Alby Bitcoin Payments + MCPHub (mcp.nvim): 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 MCPHub (mcp.nvim), 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 MCPHub (mcp.nvim), 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 MCPHub (mcp.nvim)
• 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
• MCPHub (mcp.nvim) installed and configured
• Compatible operating system (Neovim 0.9+, Windows, macOS, Linux)

Installation

Step 1: Install Alby Bitcoin Payments

Configuration

Step 2: Configure MCPHub (mcp.nvim)

1. Open MCPHub (mcp.nvim) 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 MCPHub (mcp.nvim):

E-commerce Integration

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Ask MCPHub (mcp.nvim): "Create invoice for $25 subscription payment"

Expected Result: undefined

Micropayments for Content

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Ask MCPHub (mcp.nvim): "Pay 100 sats for premium article access"

Expected Result: undefined

Global Remittance

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Ask MCPHub (mcp.nvim): "Send $50 worth of Bitcoin to family member"

Expected Result: undefined

Testing Your Setup

1. Launch MCPHub (mcp.nvim)
2. Verify Alby Bitcoin Payments is available in the tools list
3. Test basic Alby Bitcoin Payments functionality

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Plugin Not Loading or Command Not Found

Symptoms: :MCPHub command not recognized, Plugin not appearing in :PlugStatus, No errors but plugin inactive

Cause: Plugin not properly installed or configuration error

Solution:

• Verify plugin is added to plugin manager configuration
• Run plugin manager install command (:PackerInstall, :PlugInstall, or Lazy auto-install)
• Check for errors in :messages after sourcing config
• Ensure dependencies (plenary.nvim, nui.nvim) are installed
• Restart Neovim completely

MCP Server Won't Start

Symptoms: Server status shows "Error", Red indicator on server, Server immediately stops after starting

Cause: Invalid server configuration or missing dependencies

Solution:

• Verify npx is installed and in PATH: npx --version
• Check MCP server package exists: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem --help
• Review server configuration in setup() - verify command and args
• Check server logs in MCPHub interface for detailed error messages
• Ensure required environment variables are set (e.g., GITHUB_TOKEN)
• Test server manually in terminal: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path

UI Not Displaying Correctly

Symptoms: Blank window, Garbled text, Layout issues, Missing borders

Cause: Terminal or Neovim rendering issues

Solution:

• Verify Neovim version is 0.9 or higher: nvim --version
• Try different border style in ui.border config ("single", "double", "rounded")
• Check terminal supports Unicode and 256 colors
• Update nui.nvim dependency to latest version
• Test with different colorscheme to rule out theme conflicts

Integration with Avante/CodeCompanion Not Working

Symptoms: AI assistant not seeing MCP tools, Tool calls failing, Integration not recognized

Cause: Integration not enabled or incompatible versions

Solution:

• Verify integration is enabled in config: integrations.avante = true
• Ensure Avante.nvim/CodeCompanion.nvim is installed and loaded
• Check versions are compatible - update both plugins to latest
• Restart Neovim after enabling integration
• Check :checkhealth for integration-specific warnings

Marketplace Not Loading

Symptoms: :MCPHubMarketplace shows empty list, Network error in marketplace, Timeout loading servers

Cause: Network connectivity issues or marketplace service unavailable

Solution:

• Verify internet connectivity
• Check firewall allows HTTPS connections
• Try again later if marketplace service is temporarily down
• Review proxy settings if behind corporate firewall
• Check :messages for detailed network error messages

Project-Local Config Not Loading

Symptoms: .mcphub.json ignored, Project servers not appearing, Only global config loaded

Cause: Config file location or format issues

Solution:

• Verify .mcphub.json is in project root (same directory as .git)
• Check JSON syntax is valid using jsonlint or similar tool
• Ensure file name is exactly .mcphub.json (case-sensitive)
• Restart Neovim after creating/modifying project config
• Check file permissions are readable

Alby Bitcoin Payments not appearing in MCPHub (mcp.nvim)

Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available

Cause: Configuration or installation issue

Solution:

• Verify configuration syntax
• Check Alby Bitcoin Payments installation
• Restart MCPHub (mcp.nvim)
• Check logs for error messages

Next Steps

Now that Alby Bitcoin Payments is integrated with MCPHub (mcp.nvim):

• Explore all Alby Bitcoin Payments capabilities through MCPHub (mcp.nvim)
• Check out other MCP servers that work with MCPHub (mcp.nvim)
• Join the MCP community for tips and support
• Consider contributing to Alby Bitcoin Payments development

Need Help?

• Search for Alby Bitcoin Payments documentation
• Check the MCPHub (mcp.nvim) MCP guide
• Join the MCP community discussions