Baywallet is a free, open-source Lightning wallet and Nostr client for Bitcoin enthusiasts who want payments and social networking in one app, and for developers who want to study a working codebase. It is released under the MIT license and offers a Windows build alongside Linux, Android and iOS versions.
Be aware that the last code update to the project was on August 23, 2023, so development has not continued for more than two years. Treat it as an experimental tool rather than a daily-use wallet, and read the safety section before installing. The project began as part of the Tampa BitDevs meetup and was built as a learning space for new Bitcoin developers.
What Is Baywallet and Where Did It Come From?
Baywallet started as a project spawned from the Tampa BitDevs meetup, a local gathering of Bitcoin developers. Its stated goal is to bring new developers into a Bitcoin project in a collaborative setting, working alongside more experienced contributors. The project describes itself as an LDK wallet and Nostr client made for the Tampa community by people from that community.
That origin shapes what the project is. It is less about a polished consumer product and more about a working codebase where newcomers can read, test and modify real Lightning and Nostr code. For someone who wants to understand how a Lightning wallet is put together, that is a useful kind of project, even if it is not the finished app most people expect from a software listing.
The open license also fits the mission. Permissive licensing makes it easy for students, hobbyists and other teams to borrow ideas, fork the code or build on it for their own experiments.
Who Baywallet Is For
Baywallet suits three kinds of readers. The first is a Bitcoin user who already understands Lightning basics and wants a wallet that also takes part in Nostr. The second is a developer learning how LDK and rust-lightning connect to a front-end app, who can inspect the project and experiment with it. The third is a member of a local or community Bitcoin group looking for a shared project to learn from.
A typical example: a developer in a meetup group picks Baywallet to study how one app handles Lightning channels and Nostr keys in the same codebase. They clone the repository, run it in a test setup, and compare the code with the LDK documentation. That kind of hands-on reading is where the project offers the most value.
It is less suitable for people who need a fully supported wallet for everyday savings. Because the project has not had a code update since 2023, anyone relying on it should expect fewer fixes and less active help from maintainers.
How Lightning and Nostr Fit Together
Bitcoin's base layer is designed for settlement, which makes it slow and costly for many small payments. The Lightning Network adds a second layer where payments move through channels between participants, and settlement on the main chain happens only when channels open or close. That design lets users send small amounts quickly.
Nostr works differently. It is an open protocol where users publish signed events through relays, and each identity is a cryptographic key pair rather than an account on a company server. Because no single host controls the network, no one company decides who can post or read. Clients are the apps people use to view and write these events.
Combining the two creates a natural pairing. Someone reading a Nostr feed might want to send a small Lightning payment to a writer they appreciate. A wallet that handles both roles in one app reduces switching, but it also means keys and funds sit close together, which raises the stakes for security.
Key features
Lightning Payments Powered by LDK
A Wallet and Nostr Client in One App
Mobile Roots Through React Native LDK
Supported coins
Baywallet works with Bitcoin over the Lightning Network, and it connects to the Nostr network for messaging and social features. Its scope centers on these three areas, so it is best understood as a Bitcoin Lightning and Nostr tool rather than a multi-coin wallet.
How to install Baywallet on Windows
- 1
Get the Windows Build
Open the project's official page or the GitHub Releases page for Baywallet and download the Windows build or installer. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and avoid mirror sites that offer the same file under another name.
- 2
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published by the developers, or check the release signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, do not run the file, and download it again from the official source.
-
Install and Launch
Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts, then start Baywallet from the Start menu. If the app asks you to create a wallet, write the seed phrase down on paper and store it offline before you add any funds.
How to use Baywallet
Baywallet is easiest to learn in small steps, especially because it handles real Bitcoin and Nostr identities. Start with a test setup before trusting it with meaningful amounts, and keep your backup materials offline.
- Open Baywallet and complete the initial setup, including creating or restoring your wallet.
- Write down your seed phrase on paper, check it carefully, and store it in a secure place away from your computer.
- Review the Lightning side of the app to understand your balance, incoming payments and outgoing payments.
- Add a small amount of Bitcoin to test an incoming Lightning payment before relying on the wallet for anything else.
- Send a small test payment to a trusted contact so you can see how confirmations and fees behave in practice.
- Explore the Nostr side of the app, using your Nostr identity to read posts and publish your own.
- Keep the app updated only through releases you have verified, and avoid storing more funds in the wallet than you need for everyday use.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use, released under the MIT license
- Open source, so the code can be reviewed publicly
- Combines a Lightning wallet with a Nostr client in one app
- Built on LDK and the rust-lightning library
- Windows build available, plus Linux, Android and iOS versions
- Last code update was in August 2023, so development has stalled
- Not a polished, mainstream product, so expect rough edges
- Built around a local Tampa community, with a learning focus rather than mass-market polish
- Handles real Bitcoin funds and keys, so mistakes carry real risk
Is Baywallet safe?
Baywallet's last code update was in August 2023, so the project has not been actively developed for more than two years. Because it handles Lightning funds and private keys, treat it with extra caution. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the installer. Never enter your seed phrase on any third-party website, app or chat, and never share it with anyone who claims to be support. Start with small amounts, and check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/bennyhodl/baywallet. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Baywallet stands apart from most Nostr apps by pairing a Lightning wallet with social features. Vega is a cross-platform desktop client for Nostr, and Nostrid offers binaries for Android, Windows, macOS and Linux, so both focus on the Nostr side of the experience. Notedeck is a Rust-based desktop browser for Nostr from Damus. Keychat adds bitcoin and ecash chat, while Bro App uses Nostr and Lightning to pay bills peer to peer.
If you only want a Nostr client, one of those is a more direct choice. If you want to see how Lightning and Nostr can share a single app, Baywallet is the closer example, with the trade-off that its development has been quiet since 2023.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 23 Aug 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/bennyhodl/baywallet
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Baywallet is free. It is released under the MIT license, which means its source code is publicly available and can be reused under the terms of that license. There is no price for the app itself. Bitcoin you send or receive over the Lightning Network is a separate matter and depends on your own transactions.
Yes. The project offers a Windows build or installer. It also lists Linux, Android and iOS among its platforms, so the same project spans several operating systems. Check the release details for the Windows version you want before installing.
Not in the sense of active development. The last code update to the project was on August 23, 2023, more than two years ago. Bugs and compatibility issues may go unfixed, so review the project's GitHub activity before relying on it for anything important.
It can be used carefully, but it is not a low-risk choice. Download only from the official website or GitHub, verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and never enter your seed phrase on third-party sites. Because the project has not been updated since 2023, test with small amounts first. The safety section covers the full checklist.
Baywallet is designed for two jobs: handling Bitcoin payments over the Lightning Network and taking part in Nostr, a decentralized social network. Its open codebase also makes it a study case for developers building Lightning-based apps with LDK and rust-lightning.
No. The Node.js version mentioned in the project's setup notes applies to building the app from source, not to running a ready-made Windows build. If you only want to use the program, download the installer and skip the development tools. Building from source is a separate path meant for developers.
Yes, the project lists Android and iOS among its supported platforms. Mobile builds may not be updated at the same pace as desktop ones, so check release dates on each platform. Test with small amounts before moving meaningful funds into any version of the app.
Verdict
Baywallet is a free, open-source project that combines a Lightning wallet with a Nostr client, built on LDK and rust-lightning. It suits Bitcoin enthusiasts who are comfortable with experimental software, and developers who want to study a Lightning-based codebase. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs a maintained, support-backed wallet, because its last code update was in August 2023. If you try it, keep balances small and verify every download before you run it.