diff --git a/src/components/feed/NoteCard.tsx b/src/components/feed/NoteCard.tsx
index 66f6963..c1b5759 100644
--- a/src/components/feed/NoteCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/feed/NoteCard.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useUIStore } from "../../stores/ui";
 import { timeAgo, shortenPubkey } from "../../lib/utils";
 import { publishReaction, publishReply } from "../../lib/nostr";
 import { NoteContent } from "./NoteContent";
+import { ZapModal } from "../zap/ZapModal";
 
 interface NoteCardProps {
   event: NDKEvent;
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export function NoteCard({ event }: NoteCardProps) {
   const [replyError, setReplyError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [replySent, setReplySent] = useState(false);
   const replyRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
+  const [showZap, setShowZap] = useState(false);
 
   const handleLike = async () => {
     if (!loggedIn || liked || liking) return;
@@ -139,9 +141,23 @@ export function NoteCard({ event }: NoteCardProps) {
               >
                 {liked ? "♥" : "♡"}{reactionCount !== null && reactionCount > 0 ? ` ${reactionCount}` : liked ? " liked" : " like"}
               </button>
+              <button
+                onClick={() => setShowZap(true)}
+                className="text-[11px] text-text-dim hover:text-zap transition-colors"
+              >
+                ⚡ zap
+              </button>
             </div>
           )}
 
+          {showZap && (
+            <ZapModal
+              target={{ type: "note", event, recipientPubkey: event.pubkey }}
+              recipientName={name}
+              onClose={() => setShowZap(false)}
+            />
+          )}
+
           {/* Inline reply box */}
           {showReply && (
             <div className="mt-2 border-l-2 border-border pl-3">
diff --git a/src/components/profile/ProfileView.tsx b/src/components/profile/ProfileView.tsx
index 9acd639..bfdd2f4 100644
--- a/src/components/profile/ProfileView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/profile/ProfileView.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useProfile, invalidateProfileCache } from "../../hooks/useProfile";
 import { fetchUserNotes, publishProfile } from "../../lib/nostr";
 import { shortenPubkey } from "../../lib/utils";
 import { NoteCard } from "../feed/NoteCard";
+import { ZapModal } from "../zap/ZapModal";
 
 function EditProfileForm({ pubkey, onSaved }: { pubkey: string; onSaved: () => void }) {
   const { profile, fetchOwnProfile } = useUserStore();
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ export function ProfileView() {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [editing, setEditing] = useState(false);
   const [followPending, setFollowPending] = useState(false);
+  const [showZap, setShowZap] = useState(false);
 
   const isFollowing = follows.includes(pubkey);
 
@@ -161,17 +163,25 @@ export function ProfileView() {
           </button>
         )}
         {!isOwn && loggedIn && (
-          <button
-            onClick={handleFollowToggle}
-            disabled={followPending}
-            className={`text-[11px] px-3 py-1 border transition-colors disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed ${
-              isFollowing
-                ? "border-border text-text-muted hover:text-danger hover:border-danger/40"
-                : "border-accent/60 text-accent hover:bg-accent hover:text-white"
-            }`}
-          >
-            {followPending ? "…" : isFollowing ? "unfollow" : "follow"}
-          </button>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <button
+              onClick={() => setShowZap(true)}
+              className="text-[11px] px-3 py-1 border border-border text-zap hover:border-zap/40 hover:bg-zap/5 transition-colors"
+            >
+              ⚡ zap
+            </button>
+            <button
+              onClick={handleFollowToggle}
+              disabled={followPending}
+              className={`text-[11px] px-3 py-1 border transition-colors disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed ${
+                isFollowing
+                  ? "border-border text-text-muted hover:text-danger hover:border-danger/40"
+                  : "border-accent/60 text-accent hover:bg-accent hover:text-white"
+              }`}
+            >
+              {followPending ? "…" : isFollowing ? "unfollow" : "follow"}
+            </button>
+          </div>
         )}
       </header>
 
@@ -219,6 +229,14 @@ export function ProfileView() {
           </div>
         )}
 
+        {showZap && (
+          <ZapModal
+            target={{ type: "profile", pubkey }}
+            recipientName={name}
+            onClose={() => setShowZap(false)}
+          />
+        )}
+
         {/* Notes */}
         {loading && <div className="px-4 py-8 text-text-dim text-[12px] text-center">Loading notes…</div>}
         {!loading && notes.length === 0 && <div className="px-4 py-8 text-text-dim text-[12px] text-center">No notes found.</div>}
diff --git a/src/components/shared/SettingsView.tsx b/src/components/shared/SettingsView.tsx
index 7a99e7b..f341621 100644
--- a/src/components/shared/SettingsView.tsx
+++ b/src/components/shared/SettingsView.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { useState } from "react";
 import { useUserStore } from "../../stores/user";
+import { useLightningStore } from "../../stores/lightning";
+import { isValidNwcUri } from "../../lib/lightning/nwc";
 import { getNDK, getStoredRelayUrls, addRelay, removeRelay } from "../../lib/nostr";
 
 function RelayRow({ url, onRemove }: { url: string; onRemove: () => void }) {
@@ -121,6 +123,75 @@ function IdentitySection() {
   );
 }
 
+function WalletSection() {
+  const { nwcUri, setNwcUri, clearNwcUri } = useLightningStore();
+  const [input, setInput] = useState("");
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
+
+  const handleSave = () => {
+    const uri = input.trim();
+    if (!uri) return;
+    if (!isValidNwcUri(uri)) {
+      setError("Invalid NWC URI. Must start with nostr+walletconnect://");
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      setSaving(true);
+      setNwcUri(uri);
+      setInput("");
+      setError(null);
+    } catch (err) {
+      setError(String(err));
+    } finally {
+      setSaving(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <section>
+      <h2 className="text-text text-[11px] font-medium uppercase tracking-widest mb-2 text-text-dim">Lightning Wallet (NWC)</h2>
+      {nwcUri ? (
+        <div>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 border border-border mb-2">
+            <span className="text-zap text-[11px]">⚡</span>
+            <span className="text-text text-[12px] flex-1">Wallet connected</span>
+            <button
+              onClick={clearNwcUri}
+              className="text-[10px] text-text-dim hover:text-danger transition-colors shrink-0"
+            >
+              disconnect
+            </button>
+          </div>
+          <p className="text-text-dim text-[10px] px-1">Your NWC connection is active. You can zap notes and profiles.</p>
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <div>
+          <textarea
+            value={input}
+            onChange={(e) => { setInput(e.target.value); setError(null); }}
+            placeholder="nostr+walletconnect://…"
+            rows={3}
+            className="w-full bg-bg border border-border px-3 py-2 text-text text-[11px] font-mono resize-none focus:outline-none focus:border-accent/50 placeholder:text-text-dim mb-2"
+            style={{ WebkitUserSelect: "text", userSelect: "text" } as React.CSSProperties}
+          />
+          {error && <p className="text-danger text-[11px] mb-2">{error}</p>}
+          <button
+            onClick={handleSave}
+            disabled={!input.trim() || saving}
+            className="px-4 py-1.5 text-[11px] border border-border text-text-muted hover:text-accent hover:border-accent/40 transition-colors disabled:opacity-30 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+          >
+            connect wallet
+          </button>
+          <p className="text-text-dim text-[10px] mt-2 px-1">
+            Get an NWC connection string from Alby, Mutiny, or any NWC-compatible wallet.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </section>
+  );
+}
+
 export function SettingsView() {
   return (
     <div className="h-full flex flex-col">
@@ -129,6 +200,7 @@ export function SettingsView() {
       </header>
 
       <div className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto p-4 space-y-8">
+        <WalletSection />
         <RelaySection />
         <IdentitySection />
       </div>
diff --git a/src/components/zap/ZapModal.tsx b/src/components/zap/ZapModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e44a25d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/zap/ZapModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+import { useState } from "react";
+import { useLightningStore, ZapTargetSpec } from "../../stores/lightning";
+import { useUIStore } from "../../stores/ui";
+
+const AMOUNT_PRESETS = [21, 100, 500, 1000, 5000];
+
+type ZapState = "idle" | "paying" | "success" | "error";
+
+interface ZapModalProps {
+  target: ZapTargetSpec;
+  recipientName: string;
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+export function ZapModal({ target, recipientName, onClose }: ZapModalProps) {
+  const { nwcUri, zap } = useLightningStore();
+  const { setView } = useUIStore();
+  const [amountSats, setAmountSats] = useState(21);
+  const [customAmount, setCustomAmount] = useState("");
+  const [useCustom, setUseCustom] = useState(false);
+  const [comment, setComment] = useState("");
+  const [state, setState] = useState<ZapState>("idle");
+  const [errorMsg, setErrorMsg] = useState("");
+
+  const effectiveAmount = useCustom ? (parseInt(customAmount) || 0) : amountSats;
+
+  const handleZap = async () => {
+    if (effectiveAmount <= 0) return;
+    setState("paying");
+    setErrorMsg("");
+    try {
+      await zap(target, effectiveAmount, comment.trim() || undefined);
+      setState("success");
+      setTimeout(onClose, 1500);
+    } catch (err) {
+      setState("error");
+      setErrorMsg(err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err));
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleBackdrop = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onClose();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="fixed inset-0 bg-black/60 flex items-center justify-center z-50"
+      onClick={handleBackdrop}
+    >
+      <div className="bg-bg border border-border w-80 shadow-2xl">
+        {/* Header */}
+        <div className="border-b border-border px-4 py-3 flex items-center justify-between">
+          <div>
+            <div className="text-text text-[13px] font-medium">⚡ Zap {recipientName}</div>
+            {!nwcUri && <div className="text-danger text-[10px] mt-0.5">No wallet connected</div>}
+          </div>
+          <button onClick={onClose} className="text-text-dim hover:text-text text-[11px] transition-colors">✕</button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* No wallet state */}
+        {!nwcUri && (
+          <div className="px-4 py-5 text-center">
+            <p className="text-text-dim text-[12px] mb-3">
+              Connect a Lightning wallet using a Nostr Wallet Connect (NWC) URI to send zaps.
+            </p>
+            <button
+              onClick={() => { onClose(); setView("settings"); }}
+              className="px-4 py-1.5 text-[11px] border border-accent/60 text-accent hover:bg-accent hover:text-white transition-colors"
+            >
+              go to settings →
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Zap form */}
+        {nwcUri && state === "idle" && (
+          <div className="px-4 py-4 space-y-4">
+            {/* Amount presets */}
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-text-dim text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest mb-2">Amount (sats)</div>
+              <div className="grid grid-cols-5 gap-1.5 mb-2">
+                {AMOUNT_PRESETS.map((amt) => (
+                  <button
+                    key={amt}
+                    onClick={() => { setAmountSats(amt); setUseCustom(false); }}
+                    className={`py-1.5 text-[11px] border transition-colors ${
+                      !useCustom && amountSats === amt
+                        ? "border-accent bg-accent/10 text-accent"
+                        : "border-border text-text-muted hover:border-accent/40 hover:text-text"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    {amt}
+                  </button>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+              <input
+                value={customAmount}
+                onChange={(e) => { setCustomAmount(e.target.value.replace(/\D/g, "")); setUseCustom(true); }}
+                onFocus={() => setUseCustom(true)}
+                placeholder="custom amount…"
+                className={`w-full bg-bg border px-3 py-1.5 text-text text-[12px] focus:outline-none transition-colors ${
+                  useCustom ? "border-accent/60" : "border-border"
+                }`}
+              />
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Comment */}
+            <div>
+              <div className="text-text-dim text-[10px] uppercase tracking-widest mb-2">Comment (optional)</div>
+              <input
+                value={comment}
+                onChange={(e) => setComment(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="Great post!"
+                maxLength={140}
+                className="w-full bg-bg border border-border px-3 py-1.5 text-text text-[12px] focus:outline-none focus:border-accent/50"
+              />
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Zap button */}
+            <button
+              onClick={handleZap}
+              disabled={effectiveAmount <= 0}
+              className="w-full py-2 text-[12px] font-medium bg-zap hover:bg-zap/90 text-white transition-colors disabled:opacity-30 disabled:cursor-not-allowed"
+            >
+              ⚡ Zap {effectiveAmount > 0 ? `${effectiveAmount} sats` : ""}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Paying state */}
+        {nwcUri && state === "paying" && (
+          <div className="px-4 py-8 text-center">
+            <div className="text-zap text-2xl mb-2">⚡</div>
+            <p className="text-text-dim text-[12px]">Sending {effectiveAmount} sats…</p>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Success state */}
+        {state === "success" && (
+          <div className="px-4 py-8 text-center">
+            <div className="text-zap text-2xl mb-2">⚡</div>
+            <p className="text-text text-[13px] font-medium">Zapped!</p>
+            <p className="text-text-dim text-[11px] mt-1">{effectiveAmount} sats sent to {recipientName}</p>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Error state */}
+        {state === "error" && (
+          <div className="px-4 py-5 space-y-3">
+            <p className="text-danger text-[12px]">{errorMsg}</p>
+            <button
+              onClick={() => setState("idle")}
+              className="w-full py-1.5 text-[11px] border border-border text-text-muted hover:text-text transition-colors"
+            >
+              try again
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/lightning/nwc.ts b/src/lib/lightning/nwc.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..409ac90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/lightning/nwc.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+import NDK, { NDKEvent, NDKFilter, NDKKind, NDKPrivateKeySigner } from "@nostr-dev-kit/ndk";
+
+interface NwcConnection {
+  walletPubkey: string;
+  relayUrl: string;
+  secret: string;
+}
+
+export function parseNwcUri(uri: string): NwcConnection {
+  const cleaned = uri.replace("nostr+walletconnect://", "https://");
+  const url = new URL(cleaned);
+  const walletPubkey = url.hostname;
+  const relayUrl = url.searchParams.get("relay");
+  const secret = url.searchParams.get("secret");
+
+  if (!walletPubkey || !relayUrl || !secret) {
+    throw new Error("Invalid NWC URI: missing pubkey, relay, or secret");
+  }
+
+  return { walletPubkey, relayUrl, secret };
+}
+
+export function isValidNwcUri(uri: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    parseNwcUri(uri);
+    return uri.startsWith("nostr+walletconnect://");
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export async function payInvoiceViaNWC(nwcUri: string, bolt11: string): Promise<string> {
+  const { walletPubkey, relayUrl, secret } = parseNwcUri(nwcUri);
+
+  const ndk = new NDK({ explicitRelayUrls: [relayUrl] });
+  const signer = new NDKPrivateKeySigner(secret);
+  ndk.signer = signer;
+  await ndk.connect();
+
+  // Wait briefly for relay connection
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+    const check = () => {
+      const relays = Array.from(ndk.pool?.relays?.values() ?? []);
+      if (relays.some((r) => r.connected)) resolve();
+      else setTimeout(check, 200);
+    };
+    setTimeout(() => resolve(), 8000); // timeout fallback
+    check();
+  });
+
+  const walletUser = ndk.getUser({ pubkey: walletPubkey });
+  const requestContent = JSON.stringify({
+    method: "pay_invoice",
+    params: { invoice: bolt11 },
+  });
+
+  const encrypted = await signer.encrypt(walletUser, requestContent, "nip04");
+
+  const requestEvent = new NDKEvent(ndk);
+  requestEvent.kind = NDKKind.NostrWalletConnectReq;
+  requestEvent.content = encrypted;
+  requestEvent.tags = [["p", walletPubkey]];
+  await requestEvent.sign();
+
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      sub.stop();
+      reject(new Error("NWC payment timed out (30s)"));
+    }, 30000);
+
+    const filter: NDKFilter = {
+      kinds: [NDKKind.NostrWalletConnectRes],
+      authors: [walletPubkey],
+      "#e": [requestEvent.id!],
+    };
+
+    const sub = ndk.subscribe(filter, { closeOnEose: false });
+
+    sub.on("event", async (event: NDKEvent) => {
+      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      sub.stop();
+      try {
+        const decrypted = await signer.decrypt(walletUser, event.content, "nip04");
+        const response = JSON.parse(decrypted);
+        if (response.error) {
+          reject(new Error(response.error.message || "NWC payment failed"));
+        } else {
+          resolve(response.result?.preimage ?? "");
+        }
+      } catch (err) {
+        reject(err);
+      }
+    });
+
+    requestEvent.publish();
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/stores/lightning.ts b/src/stores/lightning.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c5f813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stores/lightning.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import { create } from "zustand";
+import { NDKEvent, NDKUser, NDKZapper, LnPayCb } from "@nostr-dev-kit/ndk";
+import { getNDK } from "../lib/nostr";
+import { payInvoiceViaNWC, isValidNwcUri } from "../lib/lightning/nwc";
+
+const NWC_STORAGE_KEY = "wrystr_nwc_uri";
+
+interface ZapTarget {
+  type: "note";
+  event: NDKEvent;
+  recipientPubkey: string;
+  recipientLud16?: string;
+}
+
+interface ZapProfileTarget {
+  type: "profile";
+  pubkey: string;
+  lud16?: string;
+}
+
+export type ZapTargetSpec = ZapTarget | ZapProfileTarget;
+
+interface LightningState {
+  nwcUri: string | null;
+  setNwcUri: (uri: string) => void;
+  clearNwcUri: () => void;
+  zap: (target: ZapTargetSpec, amountSats: number, comment?: string) => Promise<void>;
+}
+
+export const useLightningStore = create<LightningState>(() => ({
+  nwcUri: localStorage.getItem(NWC_STORAGE_KEY),
+
+  setNwcUri: (uri: string) => {
+    if (!isValidNwcUri(uri)) throw new Error("Invalid NWC URI");
+    localStorage.setItem(NWC_STORAGE_KEY, uri);
+    useLightningStore.setState({ nwcUri: uri });
+  },
+
+  clearNwcUri: () => {
+    localStorage.removeItem(NWC_STORAGE_KEY);
+    useLightningStore.setState({ nwcUri: null });
+  },
+
+  zap: async (targetSpec: ZapTargetSpec, amountSats: number, comment?: string) => {
+    const { nwcUri } = useLightningStore.getState();
+    if (!nwcUri) throw new Error("No wallet connected. Add an NWC connection in Settings.");
+
+    const ndk = getNDK();
+    if (!ndk.signer) throw new Error("Not logged in");
+
+    let target: NDKEvent | NDKUser;
+    if (targetSpec.type === "note") {
+      target = targetSpec.event;
+    } else {
+      target = ndk.getUser({ pubkey: targetSpec.pubkey });
+    }
+
+    const lnPay: LnPayCb = async ({ pr }) => {
+      const preimage = await payInvoiceViaNWC(nwcUri, pr);
+      return { preimage };
+    };
+
+    const zapper = new NDKZapper(target, amountSats * 1000, "msat", {
+      comment,
+      lnPay,
+      ndk,
+    });
+
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      zapper.on("complete", (results) => {
+        const errors = Array.from(results.values()).filter((r) => r instanceof Error);
+        if (errors.length > 0) {
+          reject(errors[0]);
+        } else {
+          resolve();
+        }
+      });
+
+      zapper.zap().catch(reject);
+    });
+  },
+}));