Blockstream Green provides native in-app Tor support on both mobile and desktop apps. Connecting through Tor does not require the installation of any additional software. This feature can be useful if you want to improve your privacy by hiding your IP address.
When you connect your Blockstream Green app using Tor, your internet traffic is routed through several randomized relays before it reaches the Blockstream servers. As a result, our servers cannot see which device sent your data.
The increase in privacy achieved by Tor comes with a reduction in user experience. Due to the way Tor routes data through multiple relays, logging in to your wallet and sending a transaction will be slower than usual, and you may even experience timeouts. Tor will be particularly challenging to use in regions with poor internet connectivity or when using cellular data connections.
Warning: Tor only anonymizes your internet traffic. Your transaction data is still shared with third parties (see below).
Privacy Disclaimers
When using Tor, there are a few things you should bear in mind:
- Keep Tor switched on every time you use the wallet: Tor ensures that your wallet cannot be linked to your home IP address and ultimately your identity. However, if you connect to your wallet without Tor even once, the IP address used at the time could technically be leaked to third parties, who can then associate it with all past and future transactions. To avoid this, you should enable Tor before wallet creation, and keep Tor enabled for every subsequent login.
- Use a pseudonymous email address: Blockstream Green is a light wallet, which means data such as your wallet’s balance and transaction history is shared with Blockstream’s servers. This data is secured according to a strict privacy policy, but if privacy is important to you, you should ensure that your wallet is not linked to your identity, e.g. you should use a pseudonymous email address for 2FA and/or timelock emails.
- Onchain Bitcoin transaction details are public: Bitcoin transaction data (such as addresses and transaction amounts) is always publicly visible on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Connect Through Tor
Mobile
1.
On the login screen, tap Bitcoin (or Liquid) below the Blockstream Green logo.
2.
Next to Connect with Tor, set the toggle switch to on, and tap Save.
3.
Tap Log In. Logging in through Tor may take slightly longer than usual because your internet traffic is now relayed via several nodes on the Tor network before reaching the Blockstream server.
4.
Blockstream Green is now connected through Tor.
Desktop
1.
On the login screen, click the gear icon at the top right corner.
2.
Check the box next to Connect with Tor.
3.
Return to the login screen and enter your PIN to unlock your wallet. Logging in through Tor may take slightly longer than usual because your internet traffic is now relayed via several nodes on the Tor network before reaching the Blockstream server.
4.
Blockstream Green is now connected through Tor.
