What is Lightning Mcp

Lightning MCP is an open-source bridge that connects the Bitcoin Lightning Network with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing AI agents and software systems to send and receive Bitcoin payments through a standardized interface.

Use cases

Use cases include enabling AI agents to perform transactions in e-commerce, facilitating automated payments in smart contracts, and integrating Bitcoin payments into AI-driven applications.

How to use

To use Lightning MCP, developers can deploy it via Docker, configure it according to their needs, and implement the MCP endpoints for AI agent integration. The system supports creating and paying invoices, managing channels, and routing transactions.

Key features

Key features include Lightning Network integration for fast Bitcoin payments, a standardized MCP interface for AI integration, industry-standard security with TLS encryption, support for multiple backends including LND, and simple deployment options.

Where to use

Lightning MCP can be used in various fields such as financial technology, AI development, and any application requiring seamless Bitcoin transactions and AI agent interactions.

⚡ Lightning MCP

Lightning MCP is an open-source bridge between the Bitcoin Lightning Network and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It enables AI agents and software systems to seamlessly send and receive Bitcoin payments through a standardized interface.

Note: This project is currently in alpha stage, providing a foundation for developers to build Lightning-enabled AI applications.

🚀 Features

• Lightning Network Integration - Create and pay invoices, manage channels, and route transactions
• MCP Interface - Implement Model Context Protocol endpoints for AI agent integration
• Security - Industry-standard encryption (TLS) and authentication mechanisms
• Multiple Backends - Supports LND with planned Core Lightning and Eclair integration
• Simple Deployment - Docker support and comprehensive configuration options

📋 Table of Contents

• Technical Overview
• Implementation Details
• Installation
• Usage Examples
• License

🔍 Technical Overview

Lightning Integration

• Implements standard Lightning Network protocols (BOLT specs) for fast, off-chain Bitcoin payments
• Support for creating and paying invoices, managing channels, and routing transactions
• Compatible with popular node implementations and external services

MCP Interface

• Exposes Lightning Network operations as MCP “tools” for agent discovery and usage
• Flexible interface options (REST or RPC) to accommodate various deployment scenarios
• Structured tool definitions with parameter validation

Security & Performance

• TLS encryption for all communications
• Authentication via macaroons, tokens, or API keys
• Optimized for low latency and near-instant settlement
• Balanced design for both simplicity and production readiness

Deployment Options

• Self-hosted deployment (VPS, bare-metal)
• Containerized deployment with Docker/Kubernetes
• Optional integration with external services for simplified channel management

💻 Implementation Details

Repository Structure

lightning-mcp/
├── lightning_mcp/               # Main package
│   ├── server/                  # MCP server implementation
│   │   └── mcp_server.py        # MCP server core
│   ├── lightning/               # Lightning Network integration
│   │   ├── lnd_client.py        # LND API client
│   │   └── clightning_client.py # c-lightning API client
│   └── utils/                   # Utility functions
├── examples/                    # Example usage scripts
├── tests/                       # Test suite
├── requirements.txt             # Python dependencies
├── setup.py                     # Package installation script
└── README.md                    # This file

Available MCP Tools

The server exposes these Lightning Network operations:

Lightning Network Backend Support

🔧 Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• Access to a Lightning Network node (LND initially)
• uv - Modern Python package installer (recommended)
• [Optional] Docker for containerized deployment

Quick Start

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/LNAgents/lightning-mcp.git
cd lightning-mcp

# Create and activate a virtual environment
python -m venv env
source env/bin/activate  # On Windows: env\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Configure your Lightning node connection
cp config.example.json config.json
# Edit config.json with your node details

# Run the server
python -m lightning_mcp.server.mcp_server

Docker Deployment

# Build the Docker image
docker build -t lightning-mcp .

# Run the container
docker run -p 8000:8000 -v $(pwd)/config.json:/app/config.json lightning-mcp

Development Setup

# Install with development dependencies
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Install pre-commit hooks
pre-commit install

# Run tests
pytest

🔌 Usage Examples

Creating a Lightning Invoice

from lightning_mcp.lightning import LndClient

# Initialize the client with your LND node configuration
client = LndClient(
    rpc_server="localhost:10009",
    macaroon_path="~/.lnd/data/chain/bitcoin/mainnet/admin.macaroon",
    tls_cert_path="~/.lnd/tls.cert"
)

# Create an invoice for 1000 satoshis
invoice = client.create_invoice(amount=1000, memo="Test payment")
print(f"Payment request: {invoice['payment_request']}")

Paying a Lightning Invoice

# Pay an invoice
payment = client.pay_invoice(payment_request="lnbc...")
print(f"Payment sent! Hash: {payment['payment_hash']}")

MCP Server Integration

from lightning_mcp.server import McpServer

# Initialize and start the MCP server
server = McpServer(config_path="config.json")
server.start()

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Made with ⚡ by LNAgents