What are the Zcash hidden Server .Onion nodes to add in 2020?

Technical Support
1

Hello! I wish to download the blockchain for zcash using zcashd through tor. I am following the instructions here Tor Support in Zcash — Zcash Documentation 5.2.0 documentation

In my zcash.conf, if I use proxy=127.0.0.1:9050, then when i run “zcash-cli getpeerinfo” it will say

addr":163.111.222.333:8233"
¨addrlocal: 103.203.111.123:64999"

From what I understand, it is safer and more anonymous if i connect to a .onion address. So in my zcash.conf, when I try “onion=127.0.0.1:9050”, and run “zcash-cli getpeerinfo” it will not mention any addrlocal. And it will show:

“addr”: “zcashiqykswlzpsu.onion”
“synced_headers”: 231457,
“synced_blocks”: -1,
“inflight”: [
],

However, here is the problem. Downloading blocks on zcashd stalls, so it doesnt make any progress.

I tried adding specific nodes to my zcash.conf.

addnode=zcashiqykswlzpsu.onion
addnode=zcashqhrmju6zfhn.onion
addnode=zcashgmvxwrmjsut.onion
addnode=zcashz3uma65ix7b.onion
addnode=zcashiyf4kxluf3x.onion
addnode=zcashwfe4x3jkz2b.onion
addnode=zcashvkeki52iqpc.onion
addnode=zcasha3cmfrpy7b7.onion
addnode=zcashz7ed3nvbdxm.onion
addnode=zcash5adwfpxfuvf.onion
addnode=zcashixg5ol2ndo4.onion
addnode=zcashuzwa365oh3n.onion
addnode=zcashskbeoiwtym3.onion
addnode=zcashuyvk5e7qfzy.onion
addnode=fhsxfrwpyrtoxeal.onion
addnode=zcash2iihed2wdux.onion
addnode=w3dxku36wbp3lowx.onion

These are nodes i found on a zcash forum but it was from 2016.

So the question is, what are the reliable Zcash hidden servers where one can download the blockchain and use zcashd reliably fast?

thanks,

3 Likes
2

I haven’t checked if there is overlap but here is the list from the Zec wallet docs. Likely outdated too but better than 2016…

addnode=zcmaintvsivr7pcn.onion
addnode=zcashiqykswlzpsu.onion
addnode=zcashqhrmju6zfhn.onion
addnode=zcashgmvxwrmjsut.onion
addnode=zcashz3uma65ix7b.onion
addnode=zcashiyf4kxluf3x.onion
addnode=zcashwfe4x3jkz2b.onion
addnode=zcashvkeki52iqpc.onion
addnode=zcasha3cmfrpy7b7.onion
addnode=zcashz7ed3nvbdxm.onion
addnode=zcash5adwfpxfuvf.onion
addnode=zcashixg5ol2ndo4.onion
addnode=zcashuzwa365oh3n.onion
addnode=zcashskbeoiwtym3.onion
addnode=zcashuyvk5e7qfzy.onion
addnode=fhsxfrwpyrtoxeal.onion
addnode=zcash2iihed2wdux.onion
addnode=w3dxku36wbp3lowx.onion
addnode=zcashuhmzycmlwld.onion
1 Like
3

If you’re using Tor with a full node, you should read this paper to understand potential weaknesses with Bitcoin over Tor, many of which also apply to Zcash, and make sure these known risks fit your threat model: [1410.6079] Bitcoin over Tor isn't a good idea

For example, malicious peers on the network could probably a) link your transactions, e.g. to a transaction where you send money to an exchange that knows your KYC info and b) give you an artificial view of the network that makes you think you’re receiving money when you aren’t.

Those are just two risks but there are others, I think.

4 Likes