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Instant Lightning → Debit Card Top-Up Mini App Using Satora.io
5714 sats \ 17 comments \ @rolznz 18h bitcoin

I built a small PWA for instantly topping up a debit card with bitcoin and make payments with Apple Pay, which helps me live on bitcoin.

Before I start: I do pay directly in bitcoin where possible. This is one of my fallback approaches that in my opinion is sustainable.

This is also not a post about KYC or no-KYC, or Apple Pay, or Google Pay, really.

This post is also not about crypto, it's about living on bitcoin in a way that actually has a good user experience.

I have been doing this for a long time with 2fiat card connected to Apple Pay (I have a small PWA for instant 2fiat lightning topups), but after some repeated problems I needed a fallback, and realized Satora enables a nice flow that works with many different debit card providers.

The problem

  • I keep funds in a self-custodial bitcoin wallet
  • Most merchants still accept only card or fiat payments
  • Most debit cards are not bitcoin-native and do not support the lightning network

Satora fixes this with near-instant atomic lightning<->stablecoin swaps. I can keep using bitcoin, and topup my debit card just before I pay.

NWC enables a super-simple interface on my phone that I can open and press one button to top up my debit card from my bitcoin lightning wallet. The swap takes less than 10 seconds, and my debit card balance tops up within a minute.

How It Works

  1. Setup once: Input your card’s deposit address, network, and currency, then connect your wallet via Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC). This is the only time you are exposed to "crypto". From a UX perspective after that, it's only bitcoin and a USD debit card balance.
  2. Swap via Satora.io: Tap “Top Up” to trigger a Lightning-funded swap. BTC is converted and sent to your card's deposit address.
  3. Seamless payment: NWC pays the Lightning invoice automatically through a budgeted connection to your lightning wallet.

Questions for people trying to live on bitcoin

  1. Do you use a bitcoin/crypto/prepaid card today? Which one?
  2. How do you top it up now? What is the annoying part?
  3. Do you keep a balance on it, or top up only when needed?
  4. What would stop you from testing this with a small amount?

Early Access to the App
Want to be one of the first to try the app? send an email to hello@getalby.com

Your bitcoin stays in your wallet until you need it. Works best with Alby Hub: https://getalby.com/alby-hub?ref=bitcoin-debit-card

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1 sat \ 2 replies \ @hasherstacker 14h

I remember having only used one by Bitnob. I had no choice, and I couldn't help it.

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1 sat \ 1 reply \ @rolznz OP 6h

What do you mean by no choice and couldn’t help it?

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421 sats \ 0 replies \ @hasherstacker 4h

Using Bitcoin wasn't simple, and Bitcoin as money should be used as such, without converting into fiat. But we're working on onboarding merchants in my country.

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1191 sats \ 3 replies \ @BlokchainB 18h
I have been doing this for a long time with 2fiat card connected to Apple Pay (I have a small PWA for instant 2fiat lightning topups), but after some repeated problems I needed a fallback, and realized Satora enables a nice flow that works with many different debit card providers.

2fiat rugged me!! Just turned off my card and I can’t access my account anymore

  1. Before 2fiat I was using the Bitcoin company prepaid Visa card
  2. I place an order. The time it takes to buy the card and all the manual steps I have to do to add it to Apple Pay
  3. I used to keep a small balance on 2fiat. I am glad I zero it out before the card was disabled. For Bitcoin company I try to buy exactly what I need at that moment of not then the pre paid card has random balances I need to spend.
  4. How do we know this isn’t a scam?
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119 sats \ 1 reply \ @rolznz OP 18h

2fiat has been down for a few weeks and come back before, let's hope they can come back again :-)

Thanks for your thoughts!

  1. Did Bitcoin company prepaid visa card work for you? I tried one once and I couldn't use it for any online services I tried. I didn't try Apple Pay though.
  2. Apple Pay is now pretty easy, normally just 1-2 clicks and it is setup, which is cool.
  3. We are thinking of maintaining a directory of cards for bitcoiners that we have actually tried (although there is no guarantee a card won't stop working - but following this top-up and pay approach works pretty well and lowers risk). Would that help?
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1 sat \ 0 replies \ @BlokchainB 9h
  1. Yes never had any issues
  2. agreed
  3. I think so yes
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95 sats \ 0 replies \ @denlillaapan 14h

Fuckers

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1 sat \ 2 replies \ @unboiled 8h
  1. Do you use a bitcoin/crypto/prepaid card today? Which one?

Yes, as fallback / 2nd last resort.
I have KAST and Ultimopay.

  1. How do you top it up now? What is the annoying part?

Both have a BTC receiving address. I top up with Lightning via boltz swap.

Annoyances:
KAST is fine and usually shows within 2-3 confirmations.
Ultimopay has a custodial wallet so I need to sell first, then initiate loading the card which takes up to 24 hours if paying a fee, or up to 72h for no fee.

  1. Do you keep a balance on it, or top up only when needed?

Keeping a balance. How much depends on how much I expect having to use the card(s).

  1. What would stop you from testing this with a small amount?

A combination of NWC friction and not wanting to use Alby.

First and last time I tried to set up NWC, the easiest way was supposed to be with Alby. Still, it was too much friction at just about every step.
As a nomad, I don't run my own node. I tried to use custodial Alby and strongly disliked it requiring me to sign up with an email address.

So, with low confidence in getting the setup done right and not liking the supposedly least-hassle option, I didn't bother to complete it and haven't retried since.

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1 sat \ 1 reply \ @rolznz OP 6h

thanks for your feedback!

Alby Hub can be used without an email address - but still requires self hosting.

I am interested in this point however, as both cards you use require email address and more. Did you try any no-KYC cards like 2fiat or Freedomia?

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6 sats \ 0 replies \ @unboiled 5h
Did you try any no-KYC cards like 2fiat or Freedomia?

No, not yet. First time I heard of them is here.

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1 sat \ 0 replies \ @rare 5h

interesting. looking into it more.

on your qs:

  1. bitcoin and cash.
  2. no top ups.
  3. monthly rebalance.
  4. rug pulls...
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1 sat \ 0 replies \ @OT 10h
living on bitcoin in a way that actually has a good user experience.

Important! Thanks for the post.

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1 sat \ 1 reply \ @LAXITIVA 18h

I’m a top

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1 sat \ 0 replies \ @BlokchainB 9h

😆

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18 sats \ 0 replies \ @Fenix 18h -21 sats

this is not living in bitcoin.

https://i.postimg.cc/zfbh4vS1/dcaba264-a667-400d-af44-a746a08a6460.jpg

it’s the same fiat bs

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @95fcb46795 18h freebie -130 sats

The best part is most people using it wouldn’t even notice the Lightning + swap complexity happening underneath. That’s usually a sign the tech is moving in the right direction.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @c6e0ccf780 18h freebie -130 sats

The interesting part here is probably the NWC flow. If topping up becomes literally one tap before payment, that removes a lot of the friction that makes people fall back to fiat accounts.