Moving funds from a Lightning Network (LN) wallet, such as Alby, to a traditional Bitcoin (BTC) wallet involves two steps: first, withdrawing the Satoshis (sats) from the LN wallet and then converting them into regular Bitcoin. Here’s how you can proceed: ### 1. Withdrawal from LN Wallet - **Check Your Balance:** Ensure that your Alby wallet has sufficient balance to withdraw. - **Withdrawal Process:** The process of withdrawing sats from an LN wallet to a traditional Bitcoin address involves several steps, which might slightly vary depending on the specific wallet you're using (Alby in this case). Generally: - **Open Your Alby App:** Start by launching your Alby wallet app. - **Navigate Withdrawal Section:** Look for the withdrawal option. This is usually found under a 'Send' or 'Withdraw' tab, where you can initiate transactions out of your LN wallet. - **Select Withdraw to Bitcoin Address:** Choose the option that says something like "withdraw to bitcoin address" or "convert to BTC." This will guide you through the process of converting sats into regular Bitcoin and preparing them for a transfer to an external Bitcoin wallet. - **Provide the External Bitcoin Address:** You'll need to input your external (non-LN) Bitcoin address where you want the funds transferred. Ensure this address is correct because there's no recovery if it's entered incorrectly. ### 2. Conversion and Transfer After selecting the withdrawal option, you might see a prompt indicating that your sats will be converted into regular Bitcoin for transfer to an external wallet. This process involves sending the transaction over the bitcoin network (the blockchain) rather than using LN channels directly. - **Wait for Confirmation:** The process may take some time due to mining requirements on the blockchain. After confirmation, you'll receive a notification in your Alby app. ### Important Considerations - **Fees:** You'll need to pay fees twice: once for withdrawing from the Lightning Network (these are usually lower) and again when sending the converted Bitcoin over the regular bitcoin network (which may incur higher fees depending on network congestion). - **Blockchain Time:** Keep in mind that transactions confirmed on the blockchain can take significantly longer than LN transfers. ### Conclusion Moving funds from an LN wallet, such as Alby, to a traditional Bitcoin wallet involves a couple of straightforward steps. Be sure to follow these instructions closely and consider fees when executing your withdrawal. Remember, each transaction type requires its own processing time due to the underlying network's structure (LN being faster but having higher risks associated with liquidity).