======================================================================== Running a Lightning Node on Bit-Block (Windows) ======================================================================== This guide sets up LND (Lightning Network Daemon) using your Bit-Block node as its Bitcoin backend. Bit-Block does the on-chain validation; LND handles Lightning payments and channels on top of it. This handles real funds. Verify every download's checksum/signature before running it, and never share your seed phrases with anyone. All commands below are typed into PowerShell. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 1: Configure Bit-Block as the backend ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bit-Block's data folder on Windows is: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Bitcoin (On older installs it may instead be %APPDATA%\Bitcoin -- check which one actually contains your blocks/ and chainstate/ folders.) Open, or create, a text file there named bitcoin.conf and add: server=1 txindex=1 zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:28332 zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:28333 txindex=1 is required -- LND needs it for correct transaction lookups. If your node was already synced without it, turning it on now triggers a one-time reindex of the whole chain. Restart Bit-Block after saving this file. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 2: Wait for Bit-Block to fully sync ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check sync status: bitcoin-cli.exe getblockchaininfo Look for "initialblockdownload": false before continuing. Opening Lightning channels against a partially-synced node is not safe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 3: Install LND ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download the official release for Windows from: https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases Get the file named lnd-windows-amd64-.zip. Verify its checksum/signature against the manifest published alongside the release -- do not skip this. Extract it to a folder, e.g. C:\lnd\. Inside you'll find lnd.exe and lncli.exe. Confirm it works (from inside that folder): .\lnd.exe --version ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 4: Point LND at Bit-Block ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Create a file at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Lnd\lnd.conf (create the Lnd folder if it doesn't exist) with: [Application Options] alias=your-node-name [Bitcoin] bitcoin.active=1 bitcoin.mainnet=1 bitcoin.node=bitcoind [Bitcoind] bitcoind.rpchost=127.0.0.1 bitcoind.zmqpubrawblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:28332 bitcoind.zmqpubrawtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:28333 By default, Bit-Block uses cookie-based RPC authentication, and LND will read the .cookie file automatically from your Bitcoin data folder as long as it has permission to access it. If you set a custom rpcuser/rpcpassword in bitcoin.conf instead, add matching bitcoind.rpcuser / bitcoind.rpcpass lines here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 5: Keep Bit-Block running in the background ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Important Windows-specific note: bitcoind.exe does NOT support running as a background daemon the way it does on Linux/macOS (there's no -daemon flag on Windows). You have two practical options: a) Simplest: leave bitcoind.exe (or Bit-Block-Qt) running in its own window while you use LND. Don't close it. b) For a real always-on setup: use a tool like NSSM (https://nssm.cc) to register bitcoind.exe as a proper Windows service that starts automatically and keeps running in the background. This is optional and only needed if you want the node running without a visible window or after every reboot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 6: Create your LND wallet ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Start LND (from inside C:\lnd\, in its own PowerShell window): .\lnd.exe In a second PowerShell window, also inside C:\lnd\: .\lncli.exe create This generates a 24-word "aezeed" seed phrase. This is LND's own seed format -- separate and unrelated to any Bitcoin wallet seed you may use with Bit-Block itself. Write it down on paper, offline, and store it somewhere safe. Anyone with this phrase can steal your Lightning funds. Set a wallet password when prompted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 7: Fund your Lightning wallet ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get a deposit address: .\lncli.exe newaddress p2wkh Send bitcoin to that address from any wallet and wait for confirmations. This becomes your on-chain balance, which you'll use to open channels. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STEP 8: Open your first channel ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Find a peer's node (public directories: 1ml.com, amboss.space), then: .\lncli.exe connect @: .\lncli.exe openchannel The channel needs one on-chain confirmation before you can send or receive payments through it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Useful commands going forward ------------------------------------------------------------------------ .\lncli.exe getinfo Node status and identity .\lncli.exe walletbalance On-chain balance .\lncli.exe channelbalance Lightning balance .\lncli.exe listchannels Your open channels .\lncli.exe unlock Unlock the wallet after a restart ========================================================================