I feel like there needs to be a custom UI element (maybe could use a NIP?) for paid relays that simply utilizes how ZAPs and NPUBs already work in Nostr.

Currently the process is as follows:

• Go to paid relay list (hopefully in your client, but probably not)

• Click to go to paid relay website

• Pay a btcpay or lnbits invoice

• Go back to client

• Copy NPUB

• Back to site

• Paste NPUB

• Copy WSS://address

• Back to client

• Paste WSS://address

• Connect

• Rinse and repeat for every relay

Now imagine this is built right into a client relay list, using zaps exactly as they are:

• Go to list, see relays & prices

• Hit zap button with set amount

• Relay gets proof of payment, plus pubkey, relay is auto added to connected list, relay auto whitelists your NPUB

... done.

You could connect to 5 paid relays in practically 10 seconds this way. And because this is all directly in Nostr, relays could DM or maybe have a custom notification on the relay page itself for needing to pay for another month/year of subscription.

Just seems like all of the pieces are already there, and this would not be a difficult script to just package this process up into a "one click, connect" experience. 🤔