diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f855e77..fed1651 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ import "websocket-polyfill";
 // or: require('websocket-polyfill');
 ```
 
-if you get an `crypto is not defined` error you have to import it first:
+if you get an `crypto is not defined` error, either upgrade to node.js 20 or above, or import it manually:
 
 ```js
 import * as crypto from 'crypto'; // or 'node:crypto'
diff --git a/examples/crypto-polyfill.js b/examples/crypto-polyfill.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..825491a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/crypto-polyfill.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js < 20
+if (!global.crypto) {
+  global.crypto = crypto;
+}
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/get-balance.js b/examples/nwc/client/get-balance.js
index 9bcbacc..7d70c0c 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/get-balance.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/get-balance.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/get-info.js b/examples/nwc/client/get-info.js
index f901e16..2a5aced 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/get-info.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/get-info.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-info.js b/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-info.js
index 15a20ad..bb5dc2f 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-info.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-info.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-supported-methods.js b/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-supported-methods.js
index f724272..de03b85 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-supported-methods.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/get-wallet-service-supported-methods.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/list-transactions.js b/examples/nwc/client/list-transactions.js
index e173e16..da2a140 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/list-transactions.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/list-transactions.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/lookup-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/client/lookup-invoice.js
index 5b5f9e5..40d1529 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/lookup-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/lookup-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/make-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/client/make-invoice.js
index 923de1b..6b9d520 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/make-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/make-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-invoice.js
index c6e6e8a..a0c4805 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import { LightningAddress } from "@getalby/lightning-tools";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-keysend.js b/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-keysend.js
index 75907de..cffaffd 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-keysend.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/multi-pay-keysend.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/pay-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/client/pay-invoice.js
index 147b0cd..cabfdb9 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/pay-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/pay-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/pay-keysend.js b/examples/nwc/client/pay-keysend.js
index f2b52f2..af8d249 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/pay-keysend.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/pay-keysend.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/sign-message.js b/examples/nwc/client/sign-message.js
index 06138b3..e4566e3 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/sign-message.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/sign-message.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/client/subscribe.js b/examples/nwc/client/subscribe.js
index 588962f..20b970b 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/client/subscribe.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/client/subscribe.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/get-balance.js b/examples/nwc/get-balance.js
index 1e77cd3..0f25caa 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/get-balance.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/get-balance.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/get-info.js b/examples/nwc/get-info.js
index 3e49b7e..1daffda 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/get-info.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/get-info.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/keysend.js b/examples/nwc/keysend.js
index 9dfe6ef..2317af6 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/keysend.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/keysend.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/list-transactions.js b/examples/nwc/list-transactions.js
index 7f1e911..0118502 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/list-transactions.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/list-transactions.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/lookup-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/lookup-invoice.js
index dfe7ff7..2f4209e 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/lookup-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/lookup-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/make-invoice.js b/examples/nwc/make-invoice.js
index e147cac..1d914d6 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/make-invoice.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/make-invoice.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/multi-keysend.js b/examples/nwc/multi-keysend.js
index ab27a9e..78d0581 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/multi-keysend.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/multi-keysend.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/send-multi-payment.js b/examples/nwc/send-multi-payment.js
index a02bf5c..1138871 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/send-multi-payment.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/send-multi-payment.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import { LightningAddress } from "@getalby/lightning-tools";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/send-payment.js b/examples/nwc/send-payment.js
index bc1c425..bc203c3 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/send-payment.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/send-payment.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";
diff --git a/examples/nwc/sign-message.js b/examples/nwc/sign-message.js
index bea8631..5eb2441 100644
--- a/examples/nwc/sign-message.js
+++ b/examples/nwc/sign-message.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import * as crypto from "node:crypto"; // required in node.js
-global.crypto = crypto; // required in node.js
+import "../crypto-polyfill.js";
 import "websocket-polyfill"; // required in node.js
 
 import * as readline from "node:readline/promises";