#asknostr What is the most efficient set of steps through which to lead a merchant to get them ready to receive btc as payment for their goods or services? I'm assuming they will want quick transactions, so LN or cashu...
Discussion
Btcpay server is the most production ready solution out there, has woocomerce plugin ready, pos functionality...etc. Downside is hosting it, running a node, getting some inbound ln liquidity...
great info, thank you.
I'm looking for step-by-step instructions
I think umbrel or start9os is a good start if you want to go the full node route, they both have the btcpayserver app. You can run it pruned, so no need for a crazy big hdd. The tricky part is more related to networking and proxying. I usually set up a clodflare proxied domain to the btcpay server instance, this is the most painful part of the setup. If you dont have a static ip it adds to the pain. But it really depends on the use case, for a farmers market you maybe don't need btcpayserver, maybe just a normal ln node + android wallet...
so will a merchant need to invest in a server +($1000 or more) and become a sysadmin to take btc? is there an easier, faster way?
It really depends on the use case and the merchant, someone who knows a little bit of linux is completely different from someone who can barely use a smartphone. I think if they are just starting out
and expect 0-1 transactions per month a node might be overkill, a soft wallet would suffice. But yeah, depends from case to case...
The βdownsidesβ you mention are features, not bugs! π
Some hoops in there for sure
BTCpayserver + woo commerce (all self-hosted) is what we run on nostr:nprofile1qqsg8vu4lh5gtdmwhe6qvk9lx98fzs2df4htd7uj8y5h25477vduwmqpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuurjd9kkzmpwdejhgqg6waehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3e8qmr9vfejucm0d52vuhq9 https://sweetsats.io/
The trick is to get the vendor to want to do those things themselves for free...it's not an impossible ask π
Either hurdle with setting up their own node, or trusting someone for the first steps.
Using node in da phone is also a solution, but similarly has a learning curve.
Great question. I have thought about this as well. I often go to local farmers markets and I would like to start orange pilling them one by one.
We used a variety of software wallets or payment apps to accept BTC while doing farmers markets. Strike, CashApp. Or just used QR codes printed out and laminated. That being said, my wife or I was always there to do the transaction. If there were employees in the mix it would be different.
This is another option.