Bitcoin Lightning wallet inside Telegram

Q: Is it a wallet or just a tip bot?

Both. You get a full Lightning wallet on first open, plus /tip in groups, invoices with QR, username transfers, and Lightning-gated chats with subscriptions.

Q: How do tips work in groups?

Add the bot. /tip sends 21 sats to the owner; /tip 100 sets an amount; reply + /tip tips the author; /tip @user or /tip 50 @user targets a person.

Q: Can I sell access to a private group or channel with Bitcoin?

Yes. In /chats, enable paid access, set a sat price (one-time or monthly), grant invite + ban rights. Members request to join, pay a Lightning invoice, and get access immediately.

Send, receive, tip, and monetize chats with sats — without leaving Telegram.

Open in Telegram

Opens @zap_gram_bot · free · wallet on first open · no card

ZapGram is a Bitcoin Lightning wallet inside Telegram for tipping sats, paying BOLT11 invoices, and selling paid access to private chats — with optional Nostr Wallet Connect for self-custody.

Zero-fee internal transfers
Group & channel tips
Paid chats
Optional NWC
Open source MIT

Prefer to audit first? View source on GitHub

Why ZapGram

Most tip bots stop at send and receive. ZapGram is the full Lightning loop inside Telegram.

Lightning-native

Built for sats and BOLT11 invoices — not a fiat wrapper.

Zero fee inside Telegram

Transfers between ZapGram wallets are free and as fast as a message.

Tips that fit the chat

/tip in groups and under channel posts — amount, reply, or @user.

Chats that earn

One-time or monthly access in sats. Members pay; access unlocks.

Your keys, optional

Built-in wallet, or connect any NWC wallet (Alby, Coinos, …).

Open source

MIT. Inspect the code. Self-host if you want your own instance.

Lightning wallet in Telegram

Every user gets a Lightning wallet the moment they open the bot. Balance in sats. Notifications when you get paid.

Send and receive sats

Create an invoice (amount + optional memo), share the QR or BOLT11 string, and get paid from any Lightning wallet.

Pay any lnbc… invoice — review amount, memo, fee reserve, and expiry before you confirm. Or send sats straight to a Telegram @username.

Free transfers between users

When both sides use ZapGram, value moves like a DM: instant, no network fee.

External Lightning payments still pay normal network fees.

Open in Telegram

Tip sats in groups and channels

Add the bot to a chat. Tip without breaking the conversation.

Command	What it does
`/tip`	21 sats to the group owner (or channel creator on a post)
`/tip 100`	Custom amount to the owner
`Reply + /tip`	Tip the message author
`Reply + /tip 1000`	Tip the author with a custom amount
`/tip @user`	Tip a user (default 21 sats)
`/tip 50 @user`	Tip a user with a custom amount

Make the bot an admin (delete messages is enough) so owner tips work cleanly and technical messages stay out of the way.

Monetize private chats with Lightning

Turn a private group or channel into a sat-gated community — no Stripe, no bank account.

For owners

Add @zap_gram_bot with invite and ban rights.
Open /chats → enable paid access.
Set price in sats: one-time permanent access or monthly subscription. Optional join message in RU + EN.

Owners are paid automatically (minus a small platform fee on the hosted bot). Duplicate payments are refunded safely.

For members

Request to join.
Get a Lightning invoice (and one-tap pay if your ZapGram or NWC balance covers it).
Pay → access is granted immediately.

Monthly renewals can auto-debit from the ZapGram wallet. Manage status in /subscriptions.

Open in Telegram

Price a chat in sats · members pay Lightning on join

Optional self-custody with NWC

Prefer keys you control? Connect any Lightning wallet that supports Nostr Wallet Connect — the same protocol Nostriches already use for zaps.

Link a nostr+walletconnect://… URL
See both balances (ZapGram + NWC) on the wallet screen
Choose which wallet pays tips in groups
Pay some invoices and subscriptions from NWC when balance allows
Disconnect anytime

Your external wallet stays under your control. ZapGram only acts within the permissions you grant.

Who ZapGram is for

Bitcoiners & Lightning users

Sats in the app you already live in — tips, invoices, transfers.

Nostriches

Tip culture + optional NWC, without leaving Telegram communities.

Community owners

Sat-priced groups and channels without fiat billing.

Creators & channels

Tips under posts and in groups that actually settle.

Not for: card-only checkout, enterprise KYC invoicing, or multi-asset trading. If you need fiat rails, this isn’t it.

How it works

Open
@zap_gram_bot → /start — wallet created.
Fund
Receive → create an invoice → pay from any Lightning wallet (or connect NWC).
Tip or send
/tip in a group, or Send to a user / invoice in DM.
Monetize
Owners: /chats → price in sats → members pay on join.

Open in Telegram

Tap Start · wallet created · fund when ready

What it costs

Bot & wallet: free to open and use.
ZapGram → ZapGram transfers: free.
External Lightning: network fees as usual.
Paid-chat owner payouts (hosted): small platform fee (default 5%).

No surprise bank fees. No fiat conversion layer.

Frequently asked questions

What is ZapGram?

ZapGram is a Bitcoin Lightning wallet inside Telegram. It lets you send and receive sats, tip in groups and channels, pay BOLT11 invoices, and sell paid access to private chats — without leaving the messenger.

Is it a wallet or just a tip bot?

Both. You get a full Lightning wallet on first open, plus /tip in groups, invoices with QR, username transfers, and Lightning-gated chats with subscriptions.

Is ZapGram free? What are the fees?

Free to start. Internal transfers between ZapGram wallets are free. External Lightning payments pay network fees. On the hosted bot, paid-chat owner payouts take a small platform fee (default 5%).

Are my sats custodial?

The built-in wallet is custodial convenience. Prefer self-custody? Connect an NWC wallet (e.g. Alby, Coinos), tip and pay from that balance, disconnect anytime. Source is MIT open source.

Is ZapGram safe to use? How do I know it is legitimate?

ZapGram is open source under the MIT license on GitHub — you can read the code or self-host. Opening the bot needs no card and no bank account. The built-in wallet is custodial convenience; connect NWC for self-custody. It is not a bank and not financial advice.

What happens when I open the bot?

You open @zap_gram_bot in Telegram, tap Start, and a Lightning wallet is created. No separate app install. Fund later with a receive invoice from any Lightning wallet, or connect NWC when you want self-custody.

What is NWC and why support it?

Nostr Wallet Connect lets apps request payments from a wallet you control. ZapGram can show both balances and use your NWC wallet for tips and some payments — familiar if you already zap on Nostr.

How do tips work in groups?

Add the bot. /tip sends 21 sats to the owner; /tip 100 sets an amount; reply + /tip tips the author; /tip @user or /tip 50 @user targets a person.

Can I sell access to a private group or channel with Bitcoin?

Yes. In /chats, enable paid access, set a sat price (one-time or monthly), grant invite + ban rights. Members request to join, pay a Lightning invoice, and get access immediately.

How is ZapGram different from LightningTipBot or other tip bots?

ZapGram combines wallet, tips, BOLT11 invoices, paid chats with subscriptions, and optional NWC in one bot. Many peers focus mainly on tipping or simple send/receive. Compare features — the Telegram Lightning category is still small.

Do I need a separate app or Lightning node?

No. Open @zap_gram_bot, fund with a receive invoice from any Lightning wallet, or attach NWC. No node required for normal use.

Is ZapGram open source? Can I self-host?

Yes — MIT on GitHub. Self-host if you want your own instance; most people just open the hosted bot. Open source is for trust and auditability.

What languages does the bot support?

Russian and English UI. Other Telegram languages fall back to English. This site: English (canonical) and Russian (/ru).

Is this the same as Telegram Wallet (@wallet)?

No. @wallet is a multi-asset product. ZapGram is Lightning-native: sats, BOLT11, tips, and sat-gated chats.

Open ZapGram in Telegram

Wallet on first open. Tip in groups. Invoice anyone. Gate chats with sats. Optional NWC if you want keys on your side.

Open in Telegram

Free · no card · source on GitHub

Welcome to the world of free payments.