Introducing Alby Hub’s Superpower: App Connections

Bitcoin payments today

Bitcoin is the money for the internet*, and the lightning network is the superior payment protocol that allows for instant transfers from A to B across any borders. Today, you can easily pay bills, send money to family, shop online, top up your phone, and more. However, the lightning network's technical capabilities extend far beyond peer-to-peer or e-commerce transactions. It excels in enabling payments within and between applications.

That’s why we created Alby Hub. It’s not just another lightning wallet—it’s your central hub for bitcoin payments.

Marketplace of app connections 

Alby Hub is your self-custodial lightning wallet, and its ability to connect with apps is its superpower. This capability is unique in the bitcoin ecosystem and has the potential to transform how apps integrate payments in a lasting way. Instead of requiring upfront deposits and trusting apps with your bitcoin, you can connect your Hub to any app to pay and receive directly from your own node. No upfront deposits, no risk of missing bitcoin—just plug in and out with your Hub.

NWC - the standard for wallet to app connections 

NWC, short for Nostr Wallet Connect, makes this magic happen. NWC is an open protocol that allows for sustained interaction between bitcoin lightning wallets, like Alby Hub, and apps. A whole ecosystem of apps supports this standard and allows users to easily plug in their own wallets. 

Alby Hub can run on servers, desktops, or even minicomputers. But thanks to NWC, you can control your wallet from anywhere—on any operating system, through any browser, or on your mobile phone. Want to pay on websites? Simply connect your Hub with the Alby Browser Extension. Need to pay for coffee on the go? Link your Hub with Alby Go (upcoming).

Alby Hub also offers an integrated app store, featuring a wide range of apps—from chat and content apps to games, music, video, and more.

Budgets and permissions

Giving apps access rights to wallets requires an additional layer of security and control. Alby Hub solves this with customizable budgets and granular permission management. The user is in the driver’s seat. Whether it's setting time limits, allocating app-specific budgets, or setting fine-grained access permissions, users can individually customize their app connections. In fact, budgets are a core feature of Alby Hub’s integrated app store. Users can even set auto-renewal cycles and expiration dates for budgets, to add an additional safeguard. 

Alby Hub - your own center for Internet Money

Bitcoin and the lightning network are changing how we transfer value today. It disrupts existing peer-to-peer payment flows and creates completely new use cases in and outside of apps. Whatever use case you prefer, Alby Hub has you covered. It is your one stop shop for sending and receiving bitcoin putting you in control of programmable payments in a truly self-sovereign way.

*The Internet of Money: A collection of talks by Andreas Antonopoulos. Volume one, 2016