Most people aren't using Lightning through Self-Hosted means, the vast majority of users are using custodial services.
Discussion
Shame cause it's kind of fun. But then, it takes a pretty deep maxi or very curious hobbyist to end up self-hosting.
I mean let's be honest to properly set up lightning takes anywhere between $500 to $5,000 dollars depending on the equipment used, how many channels you open, their size, and more.
True and I ended up facilitating Nostr for myself on accident in my pursuit of self-broadcasting on layer 1 - I just happened to stand up the lightning node too and realize how awesome Nostr is once you have all your toys
> to properly set up lightning takes anywhere between $500 to $5,000 dollars
you can properly set up lightning for $0 if you already have a laptop or an android device -- except for channel opening fees, each of which costs 1 btc transaction, i.e. 44 cents at current feerates
Well, yeah but the $500 was implying channel, and or hardware costs.
Usually having a dedicated setup for this would be ideal.
Just download electrum and open some channels
wait no, don't "just" do anything -- if you want decent privacy, you have to do more than that
Well, if you have well documented guides I'm all ears because so far I've explored Alby Hub/Alby Go, and Zeus.
But if there's something even better than those like electrum of course I'm open.
Unfortunately for me electrum, and stuff like that might take me some time to learn how to navigate.
I want to be as puritanical with lightning as possible as someone like nostr:nprofile1qqs9p3kw9e5u7za00x6jfz9jqsvvffheefaaptr9fdrzf4wqyh840kcpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtcegpufl perhaps, or others but it seems like the upfront set up can be somewhat problematic.
For me it's plausible but for the average person 80 to 100 iq person self-hosted lightning is an unrealistic ask.
Just install Zeus Wallet (it's a LN node that runs on your freaking phone), open 2-3 channels of 1M sats each to (good quality)peers and you are set. There's nl upfront cost besides few sats in tx fees for opening channels. You don't even need to let the app run 24/7.
I paid 700 sats in fees for 3 channels, the node runs on my phone.
nostr:nprofile1qqsrf5h4ya83jk8u6t9jgc76h6kalz3plp9vusjpm2ygqgalqhxgp9gpz4mhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejqzyrhwden5te0dehhxarj9ekxzmnyqyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wvfskueq555fk2 LN node takes 1 minute to setup, and it runs on your fucking phone. No excuse to run custodial services unless you are lazy.
Yeah, I've been fiddling with Zeus unfortunately I force closed a channel since I was learning the ropes of how it worked, and my on-chain is in Bitcoin purgatory.
Hopefully they come back next week 🙃.
If my On-Chain comes back to me then I'll give Zeus another go but for now I have Alby set up.
Better documentation/guides would help 👍.
Check nostr:nprofile1qqs0nt9skq6vfsgh06v979rrnuchau87mmnk2lqxpv2xaeusqfp30mqpzamhxue69uhky6t5vdhkjmn9wgh8xmmrd9skctcpzemhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejz7qgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctc9ad278 guides. He has a bunch of good ones about running LN nodes and Zeus Wallet.
https://darth-coin.github.io//2025/01/05/zeus-node-advanced-usage-en.html
Don't open small channels. Don't RBF. Don't drain all outbound liquidity of your Olympus channel or they will force close it.