Loop node is a free, open source program for Windows that runs as a background daemon called loopd. It suits technically minded users who want to study or run node software rather than a consumer payment app, and who are comfortable with logs, processes and configuration files. In our catalog it is filed under Lightning Network, and it belongs to the Cosmos ecosystem, where loopd runs as a service.
Before you install, note that the latest release is v1.0.0 and the last recorded code update came in May 2024. The project has seen little recent activity, so check its GitHub page before relying on it for anything important. Used with that in mind, Loop node can be a practical environment for learning how a node daemon behaves on a Windows machine.
What a Daemon Does on a Windows PC
A daemon is a background program that stays running without a visible window. It waits for instructions from you, from a configuration file or from other software, and records what it does in logs. Loopd follows this pattern, so after you start it you may see it only as a process in Task Manager.
Daemons are useful because they can keep working while you do other things. A service that has to respond to events or keep a local copy of network state needs to stay online, and a background process is the natural way to do that. The trade-off is that you must check that the process is actually running, know where its logs are written, and stop it cleanly when you are finished.
Think of a daemon as a service that waits for orders rather than an app waiting for clicks. For a first experiment, keep it on a test machine and watch its output closely. That habit will help you troubleshoot port conflicts, permission errors and network connection problems much faster.
Who Loop Node Is For
Loop node fits three main groups: developers who want to see how a node daemon is built and behaves, operators who plan to keep infrastructure running on a spare PC, and students who are learning how Lightning and Cosmos-style networks coordinate. Each group needs some patience with logs and configuration.
Consider a developer who wants to test how a daemon reacts to restarts. They can install the Windows build, start loopd, stop it, and compare the log entries. That kind of hands-on exercise teaches more than reading documentation alone, and it is easy to repeat on a test machine without risking valuable data.
Loop node is not a good fit for someone who wants to send payments with a few clicks. A user like that is better served by a desktop wallet. Use loopd when your goal is understanding or operating node software, not when you need a quick, everyday payment tool.
How Node Software Fits Into Lightning and Cosmos Networks
Node software keeps a local participant running on a network. Instead of trusting a single company, a node verifies information, relays messages and keeps its own record of the state it needs. Many users run nodes to take part in a network directly, while others rely on services that connect them to it.
Lightning Network is built around payment channels, which let two parties exchange value quickly and off the main blockchain, then settle the final balances later. Cosmos-based networks are a family of blockchains designed to exchange data and value with one another. Loop node sits in the Cosmos ecosystem, so its role is tied to that environment.
Understanding these roles helps you judge what a program does. A daemon is a component you run, not a finished end-user product. Knowing that difference will save you from expecting features that belong to a wallet or a development tool.
Key features
Free and open source
Windows build or installer
Daemon design written in Go
How to install Loop node on Windows
- 1
Get the file from an official source
Download Loop node only from the official website or from the GitHub Releases page linked to the project at github.com/LoopFans/loop-chain. Choose the Windows build or installer for the latest published version, and avoid mirror sites or bundled download managers.
- 2
Verify the download
Compute the SHA-256 checksum of the file with a built-in tool such as PowerShell's Get-FileHash command, and compare it with the value published on the release page. If a digital signature is provided, check it as well. Do not continue if the values do not match.
- 3
Run the installer or extract the build
If you have the installer, run it and follow the prompts, keeping the default folder unless you have a reason to change it. If you have the Windows build, extract it to a dedicated folder so you know where the executable and its configuration files live.
-
Start loopd and confirm it runs
Open a terminal in the install folder, start loopd, and watch the output for errors. Then open Task Manager and look for the process to confirm it is running. Stop it from the terminal when you are done testing.
How to use Loop node
Loop node runs as a background service, so using it means starting it, confirming it runs, and reading what it reports. The sequence below is a sensible first session on a test machine.
- Install the program from the official source and confirm the file checksum, as described above.
- Open a terminal and check that the loopd executable is reachable from the install folder.
- Review the configuration file included with your build, and keep the settings for a test environment first.
- Start loopd and read the console output for messages about ports, permissions or connectivity.
- Confirm the process appears in Task Manager before you assume it is running correctly.
- Stop the daemon cleanly when you finish, and save the logs so you can compare sessions later.
Because recent development has been quiet, treat your first runs as experiments. Change one setting at a time and note what happens, which makes problems easier to trace.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use
- Open source, so the code can be reviewed on GitHub
- Available as a Windows build or installer
- Runs as a daemon suited to continuous background operation
- Written in Go, which often produces standalone executables
- The last recorded code update was in May 2024
- The release history is short, with v1.0.0 as the latest version
- Aimed at developers and operators rather than everyday payment users
- Requires comfort with logs, processes and configuration files
Is Loop node safe?
Download Loop node only from the official website or from the GitHub Releases page at github.com/LoopFans/loop-chain. Avoid mirror sites, file-sharing links and installers bundled with unrelated software. After downloading, compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published on the release page, and check a digital signature if one is provided. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on third-party websites or into any program that asks for one unexpectedly. The last recorded code update was in May 2024, so review the project's GitHub activity and check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/LoopFans/loop-chain. 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
Loop node sits in a different place from most programs in this catalog. Polar is a development tool that creates local Lightning networks in one click, which suits testing payments rather than running a long-lived daemon. Peach and Zap Desktop are desktop Lightning wallets focused on sending and receiving payments through a visual interface, although Zap Desktop is no longer supported. Spark Wallet offers a minimal interface for c-lightning. Loop node is a background daemon with a Go codebase and a Cosmos-linked purpose. If you want to make payments, a wallet is the better starting point. If you want to study or operate node software, loopd is closer to that goal.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.0.0
- Last update
- 28 May 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/LoopFans/loop-chain
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Loop node is free and open source, so you can download it without paying a fee. Because the code is public on GitHub, you can review the project and read its license terms before you use or redistribute it.
It can be, if you get the file from the official source and verify it. Download it from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, compare the SHA-256 checksum, and avoid third-party mirrors. Never enter a seed phrase on a website that asks for one. Because the last code update was in May 2024, review recent project activity before running it on a machine that holds valuable data.
Get the Windows build or installer from the official source, verify the checksum, and then either run the installer or extract the build to a folder you control. Start loopd from a terminal and confirm it appears as a running process. The installation steps above walk through each part of this process.
loopd is the name of the daemon, or background process, that Loop node runs. It stays active without a visible window, waits for commands and writes its activity to logs. On Windows you will usually see it in Task Manager when it is running, and you stop it from the terminal or the process list.
The latest release is v1.0.0, and the last recorded code update was in May 2024. That means development has been quiet for a while, so fixes may not arrive frequently. Check the project's GitHub activity and any changelog to judge its current state before you depend on it.
Loop node is a daemon rather than a consumer wallet, so it does not replace one. If your goal is to send and receive payments, a desktop wallet such as Peach or Spark Wallet is a more direct choice. Use loopd when you want to study or run node software and understand how the network behaves.
Verdict
Loop node is a reasonable pick for developers and technically confident users who want a free, open source daemon to study or run on Windows. It is not a simple payment app, and its recent activity has been quiet, with the last code update in May 2024. Treat it as a learning and testing tool, install it on a non-critical machine, and verify every download before running it. If you want to send Lightning payments with minimal setup, one of the wallets in the similar programs list will suit you better.