Connecting Bisq to Your Bitcoin Core Node on Umbrel

Preface

What follows is a guide to configure Bisq to use your own Bitcoin node. It is NOT a guide on how to install and trade bitcoin with Bisq or how to run a Bitcoin node - there are lots of those out there and some of them are quite good. This topic however has some shaky coverage, and I took a lot of mis turns to get this up and running. I also discovered some limitations of running a Bitcoin node on Umbrel which affect some other plans I had like connecting Ledger, but that’s a post for another day!

I’ll be adding some posts on my experience of running Umbrel on a “The Bitcoin Machine” hardware device, which is how I run a Bitcoin node, Lightning Network node, Stacks node and more. I will also cover why I use Bisq and why I think it is important to contribute to the bitcoin network by running a node. Ideally, I would have started this blog as I began my journey however I didn’t so you the reader get to jump on board exactly where I am, and this is what I spent time on last weekend so here we are! Let’s go!

Connecting Bisq to Your Bitcoin Core Node on Umbrel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Bisq is a decentralized, peer-to-peer exchange that enables users to trade bitcoin for national currencies (fiat) or other cryptocurrencies without giving up control of their funds. By connecting Bisq to your own Bitcoin Core node running on Umbrel, you can enhance your privacy and security while using the exchange. This post will guide you through the process of connecting Bisq to your Bitcoin Core node on Umbrel, including opening the correct port to allow traffic to your Umbrel node.

/NOTE: There may be other ways to do this, but this is the only way I was able to make it work with my setup.

Step 1: Access Your Bitcoin Node on Umbrel

1. Open your Umbrel node dashboard by visiting

http://umbrel.local

1. or the local IP address assigned to your Umbrel node.

2. Click on the “Bitcoin” app to access your Bitcoin Core node settings.

Step 2: Get Your Bitcoin Node’s P2P (Tor) Address and Port

1. Click the “+CONNECT” button on the Bitcoin Core node page.

2. Select the “P2P (Tor)” option to view your node’s hidden service address and port number (usually 8333).

3. Copy the host address and make a note of the port number.

Step 3: Configure Bisq to Use Your Umbrel Bitcoin Node

1. Open Bisq and click on the “Account” tab located in the top-right corner of the application.

2. Navigate to “Settings” and then select “Network info” from the left-hand menu.

3. Click on the “Bitcoin network” tab.

4. Check the box “Use custom Bitcoin Core nodes.”

5. Paste your Umbrel node’s P2P (Tor) host address into the “Hostname” field and append “:8333” (or the port number from the P2P (Tor) settings) to the end of the address.

6. Click “Save current settings” at the bottom of the “Bitcoin network” tab.

Step 4: Open the Correct Port on Your Router

To allow traffic between Bisq and your Umbrel node, you may need to open the appropriate port on your router. This process is called port forwarding. Follow these general steps:

1. Log in to your router’s settings by entering its IP address in your web browser. You can usually find the IP address in your router’s documentation or by searching online for your router’s make and model.

2. Find the port forwarding settings. This may be under a section called “Port Forwarding,” “Applications & Gaming,” or something similar.

3. Add a new port forwarding rule with the following details:

   • Protocol: TCP

   • External Port: 8333 (or the port number from your P2P (Tor) settings)

   • Internal IP Address: The local IP address of your Umbrel node

   • Internal Port: 8333 (or the port number from your P2P (Tor) settings)

4. Save your changes and restart your router if necessary.

Step 5: Restart Bisq

1. Close and restart Bisq for the changes to take effect.

After completing these steps, Bisq should be connected to your Umbrel Bitcoin node, and it will use your node to validate transactions. You can verify this by going to Settings: Network Info in Bisq and looking for your Onion Address under Bitcoin Network - Connected Peers. This setup increases your privacy and security when using Bisq, as you won’t have to rely on third-party nodes.

Enjoy trading on Bisq with the added peace of mind that comes from using your own Bitcoin Core node!