Nigiri is a free, open source command-line tool for Windows that sets up a local Bitcoin development environment. It is built for developers who write applications on Bitcoin or Liquid and want to test everything on their own machine instead of a live network. The program is written in Go and runs its components as docker-compose batteries, so the whole stack starts from a single set of commands.
Out of the box you get a Bitcoin Core node in regtest mode, an Electrum explorer for quick blockchain inspection, and a JSON HTTP proxy called Chopsticks. Optional flags add a Liquid sidechain and Lightning Network nodes. The latest version is v0.5.17, and the code was last updated on July 10, 2026, so the project is actively maintained.
What Regtest Means for Developers
Regtest, short for regression test network, is a Bitcoin mode built for development. It starts from an empty chain on your machine, and you control when blocks are produced. That predictability is the main reason developers use it. A test that expects a confirmation after three blocks always gets exactly three blocks, with no waiting on miners elsewhere.
Regtest also makes repetitive testing realistic. You can reset the environment, generate a fresh chain and run the same script again within minutes. On a public network, the same loop could take hours and cost real fees. Because the coins have no market value, you can fund addresses freely and focus on logic rather than network economics.
The trade-off is that regtest does not reproduce every condition of the live Bitcoin network. Peer behavior, real mempool congestion and fee dynamics differ from a private chain, so results should be confirmed on a public test network before anything goes live.
Who Nigiri Is For
Nigiri fits best with developers who write code that touches Bitcoin or Liquid. Typical users include backend engineers building payment flows, teams testing Lightning-enabled features, and developers who prototype Ark-based off-chain logic before committing to a design.
It is also useful for technical educators and students. Running a full node, inspecting blocks in an explorer and sending payments in a closed environment makes abstract protocol concepts concrete. Because the setup is scripted, a whole class can start from the same state, which keeps exercises consistent.
Nigiri is less suited to people who only want to hold bitcoin or trade it. Its purpose is development and testing rather than everyday payments or storing value, so those needs are better served by dedicated wallet software.
Typical Development Scenarios
Consider a developer building a small app that accepts bitcoin payments at checkout. They start the regtest environment, request test coins through the faucet endpoint and create an address for a test order. They send a payment and watch the Electrum view until the transaction confirms. Because they control block generation, they can also check how the app reacts to a delayed confirmation.
A second scenario involves a Lightning feature. After enabling the Lightning flag, the developer opens a channel between two local nodes, sends a test invoice payment and verifies that the balances update. Keeping both sides on one machine makes debugging faster than tracing a problem across remote services.
A third scenario is a Liquid sidechain test. The team checks how their code treats transactions on a chain that is separate from the Bitcoin base layer. Each scenario uses the same tool, which keeps the team's test setup consistent from one sprint to the next.
Key features
Bitcoin Core Node in Regtest Mode
Electrum Explorer
Chopsticks HTTP Proxy
Ark Layer Two
Liquid Sidechain with the --liquid Flag
Lightning Network Nodes with the --ln Flag
Supported coins
The documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) and the Lightning Network as the main networks in scope. Beyond the base chain, the environment can include an Elements-based Liquid sidechain, Lightning nodes that support Taproot Assets, and Ark for off-chain transactions. Everything it creates is a test asset on a private network, so it is a development tool rather than a way to hold or move real value.
How to install Nigiri on Windows
- 1
Prepare Docker
Nigiri runs its components as docker-compose batteries, so install and start a Docker runtime before anything else. Confirm that it is running, because the Nigiri command-line tool needs it to launch the containers that make up the environment.
- 2
Get the Windows Build
Download the Windows build or installer only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. Choose the latest release, which is v0.5.17 at the time of writing. Avoid repackaged copies from forums, file-sharing sites or unknown mirrors.
- 3
Verify the Download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If the release provides a signature instead, verify it before running the file. Only continue once the values match.
-
Install and Launch
Run the installer and follow its prompts, or extract the Windows build into a folder you choose. Open a terminal and run the Nigiri command to confirm that the CLI responds. Then start the base environment, adding --liquid or --ln only when your project needs those components.
System requirements
- Windows with a working Docker runtime, since the environment runs its services in containers
- Enough free disk space and memory to run a Bitcoin Core node and the supporting containers at the same time
- A terminal such as Windows Terminal or PowerShell for running Nigiri commands
How to use Nigiri
Once the program is installed, a typical session takes only a few minutes to set up. Open a terminal and follow these steps.
- Make sure Docker is running before you call the Nigiri command-line tool.
- Start the base environment with the Nigiri command, which launches the Bitcoin regtest node along with the Electrum explorer and the Chopsticks proxy.
- Add the --liquid flag if your project needs an Elements sidechain, or the --ln flag if it needs Lightning Network nodes.
- Request test coins from the faucet endpoint exposed by Chopsticks, then check in the Electrum view that the funds have arrived.
- Build a test transaction and let Chopsticks generate blocks, then confirm that it moves through the chain as your code expects.
- When you finish, stop the environment so the containers release memory and ports for your next session.
Keeping each session focused on one question makes results easier to read. For example, test a single payment path or a single Lightning channel before adding more moving parts.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code available on GitHub
- Sets up a full local Bitcoin regtest stack with one tool
- Includes an Electrum explorer and Chopsticks endpoints for quick checks
- Optional Liquid and Lightning components are enabled with simple flags
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Docker
- Code was updated recently, on July 10, 2026
- Requires Docker, which adds setup work and uses extra memory
- Regtest only, so it cannot reproduce live network conditions or real coins
- Driven by the command line, which can be a hurdle for non-technical users
- Several components mean more moving parts to troubleshoot when something breaks
- Optional Liquid and Lightning features require learning the right flags
Is Nigiri safe?
Download Nigiri only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/vulpemventures/nigiri. Before you run the installer, compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published on the release page, or verify the signature if one is provided. Avoid unofficial mirrors and search-result links. Antivirus software can occasionally flag command-line tools that start containers, so review any warning carefully rather than disabling your protection entirely. Although Nigiri works with test coins, never enter a seed phrase or private key from a real wallet into a third-party website or a test script. Check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/vulpemventures/nigiri. 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
Nigiri is narrower than most tools on this list. It concentrates on a local Bitcoin and Liquid regtest environment with Lightning and Ark components, while Remix Desktop, Foundry and Tenderly focus on Solidity and other EVM-based contracts. Postman is useful for sending JSON-RPC requests to a node you already run, but it does not start the node itself. If your target is a Bitcoin-based application, Nigiri covers the chain and the explorer in one package. If you build Ethereum-compatible contracts, the Solidity-oriented tools are a better fit, and you can still use Nigiri alongside them for the Bitcoin parts of a project.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.5.17
- Last update
- 10 Jul 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/vulpemventures/nigiri
Frequently asked questions
Nigiri is used to run a local Bitcoin regtest development environment on your own computer. It bundles a Bitcoin Core node, an Electrum explorer, the Chopsticks HTTP proxy and optional Liquid and Lightning components. Developers use it to test transactions and applications without touching a public network.
Yes, Nigiri is free and open source. You can download it from the project's GitHub Releases page and read the source code there. There is no price for the program itself, and the test coins it creates have no market value, so experiments carry no financial cost.
Yes. The project provides a Windows build or installer. It also supports macOS, Linux and Docker. On Windows, the services run through Docker, so make sure a Docker runtime is installed and running before you start the environment.
It is safe when you download it from the official source and verify the file. Get it only from the official website or GitHub Releases, check the SHA-256 checksum when one is published, and avoid copies shared on forums or file-sharing sites. The safety section lists the full checklist.
No. Nigiri is built for regtest, a private test network where coins are created for testing. It is not designed to manage real funds on the public Bitcoin network. Use dedicated wallet software with careful key handling for anything involving real value.
Regtest runs entirely on your computer, and you decide when blocks are mined. Testnet is a public test network maintained by others, with blocks produced by its participants. Regtest is faster and more predictable for automated tests, while testnet is better for checking behavior against a shared network.
No. Go is the language the project is written in, but you use Nigiri through its command-line interface. Basic terminal skills and some familiarity with Docker are enough to start the environment. Knowing Go helps only if you plan to read or change the source code.
Verdict
Nigiri is a good choice for developers who want a local Bitcoin regtest environment on Windows with an explorer, an HTTP proxy and optional Liquid and Lightning components. It suits backend engineers, QA teams and educators who are comfortable with the terminal and Docker. If you need a graphical wallet, a production node or a tool for Ethereum contracts, look at the alternatives below. For Bitcoin development and testing, it covers the core workflow in one free package.