A process to automatically obtain an API key is pretty great - it would need to enable payments.
Sounds like it could be simple… do a handshake, client sends API Key and a ln invoice, invoice prompts user and they can pay… done?
Here’s a early draft of a possible way we can define Nostr services in a common way. It has a lot of gaps, however I'd like to start by gather use-cases we want to support.
Ideally other services can include premium relays, CDNs, trending APIs, POW, etc.
Early feedback welcome. Can create a formal PR/Issue for this, so we can collaborate more easily.
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https://gist.github.com/blakejakopovic/eb82a2e417fd0846f2afcfc380988520
Discussion
If API key can be replaced with a pubkey + NIP-98, then this approach can work, and provide possible payment options.
The image was a POC for paid services manager built into Damus.
https://gist.github.com/blakejakopovic/fe384b8fd97231ece267bf264eb466ef 
Now I’m going to go read about NIP-98!
POC looks super cool