ZapTok is a decentralized short-form video Nostr client where instant Bitcoin meets endless swipeable content — enabling direct creator monetization through value-for-value on Nostr.
We deliver censorship-resistant content sharing with lightning-fast Bitcoin tips (aka zaps), giving creators and users complete control over their data and earnings. Experience familiar social media with true ownership and privacy — where your content and earnings are actually yours.
You keep 100% of your earnings. No percentage of your earnings is distributed to ZapTok.
- Short-Form Video Sharing: TikTok-style infinite scroll with snap-to-video behavior
- Video Upload: Drag-and-drop upload & native camera recording with support for MP4, WebM, and MOV formats
- Decentralized Storage: Blossom protocol integration for censorship-resistant hosting
- Advanced Performance: Auto-loading, background prefetching, smooth playback caching
- Video Compression: Client-side optimization for mobile data efficiency
- Native Sharing: Web Share API with clipboard fallback across platforms
- Instant Bitcoin Zaps: Lightning Network integration for immediate tips (NIP-57)
- Cashu Nutzaps: Private peer-to-peer eCash tips with enhanced anonymity (NIP-60, NIP-61)
- Zero fees toward ZapTok on your earnings: Creators keep 100% of earnings, payments direct to your wallet
- Wallet Connect: Lightning wallet integration via Nostr Wallet Connect (NIP-47)
- No Data Harvesting: Private viewing with no tracking or behavior profiling
- Non-Custodial Wallets: You control your keys and funds, never ZapTok
- End-to-End Encryption: Secure login via browser extensions or remote signers
- Open Source: Fully auditable code under AGPL-3.0 license
- No Chargebacks: Final Lightning payments protect creators from fraud
- Private Login: Nostr browser extension support (NIP-07)
- Bunker Login: Remote signer compatibility (NIP-46)
- Self-Sovereign Identity: Users own their data and social connections
- DNS Verification: Nostr address verification (NIP-05)
- Portable Identity: Same profile works across all Nostr apps
- Follow System: Contact lists and relationship management (NIP-02)
- Zap Reactions: Tip videos with Lightning/Cashu integration
- Comments: Threaded discussions on videos (NIP-22 backend infrastructure ready)
- Content Sharing: Repost videos to your followers (NIP-18)
- Customizable Profiles: User metadata, avatars, banners, and bio links
- Notification Center: Real-time alerts for zaps, mentions, reposts, and follows
- Cashu Wallet Management: Full wallet interface with mint management and transaction history
- QR Code Integration: Scan lightning invoices, Cashu tokens, and Nostr identifiers
- Video Analytics: View counts, engagement metrics, and zap statistics
- Full PWA Support: Installable on mobile and desktop
- Offline Capabilities: Video caching and background playback
- Push Notifications: Real-time alerts for Lightning payments
- Service Worker: Background sync for real-time updates
- Native App Feel: Seamless mobile experience
- Multi-Relay Support: Connect to multiple relays for redundancy
- Video Events: Native video content format (NIP-71)
- Bech32 Addresses: Full NIP-19 identifier support
- Private Messages: Encrypted direct messaging (NIP-17)
- Live Streaming: Real-time video broadcasting (NIP-53)
- Creator Tools: Zap goals, supporter badges, and subscriber perks
- Video Playlists: Curated collections and watch later functionality
- Content Moderation: User-controlled muting and filtering options
New to ZapTok? Start here
Visit ZapTok.social and explore in read-only mode, or log in with:
- Nostr browser extension: Alby, nos2x, Amber (Android)
- Remote signer: nsec.app (recommended for mobile), Amber via bunker://
- Create new identity: nstart.me
For detailed setup instructions, visit the in-app FAQ.
How is ZapTok different from TikTok or YouTube?
ZapTok (Decentralized Nostr client)
- You own your account and data
- Zero client fees on earnings
- No algorithmic content manipulation
- Censorship-resistant
- Privacy-focused
- Works across all Nostr apps
- Open source code
Centralized Platforms
- Platform owns your account
- 30-50% platform fees
- Algorithm controls what you see
- Can ban or shadow-ban at will
- Data harvesting and tracking
- Walled garden (platform-locked)
- Proprietary code
Do I keep all my earnings?
Yes! Zaps are sent directly to YOUR Lightning or Cashu wallet address. ZapTok never holds your funds—payments go straight from the sender to your wallet in seconds. You control the keys, you control the money. There's no platform custody, no withdrawal requests, and no waiting periods. Just pure peer-to-peer payments with zero fees deducted.
Want to convert to on-chain Bitcoin? Use Boltz.exchange for non-custodial atomic swaps to your Bitcoin wallet, or custodial services like Strike or Bitcoin Well that handle the conversion for you.
Can my account be deleted or banned?
No. Your Nostr identity and social connections are yours forever. Because ZapTok is built on the decentralized Nostr protocol, no single company can delete your account, ban you, or remove your followers. Your identity is cryptographically secured by your private key.
Does my content work on other Nostr platforms?
Absolutely! Your videos, profile, and social connections work across all Nostr-compatible apps. Post on ZapTok, and your content is accessible through Amethyst, Damus, Primal, and hundreds of other Nostr clients. Build your audience once, reach them everywhere.
Can ZapTok be shut down?
ZapTok as a nostr client is part of a decentralized nostr ecosystem, so there's no single point of failure. Even if ZapTok.social went offline tomorrow, your content and social connections would remain accessible through other Nostr relays and clients. The network of relays ensures your data persists independently of any single service.
Is my viewing history private?
Yes. Your viewing history and preferences stay completely private by design. Unlike centralized platforms that track and sell your data, ZapTok doesn't collect or store your browsing behavior. You watch, you interact, you move on - no data harvesting.
Are there payment restrictions or chargebacks?
No restrictions or chargebacks! Lightning zaps are:
- Instant - Creators receive payments in seconds
- Global - No banking restrictions or geographic limitations
- Final - No chargebacks or payment reversals
- 24/7 - Get paid anytime from anyone, anywhere
Can I tip creators anonymously?
Zaps offer pseudo-anonymous payments. While Lightning transactions are publicly visible on the blockchain, they're not directly tied to your real-world identity. For even more privacy, use Cashu Nutzaps - our eCash integration that provides enhanced privacy for peer-to-peer payments.
Can content be censored or geo-blocked?
Content on Nostr is censorship-resistant. Because videos and data are distributed across multiple independent relays (not a single company's servers), content can't be easily censored or geo-blocked. If one relay removes content, it remains accessible through other relays.
Is the code open source?
Yes! ZapTok is fully open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. You can:
- Review the code for security and privacy
- Verify there are no backdoors or tracking
- Suggest improvements or contribute features
- Fork and run your own instance
Transparency builds trust.
What are relays and why do they matter?
Relays are servers that store and distribute Nostr events (posts, videos, profiles). Unlike centralized platforms with one company server, Nostr uses multiple independent relays:
- Redundancy - Your content lives on multiple relays
- Censorship resistance - If one relay removes content, others keep it
- User choice - You pick which relays to use
- No single point of failure - The network stays online even if relays go down
You can configure which relays to use in ZapTok's settings.
Do I need multiple accounts for different Nostr apps?
No! One Nostr identity works everywhere. Your same npub (Nostr public key) logs you into ZapTok, Damus, Amethyst, Primal, and every other Nostr app. Your followers, content, and settings follow you across the entire Nostr ecosystem.
For detailed information about account security, key management, and step-by-step setup instructions, visit the comprehensive in-app FAQ.
- Give us a follow on Nostr: ZapTok@zaptok.social & silentius@zaptok.social
- +Chorus community: chorus.community/zaptok
- Website: https://zaptok.social
Complete Nostr Ecosystem
Full NIP Implementation Status (Click to expand)
✅ Fully Implemented
Core Protocol
- NIP-01: Basic protocol flow description
- NIP-19: Bech32-encoded entities (npub, note, nevent, naddr, etc.)
Identity & Authentication
- NIP-02: Contact List and Petnames (follow system)
- NIP-05: DNS-based verification (Nostr addresses)
- NIP-07: Browser extension interface (Alby, nos2x, Amber)
- NIP-46: Nostr Connect (remote signers like nsec.app and Amber)
Content & Metadata
- NIP-10: Conventions for
eandptags (replies/mentions) - NIP-18: Reposts (sharing content)
- NIP-22: Comments (threaded discussions, backend complete)
- NIP-71: Video Events (short-form video format)
Payments
- NIP-47: Wallet Connect (Nostr Wallet Connect)
- NIP-57: Lightning Zaps (instant Bitcoin tips)
- NIP-60: Cashu Wallets (eCash integration)
- NIP-61: Nutzaps (private peer-to-peer eCash zaps)
Encryption & Security
- NIP-44: Encrypted Payloads (modern encryption standard)
Media & Storage
- NIP-94: File Metadata (Blossom upload integration)
- NIP-96: HTTP File Storage Integration (media servers)
Advanced Features
- NIP-50: Search Capability (profile search via npub/pubkey or local cache; advanced searchability not yet implemented)
- NIP-98: HTTP Auth (API authentication)
In Progress
- NIP-22: Comments UI (threaded display interface)
Planned for Implementation
- NIP-17: Private Direct Messages (encrypted DMs)
- NIP-23: Long-form Content (articles and blog posts)
- NIP-53: Live Activities (live streaming)
- NIP-75: Zap Goals (creator funding goals)
Research & Future Consideration
Platform Enhancements
- Video playlists and collections
- Video annotations & chapter timestamps
- Advanced creator analytics dashboard
- Content moderation tools and filters
Monetization Features
- Recurring payments/subscriptions
- Creator revenue splits
- Paywall integrations
- Supporter badges and perks
Technical Improvements
- Dedicated ZapTok relay integration (wss://relay.zaptok.social)
- Bandwidth optimization strategies
- Video quality adaptive streaming
- Cross-platform embedding
- Content licensing & rights management
This roadmap evolves based on:
- Community feedback and feature requests
- Nostr protocol development (NIPs)
- Cashu protocol development (NUTs)
- Bitcoin / Lightning Network improvements
- Creator and user needs
For developers interested in contributing to ZapTok:
- Contributing Guidelines - Development workflow, code standards, and contribution process
- Protocol Documentation - Nostr NIPs and Cashu NUTs specifications
- Open an Issue - Report bugs, request features, or ask questions
ZapTok is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 (AGPL-3.0-or-later).
Copyright (c) 2025 silentius-satoshi
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
For the complete license text, see the LICENSE file.
For third-party dependency attributions, see the NOTICE file.
Help us continue building and improving ZapTok. Your support enables us to maintain our developments, add new features, and keep the nostr community growing.
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Zap to show your support for ZapTok development: |
ZapTok stands on the shoulders of giants. We're deeply grateful to the open-source communities and visionary builders who made ZapTok and all of nostr, as a decentralized nostr ecosystem, possible:
- Amethyst (amethyst.social) - Nostr client for Android
- Coracle (coracle.social) - An experimental Nostr client focused on unlocking the full potential of multiple relays. Browse, filter, zap, and create custom feeds to create a curated Nostr experience
- Chorus (chorus.community) - Grow your community and gather support on the decentralized Nostr protocol with eCash
- Damus (damus.io) - iOS nostr client
- Jumble (jumble.social) - A user-friendly Nostr client focused on relay feed browsing and relay discovery
- Nostr Band (nostr.band) - Nostr profile viewer and search engine
- Plebs (plebs.app) - Plebs is a censorship-resistant, decentralized video platform powered by the Nostr social protocol
- Primal (primal.net) - Primal's iOS/web app for Nostr; as experienced on primal.net
- Snort (phoenix.social) - Feature packed nostr web UI, Mirror of https://git.v0l.io/Kieran/snort
- Yakihonne (yakihonne.com) - A decentralized social payment client on Nostr to support people in owning their voice and assets
- Zappix (Zappix.app) - A nostr image sharing application for browsing, sharing, and zapping visual content
- Zap.stream (Zap.stream) - Nostr live streaming
- nostr apps - A curated list of Nostr apps and services
- Zapstore (zapstore.dev) - The social permissionless app store
- Nostr Protocol - Collectively building the Nostr specification
- Bitcoin Connect (Alby/Bitcoin-Connect) - Connecting lightning wallets to your webapp has never been easier. Enable WebLN in all browsers with a single button
- Cashu Protocol (cashu.space) - Cashu is ecash for Bitcoin
- Blossom Protocol - Decentralized file storage solutions using nostr public / private keys
- Blossom-client-sdk - A simple client for managing blobs on blossom servers
- Nostr Logins - powerful window.nostr provider
- NoAuth (nsec.app) - Noauth Nostr key manager
- Amber - Amber is a nostr event signer for Android. It allows users to keep their nsec segregated in a single, dedicated app.
- MKStack (Gitlab) - Nostr client framework for web.
Built with ❤️ for our Nostr communities & the Open Source, Decentralized Web by @silentius