beginner⏱️ 14-24 minutes📅 Updated June 2026

Step-by-step guide to integrate Alby Bitcoin Payments MCP server with Continue. Includes send_payment and receive_payment.

Alby Bitcoin Payments + Continue: Complete MCP Integration

Alby Bitcoin Payments is a MCP server that Connect any bitcoin lightning wallet to your agent to send and receive instant payments globally with your agent..

When integrated with Continue, you can:

  • Send Lightning Network payments instantly
  • Generate invoices to receive Lightning payments
  • Check current Lightning wallet balance

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up Alby Bitcoin Payments in Continue, including configuration, examples, and troubleshooting.

What You'll Achieve

After completing this setup:

  • Alby Bitcoin Payments will be fully integrated and operational
  • You can use Alby Bitcoin Payments tools directly in Continue
  • All Alby Bitcoin Payments capabilities will be available for your workflows
  • Access to 5 different tools

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Nostr Wallet Connect connection string from Lightning wallet
  • Continue installed and configured
  • Compatible operating system (VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Cross-platform)

Installation

Step 1: Install Alby Bitcoin Payments

Configuration

Step 2: Configure Continue

  1. Open Continue settings
  2. Navigate to MCP server configuration
  3. Add Alby Bitcoin Payments server with appropriate settings
  4. Save and restart if needed

Examples

Once configured, you can use Alby Bitcoin Payments in Continue:

E-commerce Integration

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Ask Continue: "Create invoice for $25 subscription payment"

Expected Result: undefined

Micropayments for Content

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Ask Continue: "Pay 100 sats for premium article access"

Expected Result: undefined

Global Remittance

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Ask Continue: "Send $50 worth of Bitcoin to family member"

Expected Result: undefined

Testing Your Setup

  1. Launch Continue
  2. Verify Alby Bitcoin Payments is available in the tools list
  3. Test basic Alby Bitcoin Payments functionality

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Extension Installation Failed

Symptoms: Marketplace errors, Extension not appearing

Cause: IDE version incompatibility or marketplace issues

Solution:

  • Check IDE version meets minimum requirements
  • Try manual installation from extension file
  • Clear IDE cache and restart
  • Check internet connectivity and proxy settings

MCP Configuration Not Loaded

Symptoms: Settings not applied, Server not connecting

Cause: Configuration file errors or location issues

Solution:

  • Verify JSON syntax in configuration file
  • Check configuration file location and permissions
  • Use absolute paths for server executables
  • Restart IDE after configuration changes

Server Tools Not Available

Symptoms: Continue working but no MCP tools, Limited functionality

Cause: Server connection or protocol issues

Solution:

  • Verify MCP server installation and PATH
  • Test server independently from command line
  • Check server logs for connection errors
  • Ensure server implements MCP protocol correctly

IDE Performance Issues

Symptoms: Slow responses, IDE freezing

Cause: Resource usage or configuration problems

Solution:

  • Check system resources and available memory
  • Reduce number of concurrent MCP servers
  • Update Continue extension to latest version
  • Configure appropriate timeout settings

Alby Bitcoin Payments not appearing in Continue

Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available

Cause: Configuration or installation issue

Solution:

  • Verify configuration syntax
  • Check Alby Bitcoin Payments installation
  • Restart Continue
  • Check logs for error messages

Next Steps

Now that Alby Bitcoin Payments is integrated with Continue:

  • Explore all Alby Bitcoin Payments capabilities through Continue
  • Check out other MCP servers that work with Continue
  • Join the MCP community for tips and support
  • Consider contributing to Alby Bitcoin Payments development

Need Help?

Related Resources

More Integrations

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Need Help?

Join the MCP community for support and discussions

Alby Bitcoin Payments + Continue: MCP Setup Guide (2026)