# Open your first channel

In order to send and receive bitcoin payments over the lightning network, you have to connect your Alby Hub to the lightning network by opening a lightning channel. It is easy and super exciting to take control over your bitcoin payments.

{% embed url="<https://demos.getalby.com/demo/clz2zpzys3dozz9kdr9ctnxq3>" %}
Open your first lightning payment channel
{% endembed %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Congrats for opening a lightning payment channel. Your Hub is now connected to the lightning network and you are ready to send and receive bitcoin lightning-fast at low cost.
{% endhint %}

### Top up your spending balance now

#### From another bitcoin lightning wallet:

{% content-ref url="receive" %}
[receive](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-hub/wallet/receive)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### From an exchange service

{% content-ref url="buy-bitcoin" %}
[buy-bitcoin](https://guides.getalby.com/user-guide/alby-hub/wallet/buy-bitcoin)
{% endcontent-ref %}