Lightning Labs has open-sourced its Wavelength SDK, enabling developers to integrate self-custodial Bitcoin payments into applications and AI agents without managing Lightning infrastructure, lowering the barrier to machine-native payments.
Lightning Labs has released the alpha version of its open-source Wavelength SDK, enabling developers to integrate self-custodial Bitcoin payments into applications and AI agents through a simple non-custodial API. The toolkit removes the need to run Lightning nodes, manage payment channels, or source liquidity, while full documentation, quickstarts, and a GitHub repository are available.
Described by Lightning Labs as “Bitcoin on Easy Mode for Agents and Humans,” Wavelength embeds a self-custodial wallet in web and mobile applications or as a standalone client. Users retain control of their private keys on-device. It supports on-chain Bitcoin, Lightning payments through atomic swaps, and an Ark-like off-chain settlement layer. Off-chain payments use standard BOLT 11 invoices, ensuring interoperability with the existing Lightning Network. Payments route through Loop for liquidity, while users can unilaterally exit to on-chain Bitcoin at any time.
The SDK exposes its API to AI agents through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing agents to hold Bitcoin balances and make micropayments for APIs, data feeds, and other agent services. Wallet creation and unlocking remain outside the AI model channel to protect recovery seeds and passwords. Wavelength also integrates with L402 for machine-native authentication and per-request Lightning payments.
Available now on Signet and testnet, with invitation-only mainnet access, Wavelength supports Bitcoin at launch, while Taproot Assets, deeper mobile integration, and optional direct Lightning channel support using Lnd are planned. During the closed alpha, Lightning transactions incur a 1 basis point service fee plus standard network routing fees.
