Phoenix Wallet another US ban?

[dkbit98]

According to latest tweet Phoenix wallet will be removed from Android and iOS app stores in few days.
They are recommending users from this region not force-closing of channels, because of significant on-chain fees.
Phoenix Wallet is currently one of the best non-custodial lightning network wallets.
https://twitter.com/PhoenixWallet/status/1783878658014249027

[Charles-Tim]

Phoenix Wallet is currently one of the best non-custodial lightning network wallets.

On Phoenix, you can not open a channel. You can easily just download the wallet and start using the wallet. This is not possible on noncustodial bitcoin lightning network wallet. I can generate invoice for pay on Phoenix without any channel opened for it. Or is there a way on the wallet to open and close a channel?

[Findingnemo]

Phoenix Wallet is currently one of the best non-custodial lightning network wallets.

On Phoenix, you can not open a channel. You can easily just download the wallet and start using the wallet. This is not possible on noncustodial bitcoin lightning network wallet. I can generate invoice for pay on Phoenix without any channel opened for it. Or is there a way on the wallet to open and close a channel?

It's non-custodial because it gives 12 words mnemonics seeds or that's what they denote as why Phoenix wallet is not a custodial wallet in their FAQ page.

Phoenix is a real, self-contained Lightning node that runs on your phone. It does not require you to run another Lightning node at home or in the cloud. It is not a custodial wallet either, you are in full control of your funds.

If this is going to be the way US treat every wallet then I wonder what will be the fate of every self-custodial wallets?

[hugeblack]

Is it still possible to access ---> https://phoenix.acinq.co/? If that is possible, I hope they add an APK link. This way, users will be able to download the application easily.

It's non-custodial because it gives 12 words mnemonics seeds or that's what they denote as why Phoenix wallet is not a custodial wallet in their FAQ page.

This relates to the wallet, but when we talk about the Lightning Network, it is a self-contained Lightning node where you can easily set up your own Lightning Network, pay others and withdraw easily.

[Findingnemo]

Is it still possible to access ---> https://phoenix.acinq.co/? If that is possible, I hope they add an APK link. This way, users will be able to download the application easily.

I can access the website but I am not from the US so it's available in the play store too countries simply follow what US does so I am afraid they might be taken down the same path that could cause whatever little privacy we have while using bitcoin.

About the APK file, which is not present at the moment, the download section just redirects to Playstore and app store but I guess they might add one for sure.

[Charles-Tim]

Phoenix Wallet is currently one of the best non-custodial lightning network wallets.

On Phoenix, you can not open a channel. You can easily just download the wallet and start using the wallet. This is not possible on noncustodial bitcoin lightning network wallet. I can generate invoice for pay on Phoenix without any channel opened for it. Or is there a way on the wallet to open and close a channel?

It's non-custodial because it gives 12 words mnemonics seeds or that's what they denote as why Phoenix wallet is not a custodial wallet in their FAQ page.

You are correct. It is noncustodial. But let us say Phoenix is noncustodial and another lightning wallet like Aqua or others is noncustodial. Will you be able to recover your lightning coins from Phoenix on another lightning network wallet? I think you will need the same noncustodial wallet for the recovery. If Phoenix is gone and not accessible anymore, you money is gone. Or am I wrong?

[Findingnemo]

But let us say Phoenix is noncustodial and another lightning wallet like Aqua or others is noncustodial. Will you be able to recover your lightning coins from Phoenix on another lightning network wallet? I think you will need the same noncustodial wallet for the recovery. If Phoenix is gone and not accessible anymore, you money is gone. Or am I wrong?

AFAIK, it's not possible to migrate the lightning channels just as we do with importing addresses, any funded channel should be closed before importing them into a different wallet so I guess that's what same applies to the Phoenix Wallet too. People from US might still access their app even if it's not available on the app stores so they should have to close their channel and use the seeds to import it on new one.

[hugeblack]

About the APK file, which is not present at the moment, the download section just redirects to Playstore and app store but I guess they might add one for sure.

The site was not seized, but the application was withdrawn from the Play Store. whoever wants to download the application must delete the store data and connect to a VPN or visit ----> https://phoenix.acinq.co/ and download the APK version. they must a https://f-droid.org/ link after app removed from store.

[dkbit98]

On Phoenix, you can not open a channel. You can easily just download the wallet and start using the wallet. This is not possible on noncustodial bitcoin lightning network wallet. I can generate invoice for pay on Phoenix without any channel opened for it. Or is there a way on the wallet to open and close a channel?

Phoenix is non-custodial wallet, you have seed words and node is created and operated on smartphone.
If you want option for opening and closing channels try checking out alternative lightning wallet Zeus LN.

You are correct. It is noncustodial. But let us say Phoenix is noncustodial and another lightning wallet like Aqua or others is noncustodial. Will you be able to recover your lightning coins from Phoenix on another lightning network wallet? I think you will need the same noncustodial wallet for the recovery. If Phoenix is gone and not accessible anymore, you money is gone. Or am I wrong?

You can always send sats from your installed wallet to some other wallet even if Phonex is gone.
They are not the only lightning wallet that works like this, and they made this decision because they wanted some protection against US official attacks.