-
+{% include picture.html
+image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-landing.png"
+retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-landing@2x.png"
+layout = "shadow"
+caption = "The user will need to fund their wallet before they can use it."
+alt-text = "Screen prompting user will need to fund their wallet before they can use it."
+width = 250
+height = 541
+%}
-{% include image.html
- image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/buy-bitcoin.png"
- retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/buy-bitcoin@2x.png"
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-invoice.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-invoice@2x.png"
+ layout = "shadow"
+ caption = "The first time the user funds their wallet a payment channel will be opened."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing funding the wallet with an invoice."
width = 250
- height = 550
- alt-text = "Showing recovery phrase one word at a time"
- caption = "Buy bitcoin screen from the [Wallet UI Kit](https://www.figma.com/file/VB3GQdAnhl8yta44DY3PSV/Bitcoin-Wallet-UI-Kit?node-id=1228%3A28550)"
- layout = "float-left-desktop -background -shadow"
+ height = 541
%}
-As noted, most exchanges offer the option to buy bitcoin using fiat currencies. Once purchased, users can transfer those funds to a separate, external wallet. This might confuse new users who don't understand the difference between exchange wallets and personal wallets.
-
-Bitcoin ATMs are another great option for new users to exchange cash for bitcoin in person. These machines also let users trade their bitcoin for cash, which can be useful if they are somewhere new or foreign.
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-address.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-address@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "The user should have the option to fund via an address, as they may not have funds in Lightning."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing funding the wallet with an address."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
-Finally, new users can buy bitcoin directly from other bitcoin users such as friends, other users at a meetup, or intermediary services like [localbitcoins](https://localbitcoins.com/).
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-final.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/lightning-services-final@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "Once the wallet has been funded it is ready to use."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing the wallet funded and ready to use."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
-{% include /tip/open.html label="Tip: Teach users how to transfer" icon="info" color="blue" %}
+The initial screen when the user opens their wallet for the first time should prompt the user to fund their wallet so they can begin using it. Depending on how your application connects to the Bitcoin and Lightning network you may need to notify the user that funds will not appear until these connections are established and syncd. Common ways applications connect to the Bitcoin network is using [compact block filters (BIP 157/158)]({{'/guide/glossary/node/#light-nodes' | relative_url}}) or simple payment verification (SPV) to query and download block headers. Block filters offer more privacy but take some initial time to sync whilst an SPV does not offer any privacy benefits to users but is ready to use instantly.
+
+When the user funds their wallet, they have two Lightning service enabled options:
+
+1. **Fund via an invoice:** To fund via an invoice, the user must already have funds in another Lightning wallet. A pay-to-open service is used to open an on-demand channel to the user with inbound liquidity to receive the payment. Funding via an invoice requires a single on-chain transaction, so it is the cheaper funding option.
-Users funding new wallets from an exchange could potentially come into contact with unknown concepts, such as a bitcoin address, QR code, or transaction confirmations. This is an excellent opportunity to explain the exchange to personal wallet flow.
+2. **Fund via an address:** To fund via an address, the user sends bitcoin to an address that automatically conducts a non-custodial swap and pay-to-open. This caters to a wider user base as not everyone has bitcoin already in Lightning. Funding via an address requires two on-chain transactions to perform, so it is a more expensive funding option.
-{% include /tip/close.html %}
+It should be clear to users that they will be paying extra in fees and what for when they fund their wallet for the first time.
-{% include fact/pros.html %}
- - An easy and popular way to acquire bitcoin
-{% include fact/close.html %}
+For both of the above options you may want to offer a spend-unconfirmed so users can send and receive instantly. If you do not offer this, you will need to prompt the user that they will have to wait until the channel is confirmed to send and receive payments. Having spend-unconfirmed for small amounts but not large amounts is something your application may want to consider. Users should have the option to trade off security for convenience when the risk-level is appropriate
+Offering spend-unconfirmed means the user will have to trust you until the payment channel is confirmed. This trade-off should be communicated to users with the option to disable this feature.
-{% include fact/cons.html %}
- - Managing taxes
- - Difficult to find businesses/individuals willing to pay in bitcoin
- - Hard to set up recurring payments
- - Not private
- {% include fact/close.html %}
+How you choose to present these initial payment requests is up to you. Some applications include it as part of the initial onboarding carousel, on the main landing page of the wallet, or behind a receive button like the example shown above.
+To prevent failed funding attempts you may want to offer payment forwarding so the user does not need to have their mobile application open to receive payments. Users should have the option to turn off payment forwarding so they can only receive payments when online. Phoenix is an example of Bitcoin wallet that uses payment forwarding.
-### Redeem bitcoin using a gift card
+Payment forwarding comes with privacy implications: as the forwarding peer, you know the destination and amount. Having your application connect over Tor or use trampoline nodes may prevent this. You should clearly communicate trade-offs to the user.
-Gift cards allow users to buy and own small amounts of bitcoin without having to sign up for an exchange. These cards are sometimes available from local retailers.
+Once funded, if you have not prompted the user to backup their wallet yet, it’s important you do so at this stage. Backups are explained more in-depth in the [backing up a wallet section]({{'/guide/onboarding/backing-up-a-wallet/' | relative_url}}).
-Users can get set up in minutes using this technique.
+## Without Lightning services
+
+It is still possible to have great funding UX without Lightning services. Funding a wallet without Lightning services is a more manual and slow process, leaving more room for error and confusion. This can be avoided with good design and clear communication at each step.
+
+### Overview
+
+
+
+{% include picture.html
+image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-landing.png"
+retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-landing@2x.png"
+layout = "shadow"
+caption = "The user will need to fund their wallet before they can use it."
+alt-text = "Screen prompting user will need to fund their wallet before they can use it."
+width = 250
+height = 541
+%}
{% include picture.html
- image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/bitcoin-gift-cards.png"
- retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/bitcoin-gift-cards@2x.png"
- alt-text = "Bitcoin gift cards"
- caption = "Bitcoin gift card concept"
- width = 800
- height = 500
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-address.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-address@2x.png"
+ layout = "shadow"
+ caption = "The first time the user funds their wallet a payment channel will be automatically opened."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing funding the wallet with an address."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-channel.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-channel@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "Once the wallet on-chain funds are confirmed, a payment channel is opened."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing a channel being ready to be opened."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-final.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/without-services-final@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "Once a channel has been opened the wallet is ready to use."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing the wallet funded and ready to use."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
%}
-{% include fact/pros.html %}
- - Gets user comfortable with scanning QR codes
- - Simplifies onboarding
- - No compromise on privacy
-{% include fact/close.html %}
+
+
+The initial screen when the user opens their wallet for the first time should prompt the user to fund their wallet so they can begin using it. Depending on how your application connects to the Bitcoin and Lightning network, you may need to notify the user that funds will not appear until these connections are established and synced. Common ways applications connect to the Bitcoin network is using [compact block filters (BIP 157/158)]({{'/guide/glossary/node/#light-nodes' | relative_url}}) or simple payment verification (SPV) to query and download block headers. Block filters offer more privacy but take some initial time to sync whilst an SPV does not offer any privacy benefits to users but is ready to use instantly.
+
+When the user funds their wallet without Lightning services, they need to send sats on-chain first and then use the sats to open a payment channel. They should be prompted to send enough sats to cover the transaction fee for opening a payment channel.
+
+For a simplified UX, the channel open could be initiated as soon as on-chain funds are confirmed so users don’t have to manually open a channel. Your wallet application could have a node that automatically opens a channel with the user. Having your application as a dedicated peer means users are less likely to have channels closed on them for inactivity. [Blixt](https://blixtwallet.github.io/) is an example of a wallet that has automatic channel opens to their own dedicated node.
+
+### Manual channel open
+
+
+
+{% include picture.html
+image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel.png"
+retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel@2x.png"
+layout = "shadow"
+caption = "Users may want to manually open a channel with a peer of their choice."
+alt-text = "Screen prompting user to manually open a channel."
+width = 250
+height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-directory.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-directory@2x.png"
+ layout = "shadow"
+ caption = "When manually opening a channel your application should help users find reliable peers."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing directory of services to find channel peers."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-amboss.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-amboss@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "A peer found by visiting amboss.com. The user copys the peers address to open a channel with them."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing a peer selected on Amboss."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-channelopen.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-channelopen@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "The user opens a channel with their selected peer."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing user manually opening a channel."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+{% include picture.html
+ image = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-final.png"
+ retina = "/assets/images/guide/onboarding/funding-a-wallet/manual-channel-final@2x.png"
+ class = "shadow"
+ caption = "Once a channel has been opened the wallet is ready to use."
+ alt-text = "Screen showing the wallet funded and ready to use."
+ width = 250
+ height = 541
+%}
+
+
+
+Alternatively users could manually source their own peers to open channels with. You may want to offer a directory to assist users with finding peers.
+
+Opening channels without Lightning services like pay-to-open means the user will have no inbound liquidity to receive payments. Users will only be able to send initially and will only be able to receive once they have sent some payments. This should be clearly communicated to the user. We will explore this in more detail in the payments chapter.
+
+You may want to offer services in your directory like LNBig that opens channels with inbound liquidity for users so they can receive instantly.
-{% include fact/cons.html %}
- - Low retail availability
-{% include fact/close.html %}
+Once funded, if you have not prompted the user to backup their wallet yet, it’s important you do so at this stage. Backups are explained more in-depth in the [backing up a wallet section]({{'/guide/onboarding/backing-up-a-wallet/' | relative_url}}).
---