diff --git a/service/start.go b/service/start.go
index 8c9786a..4b992c7 100644
--- a/service/start.go
+++ b/service/start.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
-	"path"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
@@ -349,63 +348,12 @@ func (svc *service) launchLNBackend(ctx context.Context, encryptionKey string) e
 	logger.Logger.Infof("Launching LN Backend: %s", lnBackend)
 	var lnClient lnclient.LNClient
 	var err error
-	vssEnabled := false
 	switch lnBackend {
 	case config.LNDBackendType:
 		LNDAddress, _ := svc.cfg.Get("LNDAddress", encryptionKey)
 		LNDCertHex, _ := svc.cfg.Get("LNDCertHex", encryptionKey)
 		LNDMacaroonHex, _ := svc.cfg.Get("LNDMacaroonHex", encryptionKey)
 		lnClient, err = lnd.NewLNDService(ctx, svc.eventPublisher, LNDAddress, LNDCertHex, LNDMacaroonHex)
-	case config.LDKBackendType:
-		mnemonic, _ := svc.cfg.Get("Mnemonic", encryptionKey)
-		ldkWorkdir := path.Join(svc.cfg.GetEnv().Workdir, "ldk")
-		var vssToken string
-		vssToken, err = svc.requestVssToken(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to request VSS token")
-			return err
-		}
-		vssEnabled = vssToken != ""
-
-		svc.startupState = "Launching Node"
-		setStartupState := func(startupState string) {
-			svc.startupState = startupState
-		}
-
-		channelPeerSuggestions, suggestionsErr := svc.albySvc.GetChannelPeerSuggestions(ctx)
-		if suggestionsErr != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(suggestionsErr).Warn("Failed to fetch channel peer suggestions for LSPS2 liquidity source")
-		}
-		lnClient, err = ldk.NewLDKService(ctx, svc.cfg, svc.eventPublisher, mnemonic, ldkWorkdir, vssToken, setStartupState, channelPeerSuggestions)
-	case config.PhoenixBackendType:
-		PhoenixdAddress, _ := svc.cfg.Get("PhoenixdAddress", encryptionKey)
-		PhoenixdAuthorization, _ := svc.cfg.Get("PhoenixdAuthorization", encryptionKey)
-
-		lnClient, err = phoenixd.NewPhoenixService(ctx, PhoenixdAddress, PhoenixdAuthorization)
-	case config.CashuBackendType:
-		mnemonic, _ := svc.cfg.Get("Mnemonic", encryptionKey)
-		cashuMintUrl, _ := svc.cfg.Get("CashuMintUrl", encryptionKey)
-		cashuWorkdir := path.Join(svc.cfg.GetEnv().Workdir, "cashu")
-
-		lnClient, err = cashu.NewCashuService(svc.cfg, cashuWorkdir, mnemonic, cashuMintUrl)
-	case config.BarkBackendType:
-		mnemonic, _ := svc.cfg.Get("Mnemonic", encryptionKey)
-		env := svc.cfg.GetEnv()
-		barkWorkdir := path.Join(env.Workdir, "bark")
-
-		lnClient, err = bark.NewBarkService(ctx, svc.eventPublisher, barkWorkdir, mnemonic, bark.Config{
-			Network:           svc.cfg.GetNetwork(),
-			ServerAddress:     env.BarkServer,
-			EsploraAddress:    env.BarkEsploraServer,
-			ServerAccessToken: env.BarkServerAccessToken,
-			LogLevel:          env.BarkLogLevel,
-			LogToFile:         env.LogToFile,
-		})
-	case config.CLNBackendType:
-		CLNAddress, _ := svc.cfg.Get("CLNAddress", encryptionKey)
-		CLNLightningDir, _ := svc.cfg.Get("CLNLightningDir", encryptionKey)
-		CLNAddressHold, _ := svc.cfg.Get("CLNAddressHold", encryptionKey)
-		lnClient, err = cln.NewCLNService(ctx, svc.eventPublisher, CLNAddress, CLNLightningDir, CLNAddressHold)
 	default:
 		logger.Logger.WithField("backend_type", lnBackend).Error("Unsupported LNBackendType")
 		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported backend type: %s", lnBackend)
@@ -439,63 +387,9 @@ func (svc *service) launchLNBackend(ctx context.Context, encryptionKey string) e
 	svc.eventPublisher.Publish(&events.Event{
 		Event: "nwc_node_started",
 		Properties: map[string]interface{}{
-			"node_type":   lnBackend,
-			"vss_enabled": vssEnabled,
+			"node_type": lnBackend,
 		},
 	})
 
 	return nil
 }
-
-func (svc *service) requestVssToken(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
-	nodeLastStartTime, _ := svc.cfg.Get("NodeLastStartTime", "")
-
-	// for brand new nodes, consider enabling VSS
-	if nodeLastStartTime == "" && svc.cfg.GetEnv().LDKVssUrl != "" {
-		svc.startupState = "Checking Subscription"
-		albyUserIdentifier, err := svc.albyOAuthSvc.GetUserIdentifier()
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to fetch alby user identifier")
-			return "", err
-		}
-		if albyUserIdentifier != "" {
-			me, err := svc.albyOAuthSvc.GetMe(ctx)
-			if err != nil {
-				logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to fetch alby user")
-				return "", err
-			}
-			// only activate VSS for Alby paid subscribers
-			if me.Subscription.PlanCode != "" {
-				svc.cfg.SetUpdate("LdkVssEnabled", "true", "")
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	vssToken := ""
-	vssEnabled, _ := svc.cfg.Get("LdkVssEnabled", "")
-	if vssEnabled == "true" {
-		svc.startupState = "Fetching VSS token"
-		vssNodeIdentifier, err := ldk.GetVssNodeIdentifier(svc.keys)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to get VSS node identifier")
-			return "", err
-		}
-		vssToken, err = svc.albyOAuthSvc.GetVssAuthToken(ctx, vssNodeIdentifier)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to fetch VSS JWT token")
-
-			existingVssToken, _ := svc.cfg.Get("VssToken", "")
-			if existingVssToken != "" {
-				logger.Logger.Warn("Using stored VSS JWT token")
-				return existingVssToken, nil
-			}
-
-			return "", err
-		}
-		err = svc.cfg.SetUpdate("VssToken", vssToken, "")
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to save VSS JWT token to user config")
-		}
-	}
-	return vssToken, nil
-}