Lightning Enable - Payment as Authentication for AI Agents
Lightning Enable

Make APIs economically accessible.

No accounts. No API keys. Payment = access.

Agents don't authenticate with credentials. They authenticate with payment. Lightning Enable is the infrastructure layer that turns payment into authentication.

For agents and API consumers — infrastructure handled behind the scenes.

See How It Works For Builders

How agent-native access works

1

Agent Requests

Any HTTP client hits a protected endpoint.

GET /api/resource
2

L402 Challenge

Server returns a Lightning invoice for the exact cost.

HTTP 402 + invoice
3

Agent Pays

Payment settles in milliseconds. The preimage is cryptographic proof.

preimage = proof
4

Access Granted

Payment hash is the credential. No accounts. No cookies.

L402 token → resource

For developers and AI agents using L402 APIs

No accounts. No API keys. Payment as credential.

Start building with the MCP server

Open-source reference implementation. Give your AI agent a wallet and learn how L402 payments work. Free forever, no account required.

dotnet tool install --global LightningEnable.Mcp Click to copy
Open Source PyPI • NuGet • Docker
  • pay_invoice
  • check_wallet_balance
  • get_payment_history
  • configure_budget
  • create_invoice
  • access_l402_resource
  • pay_l402_challenge
Documentation →

Test with real sats

Connect a wallet, pay a real invoice, access an L402 API. See the model work with real money.

L402-compatible wallets:

OpenNode/Primal work for direct payments but don't return preimage for L402.

Works with:

  • Claude Code
  • Cursor
  • Windsurf
Try the Store →

L402-Requests — HTTP for the paid web

Three lines. Paid APIs just work.

Install the library. Set one env var. Write normal code. Invoices are paid automatically, credentials cached, budgets enforced.

Install
pip install l402-requests
export STRIKE_API_KEY="your-key"
Use
import l402_requests
r = l402_requests.get(url)
print(r.json())  # paid ✓
Auto-payment Budget controls Credential caching 4 wallet backends Zero per-txn fees

See it live: an AI agent completing a real transaction

"Buy a Lightning Enable snapback for my colleague's birthday."

Agent browses catalog → selects product → pays Lightning invoice → returns claim link. No account. No credit card. No human needed for the transaction.

Running in production at store.lightningenable.com

For builders deploying economically protected APIs

Configure once. Your users and agents never need an account.

Lightning Enable handles the infrastructure

Connect your wallet provider, configure your endpoints, and deploy. Lightning Enable turns your API into an L402-protected service. Your consumers authenticate by paying — you never manage user accounts.

  • Multi-tenant API isolation
  • Strike + OpenNode payment processing
  • Webhook event notifications
  • Stripe subscription billing
  • L402 payment gating
  • Enterprise security patterns

Agents experience an accountless world. Builders configure infrastructure once so agents don't have to.

Zero Infrastructure Required

What you don't need

  • Lightning node
  • Liquidity management
  • Docker / Kubernetes
  • Protocol expertise

What you do need

  • Starting at $99/mo
  • Payment provider account (Strike or OpenNode)
  • 5 minutes to configure
  • An API to monetize

Billing for developers and platform builders

Pricing

Deploy L402 infrastructure with predictable, flat-rate billing.

Limited Time

Agentic Commerce — Individual

$99/month

Full L402 access for individual developers

Full Agentic Commerce for individual developers. L402 + Strike settlement.

  • Full REST API access
  • L402 protocol support
  • Pay-per-request billing
  • AI agent compatibility (MCP)
  • Strike settlement

Kentico Commerce

$249/month

Native Xperience by Kentico integration

For e-commerce teams integrating Lightning into Xperience by Kentico stores.

  • Everything in Individual plan
  • Xperience by Kentico integration
  • Shopping cart integration
  • Order management sync
  • Dedicated Kentico support
Recommended

Agentic Commerce — Business

$299/month

Pay-per-request API monetization

For platforms monetizing APIs, AI access, or usage-metered services via Lightning.

  • Everything in Individual plan
  • L402 protocol support
  • Pay-per-request billing
  • Usage metering dashboard
  • White-glove onboarding

Flat subscription — no per-transaction fees from us. Your provider may charge their own fees.*

🛡️

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Try it risk-free. Not the right fit? Full refund, no questions asked.

Pay with Bitcoin — 10% off, Lightning invoice, no contracts.

Pay with Bitcoin

What Lightning Enable Doesn't Do

Hold funds (your provider does)
Control private keys
Process settlements (your provider does)
Charge per transaction

Lightning Enable is API middleware. Your payment provider (Strike or OpenNode) facilitates custody and settlement. Consult legal counsel for your regulatory obligations.