diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 987c6ca6..ccf18ed5 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -97,3 +97,7 @@ ECLAIR_PASS=eclairpw
 # Enter /api in LightningTipBot to get your key
 LNTIPS_API_KEY=LNTIPS_ADMIN_KEY
 LNTIPS_API_ENDPOINT=https://ln.tips
+
+# Cashu Mint
+# Use a long-enough random (!) private key
+CASHU_PRIVATE_KEY="SuperSecretPrivateKey"
diff --git a/lnbits/extensions/cashu/__init__.py b/lnbits/extensions/cashu/__init__.py
index 7944e658..5d5fe131 100644
--- a/lnbits/extensions/cashu/__init__.py
+++ b/lnbits/extensions/cashu/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 
+from environs import Env  # type: ignore
 from fastapi import APIRouter
 from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
 
@@ -20,11 +21,13 @@ cashu_static_files = [
 ]
 from cashu.mint.ledger import Ledger
 
+env = Env()
+env.read_env()
+
 ledger = Ledger(
     db=db,
-    # seed=MINT_PRIVATE_KEY,
-    seed="asd",
-    derivation_path="0/0/0/1",
+    seed=env.str("CASHU_PRIVATE_KEY", default="SuperSecretPrivateKey"),
+    derivation_path="0/0/0/0",
 )
 
 cashu_ext: APIRouter = APIRouter(prefix="/cashu", tags=["cashu"])