Your personal server
Regain control of your data with your personal server and Bitcoin Lightning node in your home.
Get started100% transparent
Our code and our finances, completely public
At Citadel, we value transparency. Every part of our code, every cent and satoshi we receive and spend, everything we build and everything else we do is completely transparent.
Have a look at our code or view our finances.
Bitcoin is an ecosystem built on a foundation of free and open source software and ideas. Progress in Bitcoin is made as we build on each other's work. Bitcoin users must have full freedom over the hardware and software infrastructure they use – freedom to fork, freedom to change, freedom to run the programs they want without any intermediaries.
Unlimited possibilities
With our app store, you can run literally anything on your node.
Not only does Citadel include a large selection of apps already available, anyone from the community can build their own app store and you can install it. This even includes app stores built for Umbrel*!
*Unlike Umbrel's app system, Citadel's app system is secure and implements a permission system that not all Umbrel apps support.
A modern Umbrel alternative
100% transparent and a lot more up-to-date
Citadel started out as a modified version of Umbrel. Our goal was to keep the original idea of Bitcoin: Build in the open. Unlike Umbrel, we always stay transparent with what we do.
We also ensure all of our apps are up to date. On Umbrel a lot of apps are outdated. On Citadel, app updates are made available almost as soon as the apps get new releases.
We also focus on security. Citadel's app system is built on a solid foundation malicious apps can't easily bypass, providing protections Umbrel does not offer.
Umbrels current license does not allow forks for commercial purposes, or completely prohibits modifying some parts of the code. Citadel fixes this and puts you back in control of your node.
Upgrade to Citadel
Join our waitlist to get notified when you can upgrade your node
We're planning to make it possible to switch from Umbrel to Citadel. Join our waitlist to get notified when you can upgrade your node.
Secure & fast by default
We offer a fully secure HTTPS experience for the local network
With our one-click HTTPS setup, you can encrypt all your nodes traffic in the local network and for remote access. If you have a public IP, you can also expose any services on your node publicly and get one-click HTTPS configuration. This feature also speeds up your node by enabling HTTP/2 and HTTP/3.
This feature is powered by Let's Encrypt and runningcitadel.com.
Easy to use
With a simple user interface, we make it easy to use your node.
Get started
Build your own, or purchase a prebuilt node.
There are multiple ways to build your own Citadel. We've also partnered with DTV Electronics to offer prebuilt nodes you can just plug in and use immediately.
Raspberry Pi 4
The most popular setup
This is simple to configure, and used by most members of the community.
Estimated cost: $200
Requirements:
- Raspberry Pi 4
- microSD Card
- 1TB SATA SSD
- USB to SATA adapter
- Power Supply
- Case
Basic CM4 setup
More advanced and stable setup
This is a bit harder to configure, but will be faster and less likely to cause issues in the future.
Estimated cost: $230
Requirements:
- Raspberry Pi CM4 Lite
- microSD Card
- 1TB NVME SSD
- CM4 IO Board
- M.2 to PCIe Adapter
Advanced CM4 setup
Even more advanced and stable setup
This is harder to configure, but will be faster and also work during power outages. It also supports PoE.
Estimated cost: $270
Requirements:
- Raspberry Pi CM4 Lite
- microSD Card
- 1TB NVME SSD
- CM4 PoE board kit (Make sure to choose the correct plug)
- parallel 18650 Li-ion battery
BitPiRat
The easiest way
Prebuilt nodes from DTV Electronics make setting up your node even easier.
Estimated cost: $300-350
Requirements:
Join the waitlist
Get early access to Citadel
Citadel is currently in an invite-only beta. Join our waitlist to get early access!