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Understanding Lightning Payments

Lightning Network enables instant, low-fee Bitcoin payments. Medusa Wallet makes it easy to send and receive Lightning payments with a simple, intuitive interface.

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Receiving Lightning Payments

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Generate a Lightning Invoice

1

Open Receive Screen

From the home screen, tap “Receive” or select a specific wallet and choose “Receive”.
2

Choose Amount (Optional)

Tap on the amount field to specify how much you want to receive.
If you don’t specify an amount and are using your default wallet, your Lightning address will be shown, which allows the sender to choose any amount.
  • Enter the amount using the number pad
  • Switch between sats and fiat by tapping the amount type
  • Tap “Confirm Amount” when done
3

Add a Comment (Optional)

Add a description or note for this payment:
  • Tap the comment field
  • Enter your description (e.g., “Payment for services”)
  • Tap “Save”
Comments help you remember what the payment was for when reviewing your transaction history.
4

Share the Invoice

Once generated, you can:
  • Show the QR code for the sender to scan
  • Copy the invoice to share via messaging apps
  • Share your Lightning address (default wallet only)

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Invoice Types

Medusa Wallet generates different types of receive codes:
  1. Lightning Address (Default wallet, no amount specified)
  2. Lightning Invoice (Amount specified)
    • Bolt11 invoice format
    • Fixed amount
    • Expires after a set time (shown with countdown timer)
    • One-time use
Lightning invoices expire! Make sure the sender pays within the time limit shown by the timer on the screen.

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Monitoring Incoming Payments

When someone pays your invoice:
  • You’ll receive a notification showing the amount received
  • Your wallet balance updates automatically
  • The payment appears in your transaction history

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Sending Lightning Payments

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Pay a Lightning Invoice

1

Access Send Screen

Scan a QR code or paste a Lightning invoice/address to open the send screen.
Medusa Wallet supports:
  • Bolt11 Lightning invoices (starting with “lnbc”)
  • Lightning addresses (format: [email protected])
  • LNURL pay codes
2

Review Payment Details

The app will decode the payment request and show:
  • Amount: How much will be sent (in sats and fiat)
  • Recipient: Who you’re sending to
  • Description: What the payment is for
  • Wallet Balance: Your current balance
Always verify the amount and recipient before confirming! Lightning payments are instant and cannot be reversed.
3

Adjust Amount (LNURL/Lightning Address only)

For Lightning addresses and LNURL pay codes, you can specify the amount:
  • Tap on the amount to edit
  • Enter your desired amount
  • Confirm the amount
Bolt11 invoices have fixed amounts that cannot be changed.
4

Add Comment (Optional)

For Lightning addresses that support comments:
  • Tap the comment field
  • Enter your message (limited to allowed characters)
  • This message will be visible to the recipient
5

Confirm and Send

Review all details and tap “Send” to complete the payment.The payment is processed instantly. You’ll see a confirmation when successful.

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Payment Validation

Before sending, Medusa Wallet checks:
  • Sufficient Balance: Ensures you have enough sats in the selected wallet
  • Valid Invoice: Confirms the invoice or address is properly formatted
  • Amount Requirements: For LNURL, verifies the amount is within allowed limits
If your balance is insufficient, you’ll see an error. You can either:
  • Select a different wallet with sufficient funds
  • Reduce the payment amount (if allowed)
  • Receive more funds first

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Transaction History

View all your payment history:

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Accessing History

  • Tap on any wallet to see its transaction history
  • Transactions show:
    • Amount (with +/- indicator)
    • Date and time
    • Description/memo
    • Fiat value at time of payment

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Transaction Details

Tap any transaction to view:
  • Payment hash
  • Full description
  • Exact timestamp
  • Historical fiat conversion
  • Payment direction (sent/received)

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Payment Scenarios

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Paying at a Store

1

Merchant shows QR code

The merchant displays a Lightning invoice QR code.
2

Scan with Medusa Wallet

Use your device’s camera to scan the code.
3

Review and Pay

Check the amount and tap “Send”. Payment is instant!

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Receiving from a Friend

1

Share Your Lightning Address

Give your Lightning address: [email protected]
2

They Send Payment

Your friend enters the amount and sends.
3

Receive Instantly

Funds appear in your default wallet immediately.

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Requesting Specific Amount

1

Create Invoice

Open receive screen and specify the exact amount.
2

Share Invoice

Share the QR code or invoice string.
3

Wait for Payment

Monitor with the countdown timer. Payment is instant when sent.

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Best Practices

Sending Tips:
  • Always double-check the recipient and amount
  • For large amounts, consider sending a small test payment first
  • Save recurring recipients in your contacts
  • Keep descriptions clear for your records
Receiving Tips:
  • Use your Lightning address for flexible amounts
  • Create invoices with specific amounts for exact payments
  • Add descriptions to help remember what each payment was for
  • Check invoice expiration times when sharing

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Troubleshooting

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Payment Failed

If a payment fails:
  • Insufficient Funds: Add more sats to your wallet
  • Invoice Expired: Request a new invoice
  • Invalid Format: Ensure you copied the complete invoice
  • Network Issues: Check your internet connection

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Invoice Not Receiving

  • Invoice Expired: Generate a new invoice
  • Wrong Wallet: Verify you’re checking the correct wallet
  • Network Issues: Ensure sender has stable connection

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Can’t Edit Amount

  • Bolt11 Invoice: These have fixed amounts set by the recipient
  • Lightning Address: Amount should be editable - ensure you’re using a valid Lightning address

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Next Steps

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