Getting Started with BTCPay Server
This guide will help you set up and configure your BTCPay Server. BTCPay Server is a free and open-source cryptocurrency payment processor which allows you to accept/spend bitcoin & lightning with no fees, transaction costs or a middleman. We use it as the backend Node to Zeus & Sparrow.
Prerequisites
Before starting, make sure you have run the ripsline installer on your Virtual Private Server (Virtual Private Node)
Get Started
Follow the steps in your credentials file provided in order details email to deploy your Node.
Step 1: Access the Dashboard
After the installer completes, navigate to your BTCPay Server URL in your web browser. You should see the registration or login screen:
The BTCPay Server login screen - create your admin account here
Create your administrator account by entering your email address and a strong password. This will be your main account for managing the server.
Step 2: Create Your First Store
Once logged in, you'll need to create a store. A store represents your business or project and contains all the settings for accepting payments. Click on the "Stores" menu in the top navigation and then select "Create a new store":
Creating your first store in BTCPay Server
Enter your store name and configure the default currency (USD, EUR, etc.). You can customize these settings later, including:
- Default payment currency
- Invoice expiration time
- Price display format
- Store branding and appearance
You can create multiple stores on a single BTCPay Server instance. This is useful if you run multiple businesses or want to create different hot/watch-only wallets.
Step 3 (Optional): Create Hot Wallet Part 1
Navigate to "Bitcoin" underneath "Wallets" on the left-hand navigation panel. Click on "Create a new wallet" and the following screen looks like below:
Select "Hot wallet" - if you have a hardware device, you can go back one page and "Connect an existing wallet"
Step 4 (Optional): Create Hot Wallet Part 2
After "Hot wallet" selection, you will be brought to below page. Here you can leave default settings and select green "Create" button.
It is crucial that you write down ON PAPER! in order, the words that pop-up on the following screen. This is your wallet seed phrase.
Never keep a digital copy of your seed phrase, only physical, keep somewhere safe. Never share your extended public key (xpub) publicly or with untrusted parties. While it cannot be used to spend funds, it can reveal your entire transaction history and all addresses in your wallet.
Step 5 (Optional): Create Watch-only wallet
Navigate to "Bitcoin" underneath "Wallets" on the left-hand navigation panel. Click on "Create a new wallet" and the following screen looks like below:
Select "Watch-only wallet" - like step 4: leave default settings and select green "Create" button. Write down your seed phrase and store somewhere safe.
This is a great option for merchants who want to accept on-chain payments. You have receiving power and your seed phrase never touches your Virtual Private Node.
Configure BTCPay Lightning Node
Navigate to "Lightning" underneath "Wallets" on the left-hand navigation panel. Leave default "Use internal Node" then click "Save":
You will notice a red dot "Lightning" on the left-hand navigation panel until your bitcoin Node is fully synced.
You can use "Ride the Lightning" or "Lightning Terminal" within BTCPay to open/manage channels and send/receive funds but we envision Zeus Wallet. Connect to Zeus Wallet
Be sure to write down and store safely your 24-word Lightning seed phrase: Left-hand navigation panel, "Server Settings" → "Services" → "LND Seed Backup" → "See information" → "See confidential seed information".