How to top up your Lightning wallet with Pocket

This article serves as a guide to setting up Pocket's Lightning top-up service, which allows you to buy sats directly into your Lightning wallet.

Currently, the service can be used with the Lightning wallet apps Phoenix and Breez. Both apps are non-custodial Lightning wallet apps. This means you can manage your Satoshi directly on your mobile device and send or receive transactions via Lightning in seconds.

Requirements

To use the Lightning service, you need one of the two supported Lightning wallets.

From our own experience, we recommend using the Phoenix app. The app is very reliable and has just released a very advanced update that greatly improves the use of the Lightning network.

Phoenix Wallet

If you don't use the Phoenix Wallet yet, you can download it on your smartphone via one of the following links.

Find out more about the Phoenix App and read more about the Splicing Update.

Download the app for Android.

Download the app for iOS.

Breez Wallet

If you are not yet using the Breez Wallet, you can download it on your smartphone using one of the following links.

Find out more about the Breez App.

Download the app for Android.

Download the app for iOS.

1. Start the Lightning top-up service

Open the website widget.pocketbitcoin.com to access the Lightning top-up service.

Click on "Set up now" to start the process.

2. Enter your email address

Enter your email address. You can also use an unpersonalised address, e.g. with hide-my-email.

Click on "Continue" to proceed.

3. Select wallet

In the next step, you need to determine which Lightning wallet you want to receive your Bitcoin in. You can currently choose between Phoenix or Breez and select one of them by clicking on the respective app icon.

Click on "Continue" to proceed with the process.

3.1 Continue with Phoenix

Now you will be redirected to a confirmation screen where you have to confirm that you have installed Phoenix on your device.

Confirm by clicking on the "I have Phoenix installed" button.

3.2 Continue with Breez

Now you will be redirected to a confirmation screen where you have to confirm that you have installed Breez on your device.

Confirm by clicking on the button "I have Breez installed".

4. Select your currency

Then you have to select your desired currency. Currently you can choose between francs, euros and pounds.

Select one of the 3 options and then click on "Continue" again.

5. State your bank account

Now you just have to enter your bank account. To do this, enter your desired IBAN address from which you will make your transfers to Pocket.

Then click on "Continue".

6. Check your details

In this step you can check all your details again.

Make sure that both your email address and your IBAN are correct, otherwise you won't be able to make any Bitcoin purchases via Pocket.

Now you just have to accept the terms and conditions by clicking on the switch.

Then click on "Get payment details".

7. Execute a bank transfer

On the confirmation screen that appears, you will be shown Pocket's payment details.

Next, it's up to you to set up a simple bank transfer or standing order to Pocket. To do this, simply set up a new payment in your online banking. All the necessary information, such as IBAN, reference number, BIC and our address, will also be sent to you by email.

You also have the option of paying with a QR code. To do so, click on "QR-Bill". Important: After scanning the code, check whether the reason for payment is set correctly.

Please also note that the Breez Wallet limits your balance to a maximum of 4 million satoshis. This means that if you make a transfer with Pocket and your balance exceeds this maximum, you will not be able to make the withdrawal.

After you have explored everything, you can click on "I got it".

8. Buy Bitcoin

Congratulations, you have successfully set up an order through the Lightning top-up service and are now ready to buy bitcoin directly into your Lightning wallet.

In your inbox you will find the confirmation email with all the information about your Lightning order.

9. Payout email after bitcoin purchase

As soon as we receive your payment, your money will be exchanged into Bitcoin. After the exchange, you will receive an email to manually pay out your bitcoin to your Lightning wallet.

Click on the "Initiate payout now" button in the email. You will then be redirected to a new page.

10. Payout with Phoenix

10.1 Open Phoenix

The withdrawal screen will show you how many Satoshis you have bought. Click on the "Open Phoenix Wallet" button to start the payout or if you have the website open on your tablet or laptop, click on the small QR code on the left of the button to display a QR code that you can scan with your Phoenix Wallet.

10.2 Confirm payout

In the Phoenix app, you will be asked to confirm the withdrawal. Click on "Redeem" to trigger the payout.

You have just shared your Lightning Wallet address with us and requested a payout from Pocket.

Congratulations, your Satoshis have just been successfully paid out to your Phoenix Wallet. The payment will now appear in your transactions list.

11. Payout with Breez

11.1 Open Breez

The withdrawal screen will show you how many Satoshis you have purchased. Click on the "Open Breez Wallet" button to start the withdrawal or if you have the website open on your tablet or laptop, click on the small QR code on the left of the button to display a QR code that you can scan with your Breez Wallet.

11.2 Confirm withdrawal

In the Breez app you will be asked to confirm the withdrawal. Click on "Redeem" to trigger the withdrawal.

You've just shared your Lightning Wallet address with us and requested a payout from Pocket. Wait until the payment is processed.

Congratulations, your Satoshis have just been successfully paid out to your Breez Wallet. The payment will now appear in your transactions list.

Done

Your Lightning wallet is now topped up.

You can top up your Lightning wallet with more Satoshis at any time by making a new payment to Pocket and entering the same reference number, i.e. the same reason for payment, in the transfer. After each payment, you will receive a withdrawal email and can repeat the process from step 9.

After your first withdrawal, your Phoenix or Breez Wallet is permanently linked to your payment reference. Further withdrawals are only possible to this linked wallet. If an unauthorised person gains access to your email account, they will still not be able to steal your sats.

Thank you for your trust.