How do I install Boltwork?

Boltwork is a local plugin. Install it using PyPI package: boltwork-mcp and add the generated configuration snippet to your AI app's MCP config file. Then restart your AI app.

What credentials does Boltwork need?

Boltwork requires the following credentials or environment variables: NWC_CONNECTION_STRING, PHOENIXD_URL, PHOENIXD_PASSWORD. You can find setup instructions on the server detail page.

What AI apps work with Boltwork?

Boltwork uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and works with any MCP-compatible AI app, including Claude, ChatGPT / Codex, Gemini, Copilot, Cursor, and more.

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Boltwork MCP Server

by Squidboy30

Developer ToolsModerate7.0MCP RegistryLocal

Free

Server data from the Official MCP Registry

AI services via Bitcoin Lightning — PDF summarisation, code review, translation and more.

About

AI services via Bitcoin Lightning — PDF summarisation, code review, translation and more.

Security Report

7.0

Moderate7.0Low Risk

Valid MCP server (2 strong, 1 medium validity signals). 3 known CVEs in dependencies (0 critical, 3 high severity) Package registry verified. Imported from the Official MCP Registry.

5 files analyzed · 4 issues found

Security scores are indicators to help you make informed decisions, not guarantees. Always review permissions before connecting any MCP server.

Permissions Required

This plugin requests these system permissions. Most are normal for its category.

HTTP Network Access

Connects to external APIs or services over the internet.

env_vars

Check that this permission is expected for this type of plugin.

What You'll Need

Set these up before or after installing:

Nostr Wallet Connect string (e.g. from Alby or Mutiny). Required if not using Phoenixd.Required

Environment variable: NWC_CONNECTION_STRING

Phoenixd base URL e.g. http://localhost:9740. Required if not using NWC.Optional

Environment variable: PHOENIXD_URL

Phoenixd HTTP Basic auth password. Required if using Phoenixd.Required

Environment variable: PHOENIXD_PASSWORD

How to Install

Add this to your MCP configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "io-github-squidboy30-boltwork-mcp": {
      "env": {
        "PHOENIXD_URL": "your-phoenixd-url-here",
        "PHOENIXD_PASSWORD": "your-phoenixd-password-here",
        "NWC_CONNECTION_STRING": "your-nwc-connection-string-here"
      },
      "args": [
        "boltwork-mcp"
      ],
      "command": "uvx"
    }
  }
}

Documentation

View on GitHub

From the project's GitHub README.

mcp-name: io.github.Squidboy30/boltwork-mcp

boltwork-mcp

MCP server for Boltwork — AI services that pay for themselves via Bitcoin Lightning.

Give your AI agent PDF summarisation, code review, translation, web extraction, document comparison, and persistent memory — all paid autonomously in sats. No API keys. No subscriptions. No accounts.

What this is

Boltwork is a pay-per-call AI services API that uses the L402 protocol — your agent makes a request, receives a Lightning invoice, pays it automatically, and gets the result back. No human involved.

This package wraps Boltwork as an MCP server so any MCP-compatible AI (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.) can use it as a tool — with payments handled transparently in the background.

Try it immediately — no wallet required

Two tools work right now with zero setup:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "boltwork": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["boltwork-mcp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Then ask your AI:

"Use trial_review_code to review this: def add(a, b): return a + b"
"Use trial_summarise to summarise this: <paste any text>"

Real AI results instantly. No Lightning wallet. No setup. Rate limited to 5 calls/hour.

Install

pip install boltwork-mcp

# If using NWC (Alby, Mutiny, Coinos, etc.):
pip install "boltwork-mcp[nwc]"

Or use directly with uvx — no install needed:

uvx boltwork-mcp

Setup — pick a wallet

Four wallet backends are supported. Pick whichever fits your setup:

Option A — NWC / Nostr Wallet Connect (easiest)

Works with Alby, Mutiny Wallet, Coinos, Primal, Cashu.me, and any NWC-compatible wallet.

Get a connection string:
- Alby — go to nwc.getalby.com, create a budget, copy the string
- Mutiny — Settings → Connections → Add connection
- Coinos — coinos.io → Settings → Nostr Wallet Connect
Add to your MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "boltwork": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["boltwork-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NWC_CONNECTION_STRING": "nostr+walletconnect://your-string-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Requires: pip install "boltwork-mcp[nwc]"

Option B — LNbits

Works with lnbits.com or any self-hosted LNbits instance. Popular with BTCPay Server users and home node operators.

Create a wallet at lnbits.com or your instance
Go to API info → copy your Invoice/read key

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "boltwork": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["boltwork-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "LNBITS_URL": "https://lnbits.com",
        "LNBITS_API_KEY": "your-invoice-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

For self-hosted: set LNBITS_URL to your instance URL (e.g. https://lnbits.yourdomain.com).

Option C — Strike

Works with a Strike account. Custodial, simple API key setup. Good for US users or anyone who already uses Strike.

Create an account at strike.me
Go to dashboard.strike.me/developers/api-keys → create an API key

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "boltwork": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["boltwork-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "STRIKE_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Option D — Phoenixd

Works with Phoenixd — ACINQ's self-hosted Lightning node. Simple REST API, no channel management.

Install Phoenixd: phoenix.acinq.co/server
Get your HTTP password from the Phoenixd config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "boltwork": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["boltwork-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PHOENIXD_URL": "http://localhost:9740",
        "PHOENIXD_PASSWORD": "your-password-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

MCP config locations

Client	Config file
Claude Desktop (macOS)	`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Claude Desktop (Windows)	`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
Cursor	`.cursor/mcp.json` in your project
Windsurf	`~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`

Available tools

Tool	What it does	Cost
`trial_summarise`	Summarise text — free trial	Free
`trial_review_code`	Review code — free trial	Free
`summarise_pdf`	Summarise a PDF from URL	500 sats
`summarise_webpage`	Summarise any web page	100 sats
`review_code`	Full code review with bugs, security, quality	2000 sats
`review_code_url`	Review code from GitHub/GitLab URL	2000 sats
`extract_data`	Extract structured data from PDF	200 sats
`translate`	Translate text or document (24 languages)	150 sats
`extract_tables`	Extract all tables from a PDF	300 sats
`compare_documents`	Diff two PDFs	500 sats
`explain_code`	Explain code in plain English	500 sats
`memory_store`	Store persistent agent memory	10 sats
`memory_retrieve`	Retrieve agent memory	5 sats
`memory_delete`	Delete a memory key	Free
`run_workflow`	Chain multiple services in one call	1000 sats

Payment flow

When your agent calls a paid tool:

boltwork-mcp calls the Boltwork API
Receives HTTP 402 with a Lightning invoice
Pays the invoice automatically using your configured wallet
Retries the request with the payment proof
Returns the result to your agent

Your agent never sees this — it just gets the result.

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Boltwork MCP Server

About

Security Report

Findings (4)Action required

Permissions Required

What You'll Need

How to Install

Documentation

boltwork-mcp

What this is

Try it immediately — no wallet required

Install

Setup — pick a wallet

Option A — NWC / Nostr Wallet Connect (easiest)

Option B — LNbits

Option C — Strike

Option D — Phoenixd

MCP config locations

Available tools

Payment flow

Links

Reviews

No reviews yet

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