Fun & learning with Electrum EPS, Electrum wallet & Bitcoin Core QT in Win 11

[arabspaceship123]

I've tested Virtualbox with Linux Mint & Bitcoin on Windows 11 but didn't want to connect SSD in external USB so uninstalled it.

I love learning about bitcoin so in my next fun & learning I've ran Bitcoin Core 25.0 QT with Electrum Personal Server on Windows 11. I'm using full blockchain on Bitcoin QT wallet with Electrum Personal Server faultlessly. The command prompt shows it's connected it shows the first addresses from the MPK. I had to make changes so it's functioning now.

I've unchecked the Select server automatically box & added localhost in different configs. The network alert in Electrum desktop wallet isn't green it resides red meaning it isn't connected to Electrum Personal Server.

localhost:50002
localhost
127.0.0.1:50002
127.0.0.1

I'm stuck because I can't make Electrum desktop wallet work on localhost it doesn't connect. Bitcoin Core is working & Electrum Personal Server is connected to Bitcoin I don't know what I'm doing wrong. If you've worked Electrum EPS, Electrum wallet & Bitcoin Core QT on Windows flawlessly please tell me how your configurations are set.

[1714238458]

1714238458

[NotATether]

Are you running Electrum Personal Server inside the virtual machine? Or something else (or both)? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", you ought to set up bridged networking and have the server listen on an interface like 192.168.*.* instead so you can connect through that.

[BitMaxz]

I suggest enable the debug log in your Electrum wallet to troubleshoot the issue you can enable it under tools> preferences> Misc then click write logs to file. Restart Electrum and try to connect again on that IP:Port.

If the above suggestion does not work maybe you are using an old version of the EPS I heard someone fix their issue by upgrading it to the latest version according to this link below or switch to ElectrumX.

- https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/issues/192#issuecomment-1009161716

[arabspaceship123]

Are you running Electrum Personal Server inside the virtual machine? Or something else (or both)? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", you ought to set up bridged networking and have the server listen on an interface like 192.168.*.* instead so you can connect through that.

I've uninstalled Virtualbox so running Electrum and Bitcoin on Windows 11.

I suggest enable the debug log in your Electrum wallet to troubleshoot the issue you can enable it under tools> preferences> Misc then click write logs to file. Restart Electrum and try to connect again on that IP:Port.

If the above suggestion does not work maybe you are using an old version of the EPS I heard someone fix their issue by upgrading it to the latest version according to this link below or switch to ElectrumX.

- https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/issues/192#issuecomment-1009161716

I'm using their latest Release v0.2.4. Thanks I'll check the Electrum wallet log because there's a reason why it isn't connected.

[nc50lc]

Have you tried if this can solve it?
Link: https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/issues/286#issuecomment-1465354568
It has the same title as BitMaxz' link but it's a different issue with different solution.

Also read the next replies for more information about the command.

[arabspaceship123]

I didn't have time to try that solution because I don't use OpenSSL. It'll be fun solving it this weekend days. Official Electrum doc guides the client only connects to servers over SSL so to continue with EPS experiments on Win 11 I'll generate self-signed certs & keys. Thanks

Have you tried if this can solve it?
Link: https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/issues/286#issuecomment-1465354568
It has the same title as BitMaxz' link but it's a different issue with different solution.

Also read the next replies for more information about the command.

[arabspaceship123]

It wasn't working before because they'd expired. I've downloaded OpenSSL binaries to generate new cert & key so it's running satisfactorily. I'm using Bitcoin Core, Electrum EPS & Electrum 4.4.4 on the same SSD. My Electrum wallet network connects singularly on 1 node to localhost so it doesn't connect with available electrum servers online.

Thanks for replies I've had fun learning new things so locking the thread keeping thread open to answer questions if you're trying the same.

[arabspaceship123]

I'm grateful Chris Belcher's released Electrum EPS. I can't locate where he's inserted a donations address in the source code. Where's it loading from? If this project is valuable to you please consider donating: bc1qe74qzd256kxevq2gn7gmscs564lfk5tqrxqsuy

[o_e_l_e_o]

I can't locate where he's inserted a donations address in the source code.

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/docs/signed-donation-addresses.txt

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/README.md?plain=1#L263

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/electrumpersonalserver/server/electrumprotocol.py#L30

[arabspaceship123]

That's the message when Electrum EPS connects to mempool. I can't locate the words If this project is valuable to you please consider donating in the source code. Does it mean localhost's compromised on privacy if EPS's connected outside to receive the donation message?

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/docs/signed-donation-addresses.txt

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/README.md?plain=1#L263

https://github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/c28a90f366039bc23a01a048348c0cee84b710c4/electrumpersonalserver/server/electrumprotocol.py#L30

[nc50lc]

I can't locate the words If this project is valuable to you please consider donating in the source code.

The message is hard-coded to the server.
Here's where the code is: github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/master/electrumpersonalserver/server/common.py#L84-L86

[arabspaceship123]

Thanks that's explained why I couldn't locate the message. I didn't download python files I've used the windows release. I would've liked assurances my localhost EPS isn't connecting to outside servers for the donations message so it must've been coded in the .exe program.

I can't locate the words If this project is valuable to you please consider donating in the source code.

The message is hard-coded to the server.
Here's where the code is: github.com/chris-belcher/electrum-personal-server/blob/master/electrumpersonalserver/server/common.py#L84-L86

[arabspaceship123]

I've read you don't have to run Electrum over tor in localhost because it doesn't increase privacy. I've opened my tor browser before starting Electrum so the connection  indicator's turned blue.

When I'm using my Electrum Wallet, EPS & Bitcoin Core is my privacy less secure if I didn't use vpn or tor for broadcasts ?

[o_e_l_e_o]

When I'm using my Electrum Wallet, EPS & Bitcoin Core is my privacy less secure if I didn't use vpn or tor for broadcasts ?

Yes. An attacker could potentially link your transactions to your IP address. See here for more info: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Privacy#Tor_and_tor_broadcasting

To avoid this, you can either run your node via Tor, or you can choose to run your node via clearnet but broadcast your transactions via Tor. For this second option, you need to do two things:

1 - Add walletbroadcast=0 to your bitcoin.conf file. This will stop your node from broadcasting your own transactions.
2 - In your EPS config.ini file, navigate to where it says broadcast_method = tor-or-own-node and change it to broadcast_method = tor.

Any transactions you make via Electrum via EPS will now be broadcast to random nodes over Tor only.

[arabspaceship123]

When I'm using my Electrum Wallet, EPS & Bitcoin Core is my privacy less secure if I didn't use vpn or tor for broadcasts ?

Yes. An attacker could potentially link your transactions to your IP address. See here for more info: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Privacy#Tor_and_tor_broadcasting

I've used these configs

Bitcoin Core .conf

Code:

rpcuser=username
rpcpassword=password 
walletbroadcast=0

EPS config.ini

Code:

broadcast_method = tor

To avoid this, you can either run your node via Tor, or you can choose to run your node via clearnet but broadcast your transactions via Tor. For this second option, you need to do two things:

1 - Add walletbroadcast=0 to your bitcoin.conf file. This will stop your node from broadcasting your own transactions.
2 - In your EPS config.ini file, navigate to where it says broadcast_method = tor-or-own-node and change it to broadcast_method = tor.

Any transactions you make via Electrum via EPS will now be broadcast to random nodes over Tor only.

So Bitcoin Core broadcasts jointly with Electrum. I've understood walletbroadcast=0 stops my node from broadcasting my own transactions so Electrum's going to do it with 127.0.0.1, 50002 or 127.0.0.1, 9150 on tor. That's helpful advice.

I'm firm my IP address wasn't leaked in Electrum it's localhost so stopping Bitcore Core from broadcasting transactions stops leaks. I'll post after it's been tested.

[arabspaceship123]

When EPS connected over tor for broadcasting my own transaction what's the address they saw

127.0.0.1
my ip address
tor ip address from tor browser

[o_e_l_e_o]

That transaction broadcast through Tor as it says, so whichever nodes it connected to will have seen your Tor IP address.

However, it still says it is using tor-or-own-node, so if Tor fails it will fall back on broadcasting via your node. If you don't want this, you'll need to check the config.ini file again to see why it isn't using Tor only as described above.

[arabspaceship123]

When EPS displays 127.0.0.1 it doesn't mean it's broadcasted localhost it's going to broadcast your ip address that's important for learning about broadcasts. Thanks I've changed tor-or-own-node to tor so EPS should've been configured in secure levels.

I've added walletbroadcast=0 to .conf but Bitcoin Core's generated a notification in the corner of my screen. How can I check 100% it didn't broadcast to other btc nodes?

That transaction broadcast through Tor as it says, so whichever nodes it connected to will have seen your Tor IP address.

However, it still says it is using tor-or-own-node, so if Tor fails it will fall back on broadcasting via your node. If you don't want this, you'll need to check the config.ini file again to see why it isn't using Tor only as described above.

[o_e_l_e_o]

I've added walletbroadcast=0 to .conf but Bitcoin Core's generated a notification in the corner of my screen.

The usual notification about a transaction affecting one of your addresses? This shows up regardless of where the transaction came from.

How can I check 100% it didn't broadcast to other btc nodes?

I suppose the easiest way to do this would be before you make your next transaction, click the network activity icon at the bottom right of the Bitcoin Core GUI and select "Disable network activity". Once Core has disconnected, broadcast your transaction via Electrum, EPS should broadcast it via Tor, and then check that it can be viewed on a block explorer.

[arabspaceship123]

I've added walletbroadcast=0 to .conf but Bitcoin Core's generated a notification in the corner of my screen.

The usual notification about a transaction affecting one of your addresses? This shows up regardless of where the transaction came from.

Thanks. I wasn't expecting notifications in Bitcoin Core after putting walletbroadcast=0 so received a confusing surprise.

How can I check 100% it didn't broadcast to other btc nodes?

I suppose the easiest way to do this would be before you make your next transaction, click the network activity icon at the bottom right of the Bitcoin Core GUI and select "Disable network activity". Once Core has disconnected, broadcast your transaction via Electrum, EPS should broadcast it via Tor, and then check that it can be viewed on a block explorer.

I'll broadcast my next transaction the way you guided. It'll be my last test for checking Bitcoin Core doesn't leak my ip address. If it's a success I'll lock the thread because my Electrum wallet, EPS & Bitcoin Core run superb in localhost. Tor configs work. It's easy to use EPS on my own node.