What is phoenixd?

phoenixd is a minimal Lightning node built for sending and receiving payments. It shares core code with the Phoenix Wallet mobile app but runs on servers and exposes an HTTP API instead of a graphical interface. The daemon handles liquidity automatically — it purchases inbound capacity when needed, manages channels, and requires no setup. It supports Bolt11 and Bolt12 invoices, LNURL flows, on-chain payments, and sends payment notifications via webhooks and WebSockets. The API uses Basic authentication with generated passwords. Native binaries are provided for Linux (x86_64, arm64), macOS (x86_64, arm64), and Windows via WSL.

Should you self-host phoenixd?

phoenixd scores 48/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #27 of 42 in Cryptocurrency. It has 184 GitHub stars.

It shipped 8 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v0.9.3, came out on 13 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 2 months.

Setup is easy: most people get it running in one sitting. It is Apache-2.0-licensed and written mostly in Kotlin.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Bitcoin Core (86/100, 90 528 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See phoenixd vs Bitcoin Core side by side.

Features

Automated Liquidity Management
Bolt11 invoice support
Bolt12 offer support
Channel Management
CSV Export
Fee estimation
HTTP REST API
Lightning Address
LNURL support
On-chain payments
Self-custodial
Swap-in address
Webhook Notifications
WebSocket Notifications
Zero Configuration

FAQ

Can I share the same seed between several instances of Phoenix?

No, the seed must NOT be shared between different instances of Phoenix (phoenixd or Phoenix Wallet). Reusing the seed will lead to connection issues, payment failures, and potentially channel force closes.

Is phoenixd self-custodial?

Yes. On first start, phoenixd generates a 12-word recovery phrase stored in ~/.phoenix/seed.dat. Only the user knows this seed and must back it up securely.

What is the difference between phoenixd and eclair?

eclair is a highly scalable, general-purpose Lightning node for routing and managing many channels. phoenixd is a minimal, specialized node for sending and receiving payments only.

Who is it for?

phoenixd is designed for developers and businesses who want to build on Lightning with minimum hassle and maximum reliability, without compromising on self-custody.

What is phoenixd?

phoenixd is a minimal, specialized Lightning node designed for sending and receiving Lightning payments. It uses the same software as Phoenix Wallet but runs on a server with an HTTP API instead of a GUI, and has fully automated liquidity management.