diff --git a/packages/payments/README.md b/packages/payments/README.md
index 5a0e360..f85a043 100644
--- a/packages/payments/README.md
+++ b/packages/payments/README.md
@@ -159,14 +159,23 @@ await payments.wallets.delete(id);
 
 ### Transactions
 
+#### Receiving
+
+`transactions.createReceive` generates a Lightning invoice for a wallet. Unlike
+sending, the backend mints the invoice on the node itself — no team password or
+node macaroon needed, and it works the same for sandbox and live wallets.
+
 ```ts
-await payments.transactions.createReceive({
-  wallet_id,
-  amount,
-  idempotency_key,
-  description?,
-  expires_in?,
+const transaction = await payments.transactions.createReceive({
+  wallet_id: walletId,
+  amount: '1000', // in the wallet asset's base unit (sats for BTC)
+  description: 'Order #1234', // optional
+  expires_in_seconds: 3600, // optional
+  idempotency_key, // optional
 });
+
+transaction.payment_request; // the BOLT11 invoice to share with the payer
+transaction.payment_hash;
 ```
 
 #### Sending
diff --git a/packages/payments/examples/.env.example b/packages/payments/examples/.env.example
index a55ea9d..b7e2228 100644
--- a/packages/payments/examples/.env.example
+++ b/packages/payments/examples/.env.example
@@ -33,3 +33,9 @@ AMBOSS_API_KEY=
 # FEE_LIMIT_SATS=10
 # IDEMPOTENCY_KEY=
 # TIMEOUT_SECONDS=60
+
+# --- Receive (examples/receive.ts) ----------------------------------------
+# Reuses WALLET_ID above. Leave WALLET_ID unset to just list wallets.
+# Amount to invoice, in the wallet asset's base unit (sats for BTC). Default 1000.
+# RECEIVE_AMOUNT_SATS=1000
+# RECEIVE_DESCRIPTION=
diff --git a/packages/payments/examples/README.md b/packages/payments/examples/README.md
index a34403e..716fd44 100644
--- a/packages/payments/examples/README.md
+++ b/packages/payments/examples/README.md
@@ -46,3 +46,18 @@ Destinations (set one):
 
 The team password is used only to decrypt the node admin macaroon locally; it is
 never sent to the API. See `.env.example` for every supported variable.
+
+### `receive.ts` — discovery + mint an invoice
+
+1. **If** `WALLET_ID` is unset, lists your environments and wallets so you can
+   grab one.
+2. **If** `WALLET_ID` is set, mints a Lightning invoice via
+   `payments.transactions.createReceive` and prints the BOLT11 `payment_request`.
+
+Receiving needs no team password or macaroon and works the same for sandbox and
+live wallets. Set `RECEIVE_AMOUNT_SATS` (default `1000`) and optionally
+`RECEIVE_DESCRIPTION`.
+
+```bash
+node --env-file=examples/.env examples/receive.ts
+```
diff --git a/packages/payments/examples/receive.ts b/packages/payments/examples/receive.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abf0df4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/payments/examples/receive.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/**
+ * Manual smoke test for the @ambosstech/payments SDK receive flow.
+ *
+ * Run from packages/payments (Node 24 runs .ts directly):
+ *   node --env-file=examples/.env examples/receive.ts
+ * or with tsx:
+ *   pnpm exec tsx --env-file=examples/.env examples/receive.ts
+ *
+ * Behaviour:
+ *  1. If WALLET_ID is unset, lists your environments + wallets so you can grab one.
+ *  2. If WALLET_ID is set, mints a Lightning invoice via transactions.createReceive
+ *     and prints the BOLT11 payment_request to pay.
+ *
+ * Unlike sending, receiving needs no team password or macaroon — the backend
+ * mints the invoice on the node. Works the same for sandbox and live wallets.
+ *
+ * Copy examples/.env.example -> examples/.env and fill it in. Do NOT commit .env.
+ */
+import { Payments, ApiError } from '@ambosstech/payments';
+
+function required(name: string): string {
+  const value = process.env[name];
+  if (!value) {
+    console.error(`Missing required env var: ${name}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
+async function main(): Promise<void> {
+  const serviceApiKey = required('AMBOSS_API_KEY'); // the scoped payments service key (amb_live...)
+  const baseUrl = process.env.AMBOSS_BASE_URL; // optional; defaults to https://rails.amboss.tech/graphql
+
+  const payments = new Payments({ serviceApiKey, ...(baseUrl ? { baseUrl } : {}) });
+
+  const walletId = process.env.WALLET_ID;
+
+  // No wallet chosen yet — list environments + wallets so you can pick one.
+  if (!walletId) {
+    console.log('--- environments & wallets ---');
+    const environments = await payments.environments.list();
+    if (environments.length === 0) {
+      console.log('(no environments found for this API key)');
+    }
+    for (const environment of environments) {
+      console.log('environment:', JSON.stringify(environment));
+      const wallets = await payments.wallets.list({ environmentId: environment.id });
+      for (const wallet of wallets) {
+        console.log('  wallet:', JSON.stringify(wallet));
+      }
+    }
+    console.log('\nSet WALLET_ID (and optionally RECEIVE_AMOUNT_SATS) to mint an invoice.');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const amount = process.env.RECEIVE_AMOUNT_SATS ?? '1000'; // base unit (sats for BTC)
+  const description = process.env.RECEIVE_DESCRIPTION;
+
+  console.log('\n--- creating receive invoice ---');
+  console.log('walletId:', walletId, '| amount:', amount);
+
+  try {
+    const transaction = await payments.transactions.createReceive({
+      wallet_id: walletId,
+      amount,
+      ...(description ? { description } : {}),
+    });
+    console.log('\n✅ invoice created');
+    console.log('payment_request:', transaction.payment_request);
+    console.log('payment_hash:', transaction.payment_hash);
+    console.log('transaction:', JSON.stringify(transaction, null, 2));
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error instanceof ApiError) {
+      console.error('\n❌ API error:', error.status, error.message, error.graphqlErrors);
+    } else {
+      console.error('\n❌ unexpected error:', error);
+    }
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  console.error(error);
+  process.exit(1);
+});