morata_voltz

bitcoin_beginners

The Taproot soft fork was one of the most significant updates to the Bitcoin protocol since SegWit (Segregated Witness) in 2017.

Activated on November 14, 2021, the Taproot update brought important improvements to the privacy of certain Bitcoin transaction models.

Before Taproot, complex transactions with multiple conditions, such as smart contracts (e.g., Lightning channels) or multisig wallets, were visible on the blockchain, allowing anyone to identify that a transaction followed a specific pattern.

Taproot introduced a new type of transaction signature called Schnorr Signatures, which offers advantages in signature aggregation over the ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) scheme.

With ECDSA, each signature needs to be recorded individually on the blockchain, increasing the size and cost of the transaction.

With Schnorr Signatures, these multiple signatures can be combined into a single compact signature, reducing the transaction size.

This also makes multi-party transactions, known as multi-signature transactions, indistinguishable from simple transactions.

With Taproot, these transactions are grouped, and unless a secondary condition of the contract is used, the result looks almost identical to a simple transaction, significantly improving privacy.

The Schnorr signature aggregation also contributes to network efficiency, as the smaller transaction sizes take up less space in blocks, reducing costs for users.

Moreover, the way scripts are processed on the network has become more efficient, making smart contracts and complex transactions more feasible on Bitcoin.

Taproot also introduced the concept of MAST (Merkelized Abstract Syntax Tree), which allows only a specific part of a contract to be revealed when necessary.

Instead of disclosing all the details of a smart contract on the blockchain, only what is essential for the execution of a specific contract condition is exposed.

**Did you know that three BIPs were activated in the Taproot soft fork?**
* BIP 340: Introduced Schnorr signatures;

* BIP 341: Taproot, a new P2TR (Pay-to-Taproot) output. It’s a combination of P2PK (Pay-to-Public-Key) and P2SH (Pay-to-Script-Hash) functionalities;

* BIP 342: Tapscript, an enhancement to Bitcoin’s scripting language that allows integration of the new P2TR outputs.

For Noderunners like myself, I strongly recommend using P2TR addresses to open Lightning channels.

For routers, this means saving on on-chain fees, and for those seeking more privacy, using P2TR addresses for channels means not announcing the channel opening on the blockchain.

Understand that to achieve better privacy, you shouldn’t open a public channel, as the opening transaction can be seen through explorers like Mempool, Amboss, 1ML, etc.

If you want privacy, open private channels, so the transaction doesn’t appear in explorers. An example of this can be seen here:

![](https://m.stacker.news/59407)
![](https://m.stacker.news/59406)

**But not everything is perfect, and everything has its trade-offs:**

P2TR addresses expose the public key directly on the blockchain, which could be considered a slight reduction in security compared to P2WPKH (Pay-to-Witness-Public-Key-Hash) addresses used in SegWit.

* **SegWit (P2WPKH):** Only the public key hash is revealed until the transaction is spent. This means the public key itself remains hidden until the time of spending, which provides an extra layer of protection against potential reverse cryptography attacks that may emerge in the future.

* **Taproot (P2TR):** The full public key is revealed as soon as the transaction is made. While Schnorr signatures used in Taproot are secure and efficient, exposing the public key from the start could be considered a theoretical risk in the long term, should new vulnerabilities in cryptography be discovered.

However, it’s worth noting that:

* The current security of P2TR addresses is still considered excellent, and the risk of public key exposure is more theoretical than practical at this time.

* The efficiency and privacy offered by Taproot, especially in complex transactions and Lightning channels, outweigh this slight disadvantage for most cases.

Bitcoin Soft Fork: TAPROOT🍠

Did you know that on February 7, 2106, Bitcoin will face one of the greatest challenges in its history if no changes are made? We're talking about the Year 2106 Problem, a bug that could halt the network if not addressed!

## What is this bug?

It's not just Bitcoin that's counting down to one of the biggest bugs in history. The Year 2106 Problem affects many systems, all of which rely on how they store time.

Many Unix/Linux-based systems, such as servers, internet equipment, telecommunications, and smartphones, use a 32-bit counter to track time, and these systems may fail or produce corrupted data after 2106.

## How does this affect Bitcoin?

The problem is related to the timestamp used in Bitcoin's blockchain blocks. This field in the header of each block stores time as a 32-bit number in seconds since January 1, 1970.

This value will hit its maximum possible limit in 2106. After that, the system will no longer be able to correctly record new blocks because the counter will "overflow."

The Bitcoin block headers contain critical information such as the block version, the hash of the previous block, the Merkle Root, and the time. If the time field stops working, miners will no longer be able to find valid blocks, and the blockchain will freeze.

## Why does this happen?

The timestamp uses an unsigned 32-bit counter to record the seconds, and in February 2106, this counter will hit its maximum value of FFFF FFFF (4,294,967,295 seconds). After that, it will attempt to "reset to zero," which is not allowed by the consensus rules.

## How can this be fixed?

A hard fork will likely be needed to increase the size of the time field. The most accepted theoretical proposal would be to modify the timestamp size in Bitcoin blocks, changing it from uint32_t to int64_t (64 bits).

This would give the system much more time before facing any second-counting problems—approximately 292 billion years using a 64-bit format.

This change would require a modification to Bitcoin's consensus rules. The current protocol would need to be updated to recognize and validate blocks with 64-bit timestamps.

The main reason this would require a hard fork is that old nodes would not be compatible with this new block structure. They would reject blocks with 64-bit timestamps, leading to a network split if those nodes aren't updated.

But don't worry, we have over 80 years to debate and find the most appropriate solution, and the community is already aware of the issue. As we've proven so far, Bitcoin is resilient!

🚨 The "End of Blockchain Bug" That Will Stop Bitcoin! ☠️😱 🚨

lightning

Autofee for Inbound Fees - LND

> Yes, I'm doing a general automation in my node so that I don't have to do literally anything else. I'll soon release it on github when it's in a more stable version.

I implemented the inbound fee adjustment in my autofee yesterday, we'll see what impact it had on the node in a while.

The logic consists of taking the **total outbound cost** of the channel, whether it's a **sink** or **router**, and this cost is obtained by the amount I **paid to fill** with rebalances, added to the amount of **routed in** of this channel and taking the **weighted average**.

Once this calculation is done, I subtract this cost value from the **new outbound fee rate** that the automation will make and thus obtain my **projected profit margin**.

So the next step is to apply a **negative inbound fee** (discount) following the channel's behavior:

- **For Sinks:** Apply a 25% discount on my projected margin

- **For Routers:** Apply a 50% discount on my projected margin

What do you think?

![](https://m.stacker.news/58938)

LND version 0.18.3 Introduces the lncli command for Blinded Paths

I will try it with my environment and soon I will tell you how my experience was

tutorials

BR⚡LN BOLT | Portuguese Tutorial for New Noderunners

We love it but we decided to modify for brazilian community 

And we also provide support in the BRLN community: https://br-ln.com/

LINK: https://brln.gitbook.io/brln-bolt

This tutorial aims to assist the beginner Node Runner in an independent installation of Bitcoin Core (bitcoind) and Lightning Network Daemon (LND).

It was developed by applying the practical experiences of BR⚡LN members based on the English version of Minibolt: https://v2.minibolt.info/lightning/lightning/lightning-client

The New Nobility Will Run Their Own Nodes

Decentralization is the essence of Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. While Bitcoin offers a censorship-resistant, peer-to-peer form of money, its true potential is unlocked when users take control of their own infrastructure. However, even with user-friendly tools like Umbrel and similar node software, many ordinary people still find it challenging to install and configure their own Bitcoin or Lightning nodes. The process often involves navigating technical barriers that can feel overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with the nuances of managing a decentralized financial system.

#### Why running your own node matters

Running a Bitcoin or Lightning node is a critical step for anyone who values sovereignty, privacy, and security in their financial transactions. It removes the need to rely on third parties, giving users complete control over their funds and how they interact with the Bitcoin network. But while the idea of running your own node sounds empowering, the reality is that most solutions, despite marketing themselves as user-friendly, still require a level of technical knowledge that can be daunting. What may seem like minor details in the configuration process can quickly turn into significant roadblocks, making the idea of achieving full financial sovereignty seem out of reach for many.

A recent case highlights these challenges. A client was struggling to set up his own Lightning node and integrate various tools for public access. After several unsuccessful attempts, he sought specialized help. Through targeted assistance, he was able to configure everything properly, integrating the LNBits wallet system and using Cloudflare Tunnel to make his node services accessible to the public. The moment of satisfaction, seeing the Lightning node fully operational, highlights how expert guidance can make all the difference in achieving true decentralization.

#### Owning your financial infrastructure

Running your own node is more than just a technical endeavor, it’s a declaration of independence and personal sovereignty. With a fully functional node, you can not only participate directly in the Bitcoin and Lightning networks but also integrate with advanced tools like LNbits and even ecash mints. These tools allow for enhanced management of your funds, enabling you to become a custodian for others, should you choose to. This level of control turns you into a provider of financial services, offering custody and liquidity to others while maintaining the highest standards of privacy and security for yourself.

By stepping into this role, you ascend to the new nobility of the decentralized financial world, no longer subject to the whims of centralized authorities or institutions. In a decentralized environment, you don't need to curry favor with banks or governments to manage your wealth. Instead, you stand as an equal among peers in a global financial system that’s open, transparent, and free from gatekeepers. Without needing to be in the king’s favor, you become your own bank.

#### The road ahead: challenges and opportunities

While the technical barriers are real, the tools and support available for setting up Bitcoin and Lightning nodes are improving rapidly. Communities are growing, and more resources are being dedicated to simplifying the process. For those willing to learn, the rewards are immense: financial sovereignty, complete privacy, and the ability to engage in a system that operates outside the control of traditional financial institutions. Running a node is not just about contributing to the network, it's about taking an active role in shaping the future of money.

As more people embrace this technology, the vision of a decentralized financial ecosystem, where anyone can be their own bank, comes closer to reality. And with every new node that goes live, the Bitcoin and Lightning networks become stronger, more resilient, and more capable of sustaining the future of decentralized finance.

How to Install Regolancer on Your LND Node

#### Install the best circular-route rebalancing tool for the Lightning Network


If you already have Go installed, you can skip to step 2. To check if it's installed:

```
go version
```

If it returns the version, it means Go is installed and configured.

- Note: Versions of Go higher than the one used in this tutorial may not work with Regolancer.


## 1. Install Go

If you don’t have Go installed on your machine, follow these instructions:

1. Go to the official Go website: https://golang.org/dl/

2. Download the appropriate Go version for your system (usually amd64).

![](https://m.stacker.news/56471)

3. Install Go following the instructions provided on the website. On Linux, for example, you can follow the commands below to install Go (assuming version 1.23.2; adjust the version if necessary):

```
wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.22.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz 

sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.22.4.linux-amd64.tar.gz 

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin
```

4. Check if Go was installed correctly by running:
```
go version
```
This should return the Go version installed:
![](https://m.stacker.news/56472)

5. To ensure Go is set up correctly and the binary is accessible from anywhere, add the ~/go/bin path to your PATH. Add the following line to your ~/.bashrc file (or ~/.zshrc depending on your shell):
```
sudo nano ~/.bashrc

# Add after the last line:

export PATH=$PATH:$HOME/go/bin
```

6. After adding this line, update the terminal:
```
source ~/.bashrc
```

## 2. Install Regolancer

1. Now that Go is installed, you can install Regolancer using the go install command. This command will download the source code of Regolancer and compile it for your machine. Run the following command in the terminal:
```
go install github.com/rkfg/regolancer@latest
```
This will download, compile, and install the regolancer binary in the ~/go/bin/regolancer directory.

2. Check if Regolancer was installed correctly by running the following command to see its help options:
```
regolancer --help
```
This should display the command options of Regolancer, confirming the installation:

```
Usage:
  regolancer [OPTIONS]

Application Options:
--------------------
Config:
  -f, --config                 config file path

Node Connection:
  -c, --connect                connect to lnd using host:port
  -t, --tlscert                path to tls.cert to connect
      --macaroon-dir           path to the macaroon directory
      --macaroon-filename      macaroon filename
  -n, --network                bitcoin network to use

Common:
      --pfrom                  channels with less than this inbound liquidity percentage will be considered as source channels
      --pto                    channels with less than this outbound liquidity percentage will be considered as target channels
  -p, --perc                   use this value as both pfrom and pto from above
  -a, --amount                 amount to rebalance
      --rel-amount-to          calculate amount as the target channel capacity fraction (for example, 0.2 means you want to achieve at most 20% target channel local balance)
      --rel-amount-from        calculate amount as the source channel capacity fraction (for example, 0.2 means you want to achieve at most 20% source channel remote balance)
  -b, --probe-steps            if the payment fails at the last hop try to probe lower amount using this many steps
      --allow-rapid-rebalance  if a rebalance succeeds the route will be used for further rebalances until criteria for channels is not satifsied
      --min-amount             if probing is enabled this will be the minimum amount to try
  -i, --exclude-channel-in     (DEPRECATED) don't use this channel as incoming (can be specified multiple times)
  -o, --exclude-channel-out    (DEPRECATED) don't use this channel as outgoing (can be specified multiple times)
      --exclude-from           don't use this node or channel as source (can be specified multiple times)
      --exclude-to             don't use this node or channel as target (can be specified multiple times)
  -e, --exclude-channel        (DEPRECATED) don't use this channel at all (can be specified multiple times)
  -d, --exclude-node           (DEPRECATED) don't use this node for routing (can be specified multiple times)
      --exclude                don't use this node or your channel for routing (can be specified multiple times)
      --exclude-channel-age    don't use channels opened less than this number of blocks ago
      --to                     try only this channel or node as target (should satisfy other constraints too; can be specified multiple times)
      --from                   try only this channel or node as source (should satisfy other constraints too; can be specified multiple times)
      --fail-tolerance         a payment that differs from the prior attempt by this ppm will be cancelled
      --allow-unbalance-from   (DEPRECATED) let the source channel go below 50% local liquidity, use if you want to drain a channel; you should also set --pfrom to >50
      --allow-unbalance-to     (DEPRECATED) let the target channel go above 50% local liquidity, use if you want to refill a channel; you should also set --pto to >50
  -r, --econ-ratio             economical ratio for fee limit calculation as a multiple of target channel fee (for example, 0.5 means you want to pay at max half the fee you might earn for routing out of the target channel)
      --econ-ratio-max-ppm     limits the max fee ppm for a rebalance when using econ ratio
  -F, --fee-limit-ppm          don't consider the target channel fee and use this max fee ppm instead (can rebalance at a loss, be careful)
  -l, --lost-profit            also consider the source channel fee when looking for profitable routes so that route_fee < target_fee * econ_ratio - source_fee

Node Cache:
      --node-cache-filename    save and load other nodes information to this file, improves cold start performance
      --node-cache-lifetime    nodes with last update older than this time (in minutes) will be removed from cache after loading it
      --node-cache-info        show red and cyan 'x' characters in routes to indicate node cache misses and hits respectively

Timeouts:
      --timeout-rebalance      max rebalance session time in minutes
      --timeout-attempt        max attempt time in minutes
      --timeout-info           max general info query time (local channels, node id etc.) in seconds
      --timeout-route          max channel selection and route query time in seconds

Others:
  -s, --stat                   save successful rebalance information to the specified CSV file
  -v, --version                show program version and exit
      --info                   show rebalance information
  -h, --help                   Show this help message
```

## 3. Configuring the config.json File

1. Create a configuration file for Regolancer, typically named config.json. This file contains the parameters needed for Regolancer to know which channels to rebalance and the fee/route options.
```
sudo mkdir ~/regolancer

sudo nano ~/regolancer/config.json
```

2. Copy and paste the following configuration:
```
{
    "macaroon_dir": "/data/lnd/data/chain/bitcoin/mainnet/",
    "macaroon_filename": "admin.macaroon",
    "network": "mainnet",
    "tlscert": "/data/lnd/tls.cert",
    "econ_ratio": 0.80,
    "amount": 201000,
    "min_amount": 5000,
    "probe_steps": 15,
    "allow-rapid-rebalance": true,
    "pfrom": 90,
    "pto": 30,
    "stat": "rebalances.csv",
    "lost_profit": true,
    "exclude_from": [],
    "to": [],
    "timeout_rebalance": 900,
    "timeout_attempt": 60,
    "timeout_info": 30,
    "timeout_route": 180
}
```
* **macaroon_dir:** Directory where the macaroon file is located, needed for authentication with the lnd daemon.
* **macaroon_filename:** Name of the macaroon file, typically admin.macaroon.
* **network:** Network your node is running on, set to mainnet.
* **tlscert:** Path to the TLS certificate used for secure communication between Regolancer and lnd.
* **econ_ratio:** Economic ratio for fee calculation. 0.80 means rebalancing will be attempted if the cost is up to 80% of the outbound channel fee.
* **amount:** Default amount for rebalancing (201,000 sats).
* **min_amount:** Minimum amount to rebalance (5,000 sats).
* **probe_steps:** Number of steps for probing routes (15 steps).
* **allow-rapid-rebalance:** Enables fast rebalancing without additional time limits.
* **pfrom:** Inbound liquidity percentage allowed from a source channel for rebalancing (90%).
* **pto:** Outbound liquidity minimum required in a target channel for rebalancing (30%).
* **stat:** File where rebalance statistics will be saved (rebalances.csv).
* **lost_profit:** Whether to calculate lost profit from failed rebalances (set to true).
* **timeout_rebalance:** Max time in seconds for the entire rebalance session (900 seconds).
* **timeout_attempt:** Max time in seconds for each attempt (60 seconds).
* **timeout_info:** Max time in seconds to gather node information (30 seconds).
* **timeout_route:** Max time in seconds to calculate the rebalance route (180 seconds).

3. Running Regolancer:
With the configuration ready, you can run Regolancer using the config file you created. Replace /path/to/your/config.json with the full path to your configuration file.
```
regolancer --config /path/to/your/config.json

# example:
regolancer --config /home/admin/regolancer/config.json
```

4. Using Node Cache (optional):
This option allows Regolancer to store node information for faster queries on future runs
```
regolancer --config /path/to/your/config.json --node-cache-filename /path/to/cache.dat
```

5. Set Additional Parameters (optional):
```
regolancer --config /path/to/your/config.json --node-cache-lifetime 720

# Cache valid for 12 hours
```

## 4. BONUS: Regolancer-Controller By [BRLN](https://br-ln.com/)

The regolancer-controller is a tool developed to complement Regolancer, automating and managing the control of channel rebalancing in the Lightning Network. Its main goal is to provide additional control and monitoring, making the process more efficient and scalable, especially in complex operations with multiple channels and nodes.

**Key Features of Regolancer-Controller:**

**1. Rebalancing Automation:** Automatically configures and executes channel rebalancing.
**2. Monitoring and Logs:** Provides real-time monitoring and detailed logs.
**3. Scheduled Execution:** Allows scheduled rebalances.
**4. Flexible Configurations:** Various configurable parameters.

Access the repository on GitHub to see how the regolancer-controller can simplify your liquidity management:

👉 Check out the regolancer-controller [here](https://github.com/jvxis/regolancer-controller)


## 5. Running the Controller as a Service

#### 1. Create the Service File
1. First, create the systemd service file:
```
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/regolancer-controller.service
```

2. Paste the following content into the file:
```
[Unit]
Description=Regolancer Controller
After=lnd.service

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /path/to/regolancer-controller/regolancer-controler.py
WorkingDirectory=/path/to/regolancer-controller/
Restart=always
User=<user>
StandardOutput=journal
StandardError=journal

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

* Replace /path/to/regolancer-controller/ with the correct path to the regolancer-controller.py script.
* Replace <user> with the user who should run the service.
* Save and close the file (Ctrl + O to save, Ctrl + X to exit).

#### 2.  Reload Systemd Services

1. After creating the file, reload the systemd services so the new service is recognized:
```
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
```

#### 3. Start and Enable the Service

1. To start the service:
```
sudo systemctl start regolancer-controller.service
```

2. To enable the service at boot:
```
sudo systemctl enable regolancer-controller.service
```

#### 4. Check Service Status
1. To check if the service is running correctly:
```
sudo systemctl status regolancer-controller.service
```

#### 5.  View Service Logs
1. To check the service logs for troubleshooting:
```
sudo journalctl -fu regolancer-controller
```
2. To view logs from the beginning:
```
sudo journalctl -xeu regolancer-controller
```


Politics_And_Law

Bet in the 2024 American Elections with Voltz Bet


![](https://m.stacker.news/53184)
# Announcing Voltz Bet for the 2024 American Elections

I'm excited to introduce Voltz Bet, a betting platform for the 2024 American Elections. This is a pari-mutuel betting system, where the prize is determined based on the total amount wagered by all participants. The payout is calculated mathematically, rewarding participants based on their share of the pool in a transparent way.

#### How It Works

At **Voltz Bet**, the outcome of your bet is determined not only by whether your candidate wins but also by how much you and others have wagered. This means that the more strategic your bet is in relation to the pool size, the greater your chance of walking away with a prize.

You can simulate in advance how much your bet would return at that moment, based on the bets already placed, by using the betting calculator.

The payment of bets is processed through the Lightning Network, and the infrastructure is provided by Voltz Wallet. Learn more at: https://lnvoltz.xyz.


#### Prize Calculation Explained

Once you place your bet, here’s how your prize will be calculated if your candidate wins:

##### Key Variables:
- **amount**: How much you bet.
- **candidate**: The candidate you bet on (Trump or Kamala).
- **total_trump**: Total amount bet on Trump.
- **total_kamala**: Total amount bet on Kamala.

##### Without Bonus (Standard Prize)
If your candidate wins, your prize is calculated as follows:

- prizeWithoutBonus = ((opponent_total * 0.85) / total_for_your_candidate) * amount + (amount * 0.85)

Where:
- **opponent_total**: Total amount wagered on the losing candidate.
- The **0.85** multiplier deducts a 15% fee.

##### With Bonus (Double Prize)
If you qualify for a bonus, the calculation is:

- prizeWithBonus = ((opponent_total * 0.85 * 2) / total_for_your_candidate) * amount + (amount * 0.85)

#### Example of Prize Calculation:

Let’s say:
- You bet **1,000 satoshis** on Trump.
- Total pool for Trump is **10,000 satoshis**.
- Total pool for Kamala (losing candidate) is **5,000 satoshis**.

##### Without Bonus:
1. Your share in Trump’s pool = 1,000 / 10,000 = **10%**
2. Your part from Kamala’s pool = 5,000 * 0.85 * 0.1 = **425 satoshis**
3. Recovering 85% of your wager = 1,000 * 0.85 = **850 satoshis**
4. **Total received**: 425 + 850 = **1,275 satoshis**

##### With Bonus:
1. Your share from Kamala’s pool = 5,000 * 0.85 * 2 * 0.1 = **850 satoshis**
2. Recovering 85% of your wager = 1,000 * 0.85 = **850 satoshis**
3. **Total received with bonus**: 850 + 850 = **1,700 satoshis**

#### Conclusion
- **Without the bonus**, your total prize is **1,275 satoshis**.
- **With the bonus**, your prize increases to **1,700 satoshis**.


#### **Important: The house always wins.** A small fee of 15% is deducted from all winnings, and participation is entirely at your own risk. See the terms on https://bet.lnvoltz.com/terms.


**Note:** I am an amateur developer with limited front-end knowledge, but I am doing my best to deliver a good UX and UI. Currently working on optimizing the mobile experience.

# NR Tools: Essential Utilities for Lightning Node Operators

The Lightning Network stands out as a pivotal technology aiming to enhance Bitcoin's scalability and transaction speed. For those running Lightning nodes, maintaining optimal performance, security, and efficiency is paramount. Enter NR Tools, a comprehensive GitHub repository designed specifically to empower Lightning node operators with a suite of utilities tailored to streamline node management and enhance overall functionality.

# What is NR Tools?

NR Tools is an open-source collection of utilities crafted for individuals and organizations operating Lightning nodes. Developed by jvxis, this repository aggregates a variety of scripts and tools that address common challenges faced by node operators, from monitoring and diagnostics to automation and security enhancements. By providing these tools in a centralized location, NR Tools aims to simplify the complexities of managing a Lightning node, allowing operators to focus more on leveraging the network's capabilities rather than wrestling with its intricacies.

# Key Features of NR Tools
#### 1. Comprehensive Monitoring

* Real-Time Analytics: Gain insights into your node's performance with real-time data visualization tools. Monitor metrics such as channel balances, transaction throughput, and uptime to ensure your node operates smoothly.
* Alerts and Notifications: Set up customizable alerts for critical events like failed transactions, channel closures, or unexpected downtimes, enabling proactive management.

#### 2. Automated Management

* Channel Management Scripts: Automate the opening and closing of channels based on predefined criteria, optimizing liquidity and reducing manual intervention.
* Backup and Recovery: Ensure your node's data integrity with automated backup scripts that regularly save your node's state, facilitating quick recovery in case of failures.


#### 3. Security Enhancements

* Access Controls: Implement robust access controls to safeguard your node against unauthorized access, including SSH hardening and firewall configurations.
* Audit Logs: Maintain detailed logs of all node activities, aiding in security audits and troubleshooting.

#### 4. Integration Capabilities

* API Support: Seamlessly integrate NR Tools with other applications and services through its well-documented APIs, enabling extended functionalities and custom workflows.
* Compatibility: Designed to work with popular Lightning implementations like LND, c-lightning, and Eclair, ensuring broad applicability across different setups.


#### 5. User-Friendly Interface

* Command-Line Tools: Leverage intuitive command-line utilities for efficient node management, suitable for both novice and experienced operators.
* Documentation and Support: Comprehensive documentation accompanies each tool, providing clear instructions and examples to facilitate easy adoption and troubleshooting.


# Why NR Tools?

Operating a Lightning node involves juggling various tasks, from ensuring network connectivity to managing liquidity and safeguarding against potential threats. NR Tools consolidates these functionalities into a repositorie, offering several advantages:

1. Efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows, saving time and reducing the potential for human error.
2. Reliability: Benefit from a suite of tools tested and refined by the community, enhancing your node's stability and performance.
3. Flexibility: Customize tools to fit your specific needs, whether you're running a personal node or managing a large-scale Lightning network operation.
4. Community-Driven: As an open-source project, NR Tools thrives on community contributions, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging challenges in the Lightning ecosystem.


# Getting Started with NR Tools

#### 1. Clone the Repository
```
git clone https://github.com/jvxis/nr-tools.git
```

#### 2. Navigate to the Directory
```
cd nr-tools
```

#### 3. Install Dependencies Depending on the specific tools you intend to use, follow the installation instructions provided in the repository's README.

#### 4. Configure Your Environment Set up necessary configurations such as API keys, node credentials, and preferred settings as outlined in the documentation.

#### 5. Run the Tools Execute the desired scripts or utilities to start managing your Lightning node efficiently.


# Conclusion

Managing a Lightning node doesn't have to be a daunting task. With NR Tools, node operators are equipped with a powerful arsenal of utilities designed to enhance performance  and simplify daily operations. Explore the repository today and take your Lightning node management to the next level.

Feel free to check out the **[NR Tools GitHub](https://github.com/jvxis/nr-tools)** repository for more information, contribute to the project, or raise issues if you encounter any challenges.

NR-TOOLS - Essential and Life-Saver Tools for Node Runners.

# New lncli Implementation in LND v0.18.3

With the release of LND v0.18.3, the **```lncli```** has been enhanced to support the creation of invoices that utilize blinded paths. This addition provides users with greater control over their transaction privacy, allowing for more anonymous receipts

# Benefits of Using Blinded Paths

* **Enhanced Privacy:** By obscuring the actual route, users can prevent intermediaries from mapping out the transaction path, safeguarding their financial privacy

* **Resistance to Traffic Analysis:** Makes it significantly harder for malicious actors to perform traffic analysis or deanonymization attacks

* **Improved Security:** Adds an additional layer of security by limiting the exposure of network topology information

# Creating an Invoice with Blinded Paths lncli command

1. Command Structure

```
lncli addinvoice --amt <amount_in_satoshis> --blind --min_real_blinded_hops <min_hops> --max_blinded_paths <max_paths> --blinded_path_omit_node <node_pubkey>
```

2. Example

* Enable blinded paths
* Minimum of 1 real hop in the blinded path
* Use 5 hops for each blinded path, padding with dummy hops if necessary
* Maximum of 3 blinded paths
* Omit a specific node from being used in the blinded paths

#### Command:

```
lncli addinvoice --amt 1000 --blind --min_real_blinded_hops 1 --num_blinded_hops 5 --max_blinded_paths 3 --blinded_path_omit_node 02c4ae20674d7627021639986d75988b5f17c8693ed43b794beeef2384d04e5bf1
```

# Explanation of Parameters

* **--amt:** Specifies the amount in satoshis for the invoice

* **--blind:** Enables the creation of blinded paths for the invoice

* **--min_real_blinded_hops:** Sets the minimum number of real (non-dummy) hops in each blinded path. This ensures that even with obfuscation, there are genuine hops in the route

* **--num_blinded_hops:** Determines the number of hops to use for each blinded path included in the invoice. If the actual route has fewer hops, dummy hops will be added to pad the path to the specified number. This standardizes the length of routes, making traffic analysis more difficult

* **--max_blinded_paths:** Specifies the maximum number of blinded paths to include in the invoice. More paths can increase privacy by providing multiple potential routes, but may also increase the size of the invoice

* **--blinded_path_omit_node:** Excludes a specific node from being used in the blinded paths. This provides more control over the routing process and can help avoid problematic nodes. The flag can be specified multiple times to omit multiple nodes



See **[docs](https://lightning.engineering/api-docs/api/lnd/lightning/add-invoice)** for more detailed information

See **[more](https://www.voltage.cloud/blog/what-are-blinded-paths-and-how-do-they-work)** about blinded paths



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