Add Rewards to a Bounty without Login

Lightning Bounties' no-login reward system enables frictionless contributions to existing bounties, supporting the platform's goal of minimal friction and maximum accessibility. This feature allows anyone to instantly support open-source development without account creation barriers, embodying the principle that it costs nothing to try.

Lightning Bounties Product Emphasis
Lightning Bounties Product Emphasis

System Architecture Benefits

Minimal Friction Design

Effortless setup through:

  • No installations required - no plugins or software downloads

  • No account creation - immediate access to funding features

  • Familiar GitHub integration - leverages existing developer workflows

Global Accessibility Features

The no-login system supports:

  • No banking restrictions - bypasses region-locked payment processors

  • Democratized funding - anyone can contribute regardless of location

  • Censorship resistance - peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions

Different Countries Contributing Without Barriers
Bounty Flywheel

Understanding No-Login Contributions

The no-login system provides:

  • Instant access to bounty funding without registration

  • Zero-friction contribution process in under 30 seconds

  • Global accessibility without banking restrictions

  • Privacy-first approach for occasional contributors

This approach aligns with Lightning Bounties' core principle of removing traditional barriers to open-source funding participation while maintaining robust security

Step-by-Step No-Login Process

No login required - all bounties are visible to anonymous visitors

1

Visit app.lightningbounties.com & DO NOT Login With GitHub

Non-logged-in state on Lightning Bounties Platform
2

Browse the bounty feed to find the issue you want to support

Verify the bounty is still active (no trophy icon indicates it's unsolved)

No ⛔"Trophy" icon: Bounty is open for you to solve.
No "Trophy" icon: Bounty is open for you to solve.
"Trophy" 🏆 icon present: Bounty is solved & claimed.
"Trophy" 🏆 icon present: Bounty is solved & claimed.
3

Click on the open bounty you want to support

No Trophy Means It's Open to Add Rewards to
No Trophy Means It's Open to Add Rewards to
4

Create Anonymous Reward

Enter the amount in sats you want to contribute to the open bounty

We'll use 5 sats for this demo but you'll likely commit more rewards
5

⚠️ No Lock-Expiry on One-Time Rewards ⚠️

When creating an anonymous one-time additional reward: you can't set a lock time.

Since you are not logged-in, this reward will not be tied to an account and you will not be able to be able to expire this award and recover the funds. Thus there is no lock time available for this reward action.

If you want to be able expire this award, you can log-in and post the reward as anonymous.

Must log-In with GitHub to use the bounty lock time feature.
6

Click "Add Reward" - no authentication required

This button is available on every open bounty, whether you’re logged in or not!
This button is available on every open bounty, whether you’re logged in or not!
7

Essential security step

  1. Click "Verify Invoice - Branta" link below QR code

  2. New browser tab opens to Branta's independent verification service

  3. Confirm green "Verified" status appears

  4. Cross-check payment details:

    • Amount matches your intended contribution

    • Recipient is Lightning Bounties

    • Memo corresponds to correct bounty

Screenshot showing generated Lightning invoice with QR code, BOLT-11 string, and payment details
Screenshot showing generated Lightning invoice with QR code, BOLT-11 string, and payment details

Why Branta verification matters:

  • Prevents man-in-the-middle attacks that could redirect payments

  • Provides independent confirmation outside Lightning Bounties infrastructure

  • Protects against clipboard malware and browser extension interference

  • Offers multi-device verification capability for high-value contributions

Address Verified OK TO SEND FUNDS
Address Not Verified DO NOT SEND FUNDS

This optional yet highly-recommended safety check is especially critical for no-login users who lack account-based recovery options

8

Pay the Invoice with your Lightning Wallet

A BOLT 11 Lightning invoice and QR code will appear.

  • Open your preferred Lightning wallet (Phoenix, Muun, Breez, Wallet of Satoshi, etc.).

  • Scan the QR code or paste the invoice string.

  • Verify payment details in your wallet interface

  • Confirm the payment

  • Receive payment confirmation in your wallet

Screenshot showing generated Lightning invoice with QR code, BOLT-11 string, and payment details
Screenshot showing generated Lightning invoice with QR code, BOLT-11 string, and payment details
9

Verify Contribution Success

  1. Return to bounty page and refresh

  2. Confirm increased total reward amount

  3. Verify contribution was processed successfully

  4. Note updated bounty funding for community awareness

The platform provides real-time payment tracking and transparent reward systems

Sceenshot of a Pop-up reading "Payment recieved; reward added! Refreshing in 5 secs..."
Should See This pop-up

See who contributed at the bottom

Scroll to the Bottom of The Bounty

Your anonymous reward is now live!

10
Should See Image Above

Summary

The no-login reward system exemplifies Lightning Bounties' commitment to frictionless, accessible, and innovative open-source funding. By removing traditional barriers while maintaining robust security through Branta verification, this feature enables anyone to instantly support the open-source development they care about.

This approach creates a global bounty aggregator that truly democratizes software development funding, making it possible for anyone, anywhere to contribute to the projects that matter most.

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