Use Routstr Bitcoin payments for AI
Routstr lets you use AI models through decentralized Bitcoin payments instead of a normal platform account. In getbased, Routstr has a built-in Cashu wallet: you fund the wallet with Lightning or a Cashu token, deposit a small amount into a Routstr node, and use that node as your AI provider. Your wallet lives in your browser profile. getbased does not run a wallet server for you.What you can do
In Settings → AI → Routstr, you can:- select Routstr as the active AI provider;
- discover and choose a Routstr node;
- use the built-in Cashu wallet;
- choose a mint accepted by the selected node;
- fund the wallet with a Lightning invoice and QR code;
- receive Cashu tokens into the wallet;
- deposit wallet sats into a Routstr node session;
- top up an existing Routstr node session;
- use Routstr models for chat and AI features;
- refund remaining node balance back to the wallet;
- withdraw wallet funds by Lightning invoice or Lightning address;
- send wallet funds as a Cashu token;
- export a wallet backup token;
- save and restore the 12-word wallet seed.
Mental model
There are two balances:| Balance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Wallet balance | Cashu sats held by your local browser wallet. |
| Node balance | Sats deposited into the selected Routstr node session for AI requests. |
Set up Routstr
Save your wallet seed
The wallet uses a 12-word seed phrase. Write it down before holding meaningful balance. The seed is the recovery path if local browser data is lost.
Choose a node
Pick a Routstr node from the discovered node list. The app checks the node’s supported mints and can switch your wallet mint if needed.
Fund the wallet
Click Deposit to create a Lightning invoice and QR code, or paste a Cashu token from another wallet.
Deposit sats to the node
Choose a small amount to move from your wallet balance into the node session. The first deposit creates a session key. Later deposits top up the same session.
Use AI
Pick a model and use getbased chat, import, or AI features as usual. Your prompts go from your browser to the selected node.
What is stored locally
Routstr wallet state is stored in your browser profile:- selected mint URL;
- wallet seed mnemonic;
- Cashu proofs in IndexedDB;
- pending Lightning funding quotes;
- pending node-deposit recovery token;
- pending withdrawal/refund recovery token;
- selected Routstr node URL;
- Routstr node session key.
Recovery behavior
getbased keeps recovery state for the common failure cases:- if a Lightning invoice was paid but the browser missed the response, pending funding recovery can check the quote again;
- if a node deposit fails, the app keeps a recoverable pending deposit token;
- if a node refund returns a Cashu token, the app saves it before trying to receive it into the wallet;
- if local proof state is lost, seed restore can recover unspent proofs from the mint.
Practical caveats
- Mints and nodes are external services. They can be temporarily down or unreachable from your network.
- The selected mint must be accepted by the selected Routstr node.
- Cashu tokens are bearer money. Whoever has the token can spend it.
- Very small amounts can be lost to mint fees, Lightning fees, or model calls.
- Use small deposits for testing. Refund node balance when you are done.
Current tested baseline
The current getbased Routstr flow has been tested with a tiny real-funds canary:- Lightning invoice funded the wallet.
- Pending funding recovery restored the paid invoice.
- First node deposit created a node session.
- Second deposit topped up the existing session.
- A tiny Routstr model call succeeded.
- Node refund returned funds to the wallet.
- Cashu token export/import round-tripped through a second isolated browser profile.
- Seed restore recovered wallet balance in a third throwaway browser profile.
- Final state had no pending deposit, no pending withdrawal, and no remaining node key.