Phoenixd is a minimal Lightning Network node built for developers, merchants and technically confident users who want to run their own Lightning infrastructure instead of depending on a hosted service. It is free and open source, written in Kotlin Multiplatform, and comes from the team behind the Phoenix wallet. If you want a simple app for everyday payments, this is not that kind of tool; phoenixd is a backend-style program that you operate yourself.
On Windows, the program is reached through Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), because the project runs natively on Linux and macOS. That means a Windows user needs a working Linux environment before anything else. The sections below cover what the node does, how to install it safely, how to use it day to day, and where it fits among other Lightning tools.
What Is a Lightning Node and Why Run One?
A Lightning node is software that connects to other nodes, opens payment channels and routes payments across the network. Unlike a wallet app, it does the technical work itself, so you see the channels, balances and routing behavior directly.
Running your own node gives you control over which channels you open, when you close them and how your payments are handled. You do not rely on a third-party service to hold your funds or relay your transactions, though you take on the responsibility of keeping the software online and backed up.
The trade-off is effort. A node needs attention when channels change, when the machine restarts or when you need to adjust liquidity. For people who want that level of control, the effort is part of the value.
Who Phoenixd Is For
Phoenixd suits developers who want to build payment features into an app or website. A node can generate invoices, confirm incoming payments and send payments from code, which makes it useful for prototypes and small services.
Merchants and small business owners who want to accept Lightning payments without a hosted processor may also look at a self-run node. It takes more setup than a payment plugin, but it keeps the flow of funds under your own control.
Hobbyists who want to understand how Lightning works will learn a lot from running a node. Watching channels open, balances shift and payments route is a practical way to learn the technology behind the network.
How Payment Channels Shape Your Lightning Experience
Payment channels are two-party arrangements that let users send Lightning payments quickly, with settlement on the bitcoin blockchain only when the channel opens or closes. The channel holds a balance that moves back and forth as payments flow.
Liquidity is the concept that matters most in practice. Outbound liquidity lets your node send payments, while inbound liquidity lets it receive them. A node with plenty of funds on one side of its channels may still fail to receive a payment if the other side is empty.
Because of this, planning matters. Opening channels to well-connected peers, keeping some balance available on both sides and watching how funds move over time will shape how smoothly your node works.
Key features
Minimal Lightning node
Kotlin Multiplatform codebase
Native builds for Linux and macOS
Open source on GitHub
Free to use
Supported coins
Phoenixd works with the Lightning Network, a second-layer payment system built on top of bitcoin. Payments travel over channels that the node opens and manages, so the program's focus is Lightning payments rather than a list of separate coins or networks.
How to install Phoenixd on Windows
- 1
Set up Windows Subsystem for Linux
Because the native builds target Linux and macOS, install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) first. Run the node inside the Linux environment rather than directly in Windows, and keep both Windows and your Linux distribution updated.
- 2
Get the release file
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the ACINQ/phoenixd repository. The latest release listed is v0.9.3. Choose the build that matches your processor, either x86 or ARM, and avoid copies from unknown sources.
- 3
Verify the checksum
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published with the release. If the two values do not match, delete the file and download it again. Do not run a file you cannot verify.
-
Install and start the node
Extract or install the build inside your Linux environment, then launch it from a terminal. Follow the instructions in the release notes for exact commands and first-run prompts, and store any backup data it generates in a safe place before you fund the node.
System requirements
- Windows with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installed to run the Linux build
- A processor architecture that matches the release file you download, either x86 or ARM
- A stable internet connection, since a Lightning node needs to stay online to receive payments
How to use Phoenixd
Phoenixd is a command-line style node, so the workflow is about starting it, funding it and managing channels. Work through these steps in order and do not rush the funding stage.
- Start the node from the terminal and let it finish its first start-up.
- Check that the node reports as running before you depend on it for any payments.
- Fund the node with on-chain bitcoin so it can open payment channels.
- Wait for the channels to open and confirm. This can take time, and you should not expect instant results.
- Create an invoice when you want to receive a payment, or pay an invoice you received from someone else.
- Back up your seed and channel data offline, then keep the node running so it can receive payments.
Keep an eye on liquidity after the first payments. If the balance has moved entirely to one side, you may need to rebalance or open a new channel before receiving more funds.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with public code on GitHub
- Minimal design with a small, focused feature set
- Native builds for Linux and macOS on x86 and ARM processors
- Written in Kotlin Multiplatform, sharing one codebase across systems
- Suited to backend services, testing and self-run infrastructure
- Windows is supported through WSL rather than as a native program
- Requires comfort with the command line and Lightning concepts
- Running a node means managing channels, liquidity and backups yourself
- Not a simple consumer wallet for everyday payments
Is Phoenixd safe?
Phoenixd manages Lightning channels and keys, so treat it like financial software. Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the ACINQ/phoenixd repository, and never from mirrors or links shared in chats. Verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before you run the file.
Antivirus tools may flag new or unsigned binaries. If that happens, check the file's hash and source rather than turning protection off. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website or in a message from someone claiming to be support. Store seed and channel backups offline, and check the latest version on the official website before updating.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ACINQ/phoenixd. 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
Phoenixd sits at the infrastructure end of the Lightning category. Polar is a development tool that spins up local Lightning networks in one click, which suits testing but not running real payments. Spark Wallet is a minimal GUI for c-lightning that works as a web, mobile and desktop application, so it is easier for everyday use.
Peach is a free cross-platform desktop wallet that simplifies micropayments. Zap Desktop is a Lightning desktop wallet that is no longer supported, so it is better left out of new setups. Choose phoenixd when you want a node you control, and a wallet when you simply want to send and receive payments.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v0.9.3
- Last update
- 13 Oct 2026
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/ACINQ/phoenixd
Frequently asked questions
Not as a native Windows program. The project runs natively on Linux and macOS, and Windows users run it through Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Install WSL first, then follow the Linux steps inside that environment. Once it runs, the node works the same way it does on other systems.
It can be, if you handle it carefully. The code is open source and public, but the node holds channel keys and funds. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases, check the SHA-256 checksum, and never share your seed phrase. Your habits matter as much as the software.
Yes, the program itself is free and open source. You can read the code, build it yourself or use the release files without paying for the software. Costs to expect are your own hardware, your internet connection and the bitcoin you commit to Lightning channels.
A wallet is an app that lets you send and receive payments with minimal setup. A node like phoenixd runs the Lightning software itself, manages channels and routing, and requires you to handle backups and liquidity. Nodes give more control but ask more of the operator.
You do not need to write code to run the program, but you should be comfortable with a terminal and basic Lightning concepts. The main tasks are installing WSL, verifying a checksum, funding the node and backing up data. Beginners may find a Lightning wallet a gentler starting point.
The latest release listed is v0.9.3. Releases change over time, so check the GitHub Releases page before you install or update. Read the release notes for changes that could affect your setup, especially if you already run a node with live channels.
Verdict
Phoenixd is a good fit for developers, merchants and advanced users who want a minimal, free and open-source Lightning node that they control. It is not a casual wallet, and Windows users should expect to work through WSL. If you are comfortable with the command line and ready to manage backups and channel liquidity, test it on a small setup before committing meaningful funds. Beginners who only want to send and receive payments will be better served by a wallet.