What is hub?

This self-custodial Bitcoin Lightning wallet implements Nostr Wallet Connect so users can link their wallet to many compatible applications. It runs as a single-user service with an embedded LDK-based Lightning node by default, but also connects to external Lightning nodes such as LND, CLN, Phoenixd, Cashu, and Bark. The software includes an integrated app store, sub-wallets for family or friends, permission management with spending limits by time period, and automatic swaps between on-chain and Lightning. It supports multiple deployment methods including Docker, binary downloads, desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and cloud providers. The project is open-source under the Apache-2.0 license.

Should you self-host hub?

hub scores 54/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #19 of 42 in Cryptocurrency. It has 287 GitHub stars.

It shipped 12 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.24.4, came out on 22 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 3 weeks.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is Apache-2.0-licensed and written mostly in Typescript.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Bitcoin Core (86/100, 90 526 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See hub vs Bitcoin Core side by side.

Features

Auto-swaps
Database migrationExperimental - backup recommended
Desktop application
Encrypted Storage
Integrated app store
Multiple Lightning backends
Permission management with budgets
Sub-wallets

How to configure hub

ALBY_OAUTH_CLIENT_IDAlby OAuth client ID
Alby OAuth client ID
ALBY_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRETAlby OAuth client secret
Alby OAuth client secret
AUTO_UNLOCK_PASSWORDPassword to auto-unlock on startup
Password to auto-unlock on startup
BARK_ESPLORA_SERVEREsplora server URL for chain data
Esplora server URL for chain data
values: e.g. https://esplora.signet.2nd.dev
BARK_LOG_LEVEL3Bark log level
Bark log level
BARK_SERVERArk server URL
Ark server URL
values: e.g. https://ark.signet.2nd.dev
BARK_SERVER_ACCESS_TOKENOptional access token for private Ark server
Optional access token for private Ark server
BASE_URLBase URL for OAuth redirects
Base URL for OAuth redirects
BOLTZ_APIBoltz-compatible API for swaps functionality
Boltz-compatible API for swaps functionality
CLN_ADDRESSCLN gRPC address (host:port)
CLN gRPC address (host:port)
CLN_ADDRESS_HOLDCLN hold plugin gRPC address
CLN hold plugin gRPC address
CLN_LIGHTNING_DIR~/.lightning/<network>CLN lightning directory with gRPC certificates
CLN lightning directory with gRPC certificates
DATABASE_URInwc.db in $XDG_DATA_HOME/albyhubSQLite filename or PostgreSQL URL
SQLite filename or PostgreSQL URL
ENABLE_ADVANCED_SETUPForce specific backend type
Force specific backend type
values: true, false
FRONTEND_URLFrontend URL for OAuth redirects
Frontend URL for OAuth redirects
GO_PROFILER_ADDRGo pprof profiler address
Go pprof profiler address
values: e.g. localhost:6060
LDK_ANNOUNCEMENT_ADDRESSESAnnouncement addresses (required if using VPN)
Announcement addresses (required if using VPN)
LDK_CHANNEL_MONITOR_WARNING_SIZE_BYTESChannel monitor size warning threshold
Channel monitor size warning threshold
LDK_ELECTRUM_SERVERoptimized Alby electrum serverCustom electrum server for LDK backend
Custom electrum server for LDK backend
values: ssl://host:50002 or tcp://host:50001
LDK_ESPLORA_SERVEREsplora server as chain source instead of electrum
Esplora server as chain source instead of electrum
LDK_LISTENING_ADDRESSESListening addresses for public channels
Listening addresses for public channels
LDK_LOG_LEVEL3LDK node log level
LDK node log level
LDK_LSPS2_ADDRESSESLSPS2 JIT LSP provider for receiving
LSPS2 JIT LSP provider for receiving
values: <pubkey>@<host>:<port>
LDK_MAX_CHANNEL_SATURATIONMax portion of channel capacity for sending payments
Max portion of channel capacity for sending payments
LDK_MAX_PATH_COUNTMaximum number of paths for MPP payments
Maximum number of paths for MPP payments
LDK_VSS_URLVSS encrypted remote storage URL
VSS encrypted remote storage URL
LN_BACKEND_TYPELDK (embedded)Lightning backend type
Lightning backend type
values: LDK, LND, CLN, PHOENIXD, CASHU, BARK
LND_ADDRESSLND gRPC address
LND gRPC address
values: e.g. localhost:10009
LND_CERT_FILEPath to LND tls.cert file
Path to LND tls.cert file
LND_MACAROON_FILEPath to LND admin.macaroon file
Path to LND admin.macaroon file
LOG_LEVEL4 (info)Main application log level (higher = more verbose)
Main application log level (higher = more verbose)
MEMPOOL_APIMempool API URL
Mempool API URL
NETWORKbitcoinOn-chain network (bitcoin, signet, testnet, regtest)
On-chain network (bitcoin, signet, testnet, regtest)
values: bitcoin, signet, testnet, regtest
PORT8080HTTP server listen port
HTTP server listen port
REBALANCE_SERVICE_URLService URL for rebalancing channels
Service URL for rebalancing channels
RELAYwss://relay.getalby.com,wss://relay2.getalby.comNostr relay URLs (comma-separated)
Nostr relay URLs (comma-separated)
WORK_DIR$XDG_DATA_HOME/albyhubDirectory to store NWC data files
Directory to store NWC data files