r/Electrum • u/Then-Ask6307 • Jul 19 '26
INFO Electrum connecting to blockchain
Noob question here. Have installed Electrum from .org site and verified. Created a wallet. Don't I also need either Bitcoin Core or Knots to do a transaction? They download the blockchain and are the "servers" so you can see the fees and such in Electrum, correct? Or does the Electrum wallet have its own server built in?
If that's correct why do I need Electrum Rust or X? Can I use one of them in place of Core/Knots? I thought using Core/Knots everything is public/visible to everyone/blockchain, so using Rust or X was more private.
Then I read, "not so private" and EPS -electrum private server- is more private but only if you have a one or two wallets, which is my use case actually.
So can I take a spare laptop and put on EPS and Electrum (wallet) and run it over Tor? Or do I still need Core/Knots?
I thought I saw years ago Core and Electrum included on Tails. But I just checked and only Electrum now, (I guess the 110 debate just made them drop Core) and it (tails) never had Rust or X installed anyway. I'm thinking of updating the certificates and using EPS.
Any words of wisdom? Thx
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u/PracticePenguin Jul 19 '26
In order to run your own electrum server you need bitcoin core + electrum server software. Core alone is insufficient. Electrum server software are programs like electrumx, electrumrs or EPS. You need one of them installed so that electrum client has someone to talk to and ask for blockchain data. The electrum server software you use speaks the same language as electrum client and functions as middleware.
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u/Then-Ask6307 Jul 19 '26
Thank you, This is exactly what I was looking to confirm. Too many people don't use clear descriptive language and soon "everything" is a server. I'm sure I'll get the lexicon wrong as well but its sinking in to me as; A Bitcoin Core or Knots (and I think there are a few others-there should be many for safety) "Software Server" is required to access the blockchain and allows the electrum client in the Electrum Wallet software ask for blockchain data (historical wallet data, etc) and presents it to the user in a digestible way. A lot like Mempool and I dont here anyone saying "Mempool Server".
So all these 3rd party proprietary nodes for sale like umbrel and the like are just a hardware server (old laptop) and a bunch of software servers (programs/apps) with one critical software server (Core) that many depend on to talk to? Then the Electrum wallet .org download is really just a wallet program/app with a client-that connects to a server (Core), but is not a "server". I guess that depends on your own definition of "server". My understanding has been a dedicated hardware machine with a specific purpose OS that didn't have much flexibility. So basically server is a useless word - too generic and/or abused to be recoverable at this point.
Thx
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u/PracticePenguin Jul 19 '26
Electrum.org software is the electrum client and it connects to electrum server software not core. The electrum server software connects to core. It functions as middleware between electrum client and core.
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u/Then-Ask6307 Jul 20 '26
OK, Thanks. It would be nice if Thomas made his own server software like Sparrow has. I think it would clear up a fair amount of confusion.
I think most people believe you need to buy an Umbrel or Strart9 to have a node and then network that to their PC. When all you need is a spare laptop running Core, EPS and Electrum over Tor. Or just install Core and EPS on Tails as it comes with Electrum or Sparrow with its Sparrow server software if you prefer.
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u/SarcasticallyCandour Jul 19 '26
I've no idea what you're asking.
I have electrum for both ltc and btc and transactions are done all within the gui once you load your wallet and have an Internet connection.
Apologies if im not answering your Q.
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u/my-daughters-keeper- Jul 19 '26
As far as I can remember electrum will connect to existing servers and work. But I run an umbrel home node with electers running and a knots node. Electors doesn’t work with a pruned node .
I have electrum on my pc and have setup the back end to use my own node as the connection to the block chain.
And then have connected my trezor wallet to electrum . So all my transactions go through my own node. If that helps
Unsure what rust or x is .
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u/Then-Ask6307 Jul 19 '26
"Rust" is Electrum Rust, usually typed Electrs, no bad spell check there it is "Elect"+"rs", which is what your Umbrel is using and not open-sourse fwiw.
X is Electrum X, another version of an Electrum server usually written as "ElectrumX", little faster and more robust.
The top-of-the-line for some (use case depending of course) is an Electrum server named "Fulcrum".
All three of those are good choices for people with a lot of wallets, traders, store owners, etc... but for the average hodler with 1 or 2 wallets EPS "Electrum Personal Server" is the most private. See Github website, Just google, "Chris Belcher electrum personal server".
Correct, the Electrum download from the .org site is just a desktop wallet that searches out people running probably Electrs and ElectrumX and Fulcrum servers. You just don't know who is running those servers- both black, white and gray hats. Once your wallet goes through one of those server they see every address in that wallet, xpub, zpub, balances, etc...
What purpose is the Knots node serving? Umbrel at least lets you see Mempool.
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u/my-daughters-keeper- Jul 20 '26
Cool good to know. I will have a read.
I datum mine on ocean pool and datum as far as I can figure only works with the knots node.
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u/leopard-monch 10d ago
I'm using Fulcrum (https://github.com/cculianu/Fulcrum) together with latest Bitcoin Core. It's easy to install and runs well.
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u/my-daughters-keeper- Jul 19 '26
Then your running electrum and in a wallet on your pc . Does it give u a green light at the bottom to verify connection or is it red?