So, I’ve set up a node on an old computer.
Got Bitcoin Core running and also the Electrum Rust Server. Everything's synced up, and I can connect to it on my home network. I’ve managed to set up VPN and TOR too, and they’re working great. When I check for peers, I’ve got over 10 connected.
The main reason I did this was for privacy, and yeah, to pitch in with the network.
But I’m curious about how this actually boosts my privacy.
Let’s say I get some non-KYC coins. How can I use my own node for privacy if I’m not at home? Do I just take it on something like Blue Wallet, then move it to my desktop wallet? I’m a bit lost on this.
Is there a way to hook up to my node when I’m not connected to my home Wi-Fi? If anyone has some resources or tips, that’d be awesome.
Yes, it's possible connect to your own node or Electrum server when you're not connected to your home network. But,
1. You need to use wallet software which have feature connect to specific node or Electrum server. On smartphone, both Blue Wallet and Electrum let you connect to specific Electrum server.
2. Make sure either node or electrum server (depends on which one supported by wallet software you use) actually can accept incoming connection.
Depending on your goal, you can create watch-only wallet on BlueWallet by importing master public key (also called xpub, ypub or zpub) from your desktop wallet.
Yes, if you can get a dedicated IP address (some VPN servers give you access to that address from more than 10 devices) you can edit the blockips.conf file as blown
This way you will ensure that you can broadcast the transaction via your Electrum Server only.
For more read ---> https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5229386.msg53949220#msg53949220
What is your current setup? Linux, MAC, Windows?
Depending on the OS, the instructions may differ.
In general, most mobile software wallets allow you to connect to your home node. However, you most likely need to expose electrs as a TOR hidden service and connect through TOR.
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Setting_up_a_Tor_hidden_service
By using Tor, you don't need to use VPN.
Using Tor is good for your node privacy and your Bitcoin transactions too, because other nodes don't know your real IP address.
Using your own full node for broadcasting your transactions, with TOR, you don't have to broadcast it to other nodes that can know your real IP address.
https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node
You can use addnode.
https://developer.bitcoin.org/reference/rpc/addnode.html
Can you port-forward your Electrum server to the public internet so that your wallet can still access it from anywhere? Does your ISP allow you to do such a thing?
You don't need to forward ports of the Bitcoin Core daemon, since that is only used by Electrum.
Although to be clear, if you're going to access your Electrum home server from anywhere, then it will be significantly easier to get it working without a Tor conncetion between your Electrum client and the Electrum server.
I don't know if you followed the guide I gave you, but if not, I would like to know which guide you used, because I haven't been able to find a very updated one.
It would also benefit other members! Because this question is asked a lot in various places over the internet.