Definition
Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), defined in NIP-47, is a protocol that lets a Nostr or Lightning application send commands to a remote wallet service using end-to-end encrypted direct messages carried over a Nostr relay. It decouples the app that wants to spend or receive from the wallet that holds the keys, so a web client can trigger payments without ever touching your seed.
How it works
The user obtains a connection URI from their wallet, shared as a QR code or pasted string, containing a dedicated secret key and the wallet service public key. The client and wallet service then communicate by encrypting requests and responses to each other over a relay. NWC defines specific event kinds: 13194 for the wallet's advertised capabilities (the info event), 23194 for client requests, 23195 for wallet responses, and 23197 for notifications. Encryption moved from the deprecated NIP-04 to NIP-44, with the supported scheme advertised in an encryption tag.
What it enables
Through NWC a client can pay invoices, generate invoices, check balance, list transactions, and send keysend payments, all scoped to a connection that uses a unique key rather than the user's main identity. That scoping means a connection can be revoked without rotating your real Nostr key.
NWC pairs naturally with Nostr Zaps for one-tap tipping and complements browser-based signing via NIP-07. D-Central highlights NWC as a self-custodial way to wire payments into apps without surrendering wallet control.
In Simple Terms
Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC), defined in NIP-47, is a protocol that lets a Nostr or Lightning application send commands to a remote wallet service using…