Add Lightning Payments to Cursor

Set up the Lightning Enable MCP server in Cursor so your AI agent can pay Lightning invoices and access L402-protected APIs.

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Step 1: Get a Strike API Key

1. Create a Strike account
2. Go to developer.strike.me
3. Generate an API key

See the Claude Code guide for detailed steps.

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Step 2: Install the MCP Server

# .NET
dotnet tool install -g LightningEnable.Mcp

# Or Python
pip install lightning-enable-mcp

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Step 3: Configure Cursor

You can configure via the UI or by editing the config file directly.

Option A: Cursor Settings UI

1. Open Cursor Settings (gear icon)
2. Go to Tools & MCP
3. Click New MCP Server
4. Paste the JSON config below

Option B: Config File

Create or edit .cursor/mcp.json in your project root (project-specific) or ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global):

.NET:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lightning-enable": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": ["tool", "run", "lightning-enable-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "STRIKE_API_KEY": "your-strike-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Python:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "lightning-enable": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["lightning-enable-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "STRIKE_API_KEY": "your-strike-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

warning

Don't commit API keys. Use the global config (~/.cursor/mcp.json) for credentials, or use environment variables set in your shell profile.

Fully restart Cursor after saving (not just close the window).

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Step 4: Verify

Open Cursor Settings > Tools & MCP. You should see lightning-enable listed with a green status indicator and all 15 tools available.

Or ask in Cursor's Agent mode:

What MCP tools do you have available?

Test a Payment

Check my Lightning wallet balance

Access an L402 API

Get weather data for New York from agent-commerce.store

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Project vs Global Config

Location	Scope	Best For
.cursor/mcp.json	This project only	Sharing tool config with team (no secrets!)
~/.cursor/mcp.json	All projects	API keys, personal tools

When both exist, project-level takes priority.

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Differences from Claude Desktop

The config format is nearly identical. The only differences:

	Cursor	Claude Desktop
Config file	.cursor/mcp.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json	claude_desktop_config.json
Root key	"mcpServers" (same)	"mcpServers" (same)
UI config	Settings > Tools & MCP	File edit only
Remote servers	Supported (SSE + HTTP)	stdio only

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Next Steps

• Spending Security — Budget controls
• All 15 Tools — Complete tool reference
• Agent Commerce Store — L402 APIs to test with