Getting Started with BTCPay Server

This guide walks through the setup and configuration of your personal BTCPay Server. BTCPay Server is a free and open-source cryptocurrency payment processor which allows you to accept/spend bitcoin & lightning with no third-party. We use it as the backend Node configuration to Zeus & Sparrow Wallets.

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.txt file, provided in ripsline 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:

BTCPay Server 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. For non-merchant users you can name it anything:

Create Store Interface 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
Tip:

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: Configure BTCPay Lightning Node

Navigate to "Lightning" underneath "Wallets" on the left-hand navigation panel. Leave default "Use internal Node" then click "Save":

Lightning Configuration You will notice a red dot "Lightning" on the left-hand navigation panel until your bitcoin Node is fully synced.

Navigate to "Settings" underneath "Lightning" on the left-hand navigation panel. Select the box "Add hop hints for private channels to the Lightning invoice" then select "Save" top right:

Lightning Setting Add Hop Hints to Receive to Private Channels
Note:

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

Security Warning:

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":

LND Seed Settings Cannot "See information" until BTC full sync

Step 4 (Optional): Create Watch-only wallet

a. Navigate to "Bitcoin" underneath "Wallets" on the left-hand navigation panel. Select "Create a new wallet":

Create Wallet

b. Select "Watch-only wallet" → leave default settings on "Create BTC Watch-Only Wallet" screen → select green "Create" button.

Wallet Configuration Screen

c. Write Seed Phrase on Paper!

Wallet Seed Screen
Note:

This is a great option for merchants who want to accept on-chain payments. You have receiving power and your seed phrase is not stored on your Virtual Private Node.

Security Warning:

Never keep a digital copy of your seed phrase, only physical, keep somewhere safe. Never share your extended public key (xpub) publicly.