Last Notes
run a bitcoin lightning node.
https://github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
what if I drop it? will my keys be wiped?
South African bitcoin community.
What can we the people do to help?
Freedom means never being tied down to one location. Security means never ordering bitcoin hardware to your home address. This is why we built Virtual Private Node.
https://ripsline.com
We hear you. LND recommends running either Bitcoin Core or btcd as a backend. Knots runs the same RPC and ZMQ interface as Core so it would most likely work, but it has not been tested or documented by LND or by us. Virtual Private Node runs Bitcoin Core v29.
Virtual Private Node v0.4.2 is live.
Every time you create a Lightning invoice, you're revealing your node, your channels, and your UTXOs.
That era is over. Blinded paths now on by default. Your node stays hidden.
Also, payment routes now show node aliases and per-hop fees.
https://image.nostr.build/5a12689dea38ddf5072d67e8920a8f1718868b9aa652146444ae8fbb881a55a3.png
A Node to use Bitcoin, not just save it.
https://ripsline.com/
the end of privacy is the end of freewill.
can I flash it on a pixel?
some thoughts on lightning.
can be extremely private but it's arguably more expensive than just sending on-chain.
trade-off: everyone needs to connect to a large routing node for reliable transactions.
should it be "easy" to run a decentralized bank?
it's a baby.
computers are weapons (tools) and if we do not learn how to use them properly, our own computers will be used as weapons against us.
thanks mate! I actually need to update the website. Use github for most recent info on the project. Love the idea of a "why choose this node" section. And customer testimonials too. Thanks so much.
Virtual Private Node v0.3.1 — Syncthing channel backups, simplified.
Your LND channel.backup now syncs automatically to your local
device over a direct encrypted connection. No Tor on your laptop.
No config files. No terminal commands.
Install Syncthing on your computer/phone. Pair it from the dashboard.
Done. Your backup syncs whenever both devices are online.
How it works:
→ Syncthing uses mutual TLS with Ed25519 device keys
→ Only devices you explicitly approve can connect
→ Unapproved connections rejected before any data exchange
→ Discovery servers and relays disabled — direct IP only
→ channel.backup is useless without your 24-word seed
The pairing flow is built into the TUI. Press [a] in the
Syncthing details screen, paste your local Device ID, and
the VPS shares the backup folder automatically.
Also in this release:
• Self-update screen appears immediately (was stuck behind q)
• Dashboard layout no longer overflows on some terminals
• LndHub clearnet connections are TLS-encrypted (docs corrected)
Virtual Private Node is a one-command installer for a private
Lightning node. Bitcoin Core, LND, Tor, and now automatic
channel backups — configured and running in minutes on Debian.
Your keys. Your node. Your backups.
https://github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
pretty sure #grapheneos stopped recommending Aurora store years ago. Probably not a good idea to share google accounts with people to download apps...
do people still use Aurora store?
dying for feedback out here:
https://github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
Virtual Private Node v0.3.4
🧅 ALL downloads route through Tor
⚡ Dashboard polls 4x faster
🔑 Seed confirmation: type "I SAVED MY SEED" to proceed
🛡 Rate limiting, IP stripping on LndHub proxy
📦 LndHub install blocked during IBD (prevents CPU timeout)
https://github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
we reach our greatest satisfactions in the action of creation.
the computer is a tool for creation. with great power comes great responsibility.
LndHub is the sub-accounts tech.
I use it for automatic lightning SCB backups. check it out: github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
Virtual Private Node v0.3.0 — Lightning Accounts
This release adds LndHub.go as a new add-on. Create separate Lightning
wallet accounts for family, friends, or AI agents — all backed by your
own LND node. Built from source at a pinned release tag. No prebuilt
binaries. Managed entirely from the SSH dashboard.
Each account gets a one-time login and password. Share the credentials
or scan a QR code. The admin cannot see user balances. Deactivation
records the balance so you can refund to a new account. Passwords are
shown once and never stored anywhere.
The bigger change is how clearnet connections work. Previously, LndHub
was exposed over unencrypted HTTP in hybrid P2P mode. Now a TLS reverse
proxy sits in front of it — self-signed ECDSA P-256 certificate with
your server's IP in the SAN. Same approach LND uses for its REST API.
Zeus users accept the cert on first connection. Tor connections bypass
the proxy entirely.
The proxy only exists when you need it. Tor-only mode: no proxy, no
open port, LndHub reachable only through the hidden service. Hybrid
mode: proxy auto-installs, firewall opens port 3000 for encrypted
access. Upgrade from Tor to hybrid later and the proxy gets added
automatically.
Security fixes throughout: SQL injection prevention on database queries,
double-sudo bug fix, account name input validation, sshd hardening with
drop-in config files, version cache moved out of /tmp. Code cleanup:
consistent command execution patterns, idiomatic timeouts, migrated
GPG calls to the system package abstraction.
One command installs Bitcoin Core, LND, and Tor on Debian. Add LndHub,
Lightning Terminal, and Syncthing from the dashboard. No wrappers. No
abstractions. Your keys, your node.
github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
you ever listen to Jeff booth?
what are you using to generate that lightning invoice on takemysats?
nobody is going to give their bot a credit card but they will give it a macaroon with an allowance.
mynymbox.io @nprofile…8rud
eventually most people will trust their little ai assistant with a few sats, no?
Virtual Private Node — a private Bitcoin & Lightning node in one command.
✅ TUI dashboard
✅ Bitcoin Core
✅ LND Lightning
✅ Lightning Terminal (browser UI)
✅ Wallet pairing
✅ GPG verified downloads
✅ Syncthing (automatic channel backups over Tor)
https://github.com/ripsline/virtual-private-node
how come y'all don't have an apk? I don't like f-droid.
the idea of one device with many applications is a broken model.
the correct model is different devices dedicated to different tasks.
my kid will learn how to use a computer properly, no need for a cold wallet.
you have to be a good writer now if you want to have any online presence.
the most accurate AAi's just have the most reading material.
what does a child learn when u give them a cold wallet with bitcoin you've been saving for them?
!!! If you're gonna do it use a dedicated PC that has zero info about you.
Gigi we are not mourning. Good rejoicing maybe instead?
what did you have to change about Zeus to make it work in South Africa?
what nostr client are you on?
