michael
Michael Levin

Fix the Money, Fix the World. Product @ Lightning Labs.

Public Key

npub1h9z7s5mml5k285m2esunum8ffzkss3c6gnjmctm7k9qfeagyvcvsyykhpt

NIP-05 Address

michael@lightning.engineering

NIP-57 Address

michaellevin@getalby.com

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstj30g2dal6t9r6d4vcwf7dn553tgggudyfedu9altzsyu75zxvxgfs7qnz

Author Public Key

npub1h9z7s5mml5k285m2esunum8ffzkss3c6gnjmctm7k9qfeagyvcvsyykhpt

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Last Notes

2024-08-29 20:19:10

If I had to trace my deep-seeded distrust of government to one moment, it would be 19 years ago today when Katrina decimated New Orleans. Local and federal government alike fumbled. People relied on friends, family, and community.
I'll never forget that for as long as I live.

2024-08-29 19:49:46

Twitter is down, Nostr unaffected.

2024-08-27 13:54:22

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And the Zuck letter

2023-06-18 16:48:03

took an artsy 👨‍🎨 photo through a bubble at north beach fest https://nostr.build/i/a7fb6389a5e4d144dede6952062ffe661c43967b1a574e1a809ee4394088b371.jpg

2023-06-04 01:06:24

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attempted to zap in support but zaps are acting funky

2023-06-04 01:03:28

touched grass ✅🌞 https://nostr.build/i/1eb789517805262692baa4d045c8b597eaa7672860b92d29719b1c3918a32107.jpg

2023-05-08 19:56:41

hop in the pool, water’s warming up 🏊
https://twitter.com/michaellevin/status/1655651256059191337

2023-05-08 19:55:36

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Not necessarily 😅 just a matter of trade offs like everything in software development🫡

2023-05-02 12:00:25

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Great question 🙏🏼 This was a decision that we discussed a bunch. With the initial launch, we really wanted to be responsible builders/stewards of this type of tooling and, thus, take into account that updating fees too frequently could pollute the gossip network.
In future releases, once we evaluate the impact in that regard, I’d say it’s quite possible that we allow for user choice about the timeframe they may want Autofees to act on.

2023-05-01 20:09:20

https://twitter.com/michaellevin/status/1653100489154732033

2023-04-26 18:40:47

Announcing the new litd, the all-in-one suite for LND devs! Get LIT with:
🖥️ Improved Terminal web UI
🧮 Tools to simplify liquidity & accounting
🤖 Automated routing fee management
🌐 Accounts: many users, one node
Upgrade your Lightning stack today: https://lightning.engineering/posts/2023-04-26-litd-release/

2023-04-25 04:43:17

Would be interesting to see the retention metrics of OnlyZap vs. Non-OnlyZap users

2023-04-24 23:59:32

anotha one #note1hlx…8h7v

2023-04-24 22:02:20

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yay, I feel like I'm not following nostriches as many as I could be because there's not really a follow back via notif flow.
that said, given responses, should probably be optional.

2023-04-24 17:59:19

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NOLA bitcoiners 🧡💪🏽

2023-04-23 21:34:20

dub szn https://nostr.build/av/nostr.build_b1e8237400c3b2abe7720150e74138a54ea338331d0b616bb2472e76f7282a5b.mov

2023-04-23 00:28:07

jimmy buckets "playoff legend" narrative game

2023-04-22 15:29:01

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it's happenimg.gif

2023-04-22 01:00:17

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unreal shipping pace ser 🫡⚡️

2023-04-21 17:53:16

everyone talking about nostr, we gotta be more positive... what about yestr

2023-04-21 15:00:31

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great question, totally depends on the person! don't have a generalized answer really 🤔

2023-04-21 06:49:00

consistently reading books is one of the best habits you can easily develop

2023-04-21 00:43:43

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That is strange. It does feel like too big of a difference at first to not be some measurement bug/hiccup. But then, it ends up in the same place.
Seems like too large of a delta to be explained by the following but... anecdotally the past 30 days has felt like a big change from priors with regard to level of content and the smoothness/polish of the most popular clients. You would assume something like that would carry through to the end tho.
Hmm🤔

2023-04-20 20:26:39

re-note came just in time... it's def this time. #note1859…wdt2

2023-04-18 05:04:28

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will repost then 🫡😉

2023-04-18 04:55:45

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… need to be able to delete notes 😂

2023-04-18 01:58:21

feels like one of those legendary curry nights could be coming… 👨🏽‍🍳🏀

2023-04-17 20:30:04

the best part of working on #bitcoin and Lightning is that I rarely have those lack of motivation days that I used to have in fiat/tech job land
knowing that everything I do has a positive impact on all bitcoiners and Lightning users makes bigly motivation come naturally 🧡🫡

2023-04-17 18:05:10

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Figured! Awesome 🧡

2023-04-17 17:47:27

bit of minor feedback for the custom zap flow in #[0] (react if you see this too, b/c might just be me)…
When I set up a custom Zap, any input to that flow (zap amount, message) results in the keyboard popping up. Then, it’s tricky to get the keyboard to go back down and actually send the zap. Takes 10-15 seconds of tapping around in the UX to lower the keyboard and see the send zap button. Likely just a simple tap target sizing fix I assume 🧡🏗️

2023-04-17 17:41:56

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ah, didn’t realize that, that is shitty 🤮

2023-04-17 17:23:34

Would it be possible to create share flows for npubs that are a deep link into a Nostr client for easier click through follows?
For example, rather than posting an npub to some social site (Twitter), you post a link that deep link opens a user’s Nostr client to the profile page and then it’s just a one click follow.
As of now, it’s a bit clunky to copy and paste npubs, search, then follow. Maybe already exists and I’ve missed it.

2023-04-17 17:19:30

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The Replit CEO Amjad is a bitcoiner and definitely is consistently exploring Bitcoin/LN (referenced below).
I’m just bullish on having a company that I think becomes more and more influential in the learn to code, but also IDE space, that is passionate about pushing Bitcoin/Lightning development forward.
There’s certainly more they can do to be fully orangepilled, but the signs are there.
https://twitter.com/amasad/status/1602719696532414467?s=46&t=9vzoVyqAEt_7JsVehQd07g

2023-04-17 02:25:05

KD v. Kawhi in the playoffs is beautiful 😍

2023-04-16 21:46:26

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Yah, I played basketball growing up and still play pickup. But, just watch a lot of NBA. The playoffs and the regular season are just sooo different. Never played hockey and don’t watch all that much NHL, though I do love the playoffs.

2023-04-16 21:42:05

lakers stepped on their throats to close that out. playoff experience matters in the nba more than any other sport imo.

2023-04-15 15:33:14

low and slow 🤤 https://nostr.build/av/nostr.build_ee5befdafcc0b31417e8bbbf3250540acc5f161886e6ff8a87085a13c199cb25.mov

2023-04-15 05:11:01

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...twas dope, incredible film

2023-04-15 00:58:58

Anybody seen AIR yet? Going tonight and I'm hype 🔥🏀

2023-04-14 18:58:26

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Has some NOLA vibes to it, love that. Need to get out there soon!

2023-04-14 16:51:49

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We do have the litd UI for creating LNC sessions with certain perms or totally custom perms. You can also use that UX for creating custodial off-chain accounts. Both of those use cases are technically a UI for generating custom macaroons, but it's restricted to those use cases.
I don't think we've put much thought into building a fully fledged UX for baking any and all custom macaroons, but it sounds like that would be useful and we should put more thought into that. Appreciate the feedback! 🧡⚡️🏗

2023-04-14 15:54:45

Weekends are for node management and.. baking?! 🍪
Macaroons, bearer credentials used in LND, enable users to authenticate/authorize access to resources/services through flexible, fine-grained permissions.
Check out this new guide on baking Macaroons! 👨🏻‍🍳
https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/lnd/macaroons
(h/t as always to #[0] for the best guides in the business 🧡⚡️🏗)

2023-04-13 15:26:34

With the latest version of the Lightning Loop client, users have access to MuSig2/TR swaps for Loop In and Loop Out. These swaps improve cost and privacy. Just use the - - experimental flag within loopd to use those cheaper, more private swaps.

2023-04-13 01:49:06

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crazy foul call, v similar to the lakers one ln but Conley has ice in his veins

2023-04-13 01:22:51

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Yah! That Lakers game was crazy, should be an incredible playoffs. Especially in the west. So much parity.

2023-04-13 01:20:01

anybody watching these NBA play-in games? 👀🏀

2023-04-11 17:22:12

new damus updates slap 🥵 so much smoother and more polished, great work as always #[0]

2023-04-09 16:27:24

gm happy Easter 🐰
and happy masters sunday 🏌🏼‍♂️

2023-04-08 15:06:16

2023-04-07 16:15:31

With LND 0.16, node operators have more flexibility and choice with regard to how pathfinding works on their node. In the long run, these options should lead to better pathfinding and higher payment success rates.
To learn more about these options and how to configure them, check out this new pathfinding guide! https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/lnd/pathfinding
(h/t #[0] for always delivering understandable, comprehensive documentation 🫡⚡️)

2023-04-04 14:45:54

Lightning Node Connect allows for developers to create applications with an end-to-end encrypted connection to a Lightning node.
Learn more about how to build LNC-powered applications with our new guide 🏗⚡️
https://docs.lightning.engineering/lapps/guides/make-your-own-lnc-powered-application

2023-04-03 19:05:03

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😂🍷

2023-04-03 18:56:14

wagyu ribeye cooked in a cast iron in beef tallow 🥵🤤 https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_7c1f29186d0402aa89227fa07abf3636e08925b567f617ce6a2c85c8577a58a4.jpg

2023-03-26 18:15:53

been a fantastic march madness, pumped for these last two elite eight games, 🐦🤘🏼

2023-03-26 16:17:23

🌉 https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_1be27aafb904c3c6e7fcabe7d98ed0afa9d5785e1c752b5e67237137fffce33d.jpg

2023-03-25 20:19:38

🌞🌁
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_cc075dc05630327aba5529f300e7d3e19ef84a2be15413e5b145e1a39ae86752.jpg

2023-03-24 17:52:07

i love working on Bitcoin and Lightning 🧡
send -t-w-e-e-t- **note

2023-03-21 00:14:58

lol my dad's texts when #[0] goes on CNBC
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_6eda72047cf2ad1ffb6f358a5cf8989d8710c5fb31f6c1e7d02309db70ad6b6a.jpg

2023-03-20 05:22:42

ChatGPT Orangepill 🟠🤖
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_a29815c6050846951788c05d3fc45afe6e208496073db63be0946adab1ef4f72.jpg
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_585fee54a7e6ae2327fa8858b3d858acdca89f67039424f727acbecbd084d7a9.jpg
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_ea1ebab24e32b3f03a028164f77bcc15d90d01e6e5bbf985684ef4b9adeea0c7.jpg
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_1bae1d0b609b4ee5a556315c3930cb6335a1d9ad3d15714f4e86004c6dbadfb4.jpg

2023-03-19 19:21:22

wonder what most US citizens would do if the federal government overstepped and tried to use overburdensome regulation to restrict access to bitcoin 🤔 https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_b40d4b8d05c256f949e8e1b94fe627b988c1d3b200ff6ea3bb5f76866107feae.jpg

2023-03-19 18:04:22

🚨Lightning Node Operators
I'd love to interview about your experiences managing a node through UX. Bonus points if you're using https://terminal.lightning.engineering/
We want to continue to improve Terminal to meet node operator needs and user interviews are an awesome way to help guide us in the right direction.
Comment or DM if interested. 🙏🏼⚡️

2023-03-19 03:19:54

march madness in all the ways

2023-03-11 19:00:00

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The CEO of Bitcoin

2023-03-11 18:58:57

wore this bad boy out in SF last night, lot of compliments on my fashion sense
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_d839507c8b6957deb700000f6024afbd399dc9a5a249895a4603358dffbcbd69.jpg

2023-03-11 17:07:07

one of my favorite parts of the week, bout to go play pickup for two hours 🏀

2023-03-11 00:45:07

building things of value at scale can be really hard sometimes. during those times, it's important to have a mission to anchor on.
Separating the money from the state via Bitcoin is most noble mission of our lives 🧡🫡

2023-03-08 20:39:16

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A more fun solution for that problem: https://www.bugasalt.com/

2023-03-08 19:21:28

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Get a hammock chair. Same suspended feeling, less injury risk lol 😂

2023-03-06 19:20:12

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🙏🏼

2023-03-06 16:45:02

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Ahhh, gotcha! Makes sense, cool! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever have feedback on Terminal! We love to hear from users 🧡🙌

2023-03-06 16:40:53

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Check out https://terminal.lightning.engineering/#/ I’m slightly biased, but it’s becoming the easiest way to manage your node and liquidity. You can automate fees with Autofees and automate liquidity management with Autoloop!

2023-03-06 16:36:07

Zaps from me are all non-custodial. When on Snort, it’s directly hooked up to my node via LNC. Or, on Damus, it’s through Zeus which is connected to my node via LNC.
Self sovereign zaps just mean more ⚡️🧡

2023-03-04 21:31:13

Zapping direct from my node connected via LNC on Snort
Self sovereign zapping ftw
thanks #[0]

2023-03-04 20:48:36

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Connect to https://terminal.lightning.engineering/#/ and use Autopilot with automated fee management. Getting close to set and forget 👀

2023-03-04 17:37:47

More people using Bitcoin is good.
People should strive to use Bitcoin non-custodially.
Not mutually exclusive statements.

2023-03-03 16:22:12

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Yep, similar to the new Zeus flows or Alby flows. You can use LNC to connect directly to an application. Get the pairing phrase from litd (can even provide custom permissions like only send and receive access) and then connect your node to the app. Non-custodial usage ftw 🙌

2023-03-02 23:59:21

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Ser, 504 was right there, it’s fine I claim it.

2023-03-02 23:58:48

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504, repping New Orleans

2023-03-02 22:57:17

👏 #[0] for being first to bring LNC functionality into a Nostr client, think that’s a game changer for non-custodial usage 🙏🏼

2023-03-02 17:40:24

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Good questions. Agree with a lot of the above. Think another factor is how easy we (as a community) can make non-custodial usage and specifically earning yield non-custodially. That’s the holy grail. We get closer every day, week, month and year. There could be a tipping point whereby it becomes quite easy to do this and coins flood in. But then, the available yield likely goes down. So, it’ll be a bit of a push and pull, but unlocking easy to use, non-custodial yield generation is probably 🔑

2023-03-02 17:36:27

Schrödinger’s relays…
Sometimes on Damus, the notes don’t load and I see 2/13 in the upper right corner indicating active relays.
But, when I click through to the relay page, most of them appear online and then I jump to 10/13 or something.
Rinse, repeat.

2023-03-02 03:36:44

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fine, twist my arm 🤪

2023-03-02 02:43:46

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hmm tried to zap you for this take but I get error fetching Lightning invoice, can zap elsewhere

2023-03-01 21:23:12

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😂 lmao

2023-03-01 17:49:03

#[0]
Verifying My Public Key: michaellevin

2023-03-01 03:47:20

lol man.. this is so fun ⚡️
who knows where it goes? but, this moment of just enjoying a new technology is so special 💜

2023-03-01 01:57:17

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Success!

2023-03-01 01:41:35

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paid 🫡

2023-02-28 22:55:34

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100%
As I wrote here (https://michael-levin.medium.com/part-2-lightning-network-bitcoins-crossing-the-chasm-superpower-7fe4fd4702dc), “ [The Lightning Network] lets developers and entrepreneurs build on top of a global, always-on, permissionless nearly trillion dollar network to create compelling products for their niches. What will those hit products be? No one knows. But, I’m betting on Bitcoin + Lightning Network. Because, at this point, that’s just a bet on human ingenuity.”
Nostr seems like it could be the same bet on human ingenuity just on a communications stack rather than a monetary stack.

2023-02-28 20:17:02

Twitter was planning to add Lightning integration per tweet. Then, #[0] left and they didn’t…
Along came Nostr + Zaps 👀
permissionless innovation for the win😤
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_69fcac6fbb8938b4148bce20f925bb200780687dcd6b2bfa79117d74bfb2f33c.jpg
https://nostr.build/i/nostr.build_374e3b6ccb1172f2cc7e3f2c7d08cb42ea5f4659828d69ac31571e88dcac6313.jpg

2023-02-28 17:25:22

My favorite analogy for Lightning Loop is that it’s a Brinks cash truck for Lightning businesses.
A business fills up on Lightning payments and needs the truck to bring those sats to a safer, on-chain layer. As an added benefit, you replenish your inbound in the process.

2023-02-27 17:46:22

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Hopefully LNC in more Nostr clients soon 🙏👀

2023-02-27 16:52:02

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Oh absolutely, the amount of development in the Lightning (+ Nostr) space right now is insane. It's my full time job to work on Lightning and it's still hard to keep up on everything going on! ⚡️🏗

2023-02-27 01:28:32

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In its simplest form, businesses built on Lightning need to receive sats. In order to do so, they need channels opened in their direction (inbound capacity). That inbound is a scarce resource because there’s a limited number of sats and a variety of compelling options to open towards.
Pool allows for node runners to sell that scarce resource to buyers (merchants/businesses)💸

2023-02-27 01:10:20

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Just scratching the surface too. Already feels like a better version of Twitter in just a few short months. Open source nature of it is just gonna make the entire experience blossom and improve so quickly. Can’t wait.

2023-02-26 23:13:00

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Zappy Birthday! ⚡️🎂

2023-02-26 23:09:58

I'm incredibly excited for Nostr clients to start integrating Lightning Node Connect (LNC). Super bullish on both improved, smoother UX and more non-custodial zapping ⚡️
Heard rumblings that it may be coming to some clients soon ™️👀

2023-02-26 22:48:07

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Lots of documentation on how to get started from #[3] on our docs site.
https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/lightning-terminal/pool
https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/pool/overview
Let me know if you have any questions!

2023-02-26 22:35:50

Attention Node Running Nostriches: Did you know that with Lightning Pool you can generate non-custodial yield on your Bitcoin?
Just this week alone, in the 2 week lease duration market:
- Sellers earned 168,888 sats 🤑
- 26.07% median APR 📈
- 54.20m sats of inbound sold
Hop in the Pool! Water's warm. 🌊
https://terminal.lightning.engineering/#/pool-lite

2023-02-25 14:24:25

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Yep! IMO, the Plebnet Wiki is a great place to start exploring running a routing node. Lots of great material there specifically designed for newcomers https://plebnet.wiki/wiki/Main_Page
For Pool, we have a bunch of great resources and docs (h/t to #[2] ) on our Builder's Guide https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/lightning-terminal/pool
https://docs.lightning.engineering/lightning-network-tools/pool/overview