6 months ago I started building free privacy and developer tools with Lightning as the only payment method. No Stripe, no credit cards. Here's the honest truth about trying to build a Lightning-first business:
What I built:
- Privacy Audit (6-test browser privacy scanner)
- DNS Leak Test
- Security Headers Analyzer
- Password Strength Checker
- SSL Certificate Checker
- 12+ other developer utilities
All at devtoolkit.dev
What works:
- Nostr is the best traffic source (Lightning-native audience)
- Zaps feel more natural than checkout buttons
- No payment processor BS (chargebacks, KYC, account freezes)
- International users can pay instantly
What doesn't work (yet):
- Conversion is WAY harder than traditional payments
- Most web visitors don't have Lightning wallets
- Getting discovered without SEO budget is slow
What I'm learning:
- Value-for-value works when the audience already values Lightning
- Free tools with tip buttons outperform paywalled content
- The Lightning ecosystem needs more real businesses accepting it
Now offering paid services too:
- Website security audits
- Privacy hardening configs
- Code reviews
- Server hardening
All payable via Lightning to devtoolkit@coinos.io
Anyone else building Lightning-first? What's working for you?