Split Payments - automatic revenue sharing between partners
• TipJar - accept tips with custom amounts and messages
• Watch Only - monitor on-chain payments with xpub/zpub

For a complete merchant setup, combine TPoS for in-person sales with SatsPay for online payments.

How do I set up a point-of-sale terminal?

1. Enable the TPoS extension
2. Create a new terminal - set the currency (BTC or fiat), tax rate, and optional tip suggestions
3. Open the terminal URL on a tablet or phone
4. Enter the amount and show the QR code to the customer

TPoS supports:

• Fiat currency display (with automatic sat conversion)
• Tax calculations
• Tip suggestions
• PIN protection for the terminal
• Transaction history

TIP

Install LNbits as a PWA on a tablet for a fullscreen point-of-sale experience.

How do I build a Bitcoin ATM with LNbits?

Use the FOSSA extension to create a Bitcoin ATM:

1. Enable FOSSA and create a new ATM device
2. Set withdrawal limits and configure the funding wallet
3. Build or buy the hardware (coin acceptor + display + controller)
4. Connect the hardware to the FOSSA API

The ATM flow: User inserts cash → hardware reports amount to LNbits → LNbits generates LNURL-withdraw QR → user scans with their wallet → sats are sent.

Community guides and open-source ATM hardware designs are available on the LNbits GitHub.

Can I use LNbits for vending machines?

Yes. The Bitcoin Switch extension supports vending machine and IoT integrations:

1. Create a Bitcoin Switch device
2. Connect the vending machine controller (ESP32, Raspberry Pi, Arduino) to the API
3. The machine displays a Lightning QR code → customer pays → machine dispenses product

This works for any device that can make HTTP requests and display QR codes.

How do I accept tips with LNbits?

Several options depending on your setup:

TipJar extension - creates a dedicated tipping page with customizable amounts and thank-you messages. Share the URL or QR code.

LNURLp extension - generates a static Lightning address or QR code that customers can pay any amount to. Print it and display at your counter.

TPoS terminal - includes built-in tip suggestions (percentage-based) during checkout.

How do I set up split payments for revenue sharing?

The Split Payments extension automatically splits incoming payments across multiple wallets:

1. Enable the Split Payments extension
2. Configure the split - specify wallet IDs and percentages
3. Every incoming payment to the source wallet is automatically distributed

Example: A coffee shop with two partners could split 60/40, with every payment automatically divided between their wallets.

Splits can target wallets on the same instance or external Lightning addresses.

Related Pages

• Extensions - browse all available extensions
• Using Extensions - install and manage extensions
• Payments FAQ - payment-related questions
• General FAQ - LNbits for business