The next version of Bitcoin Core will be compatible with Tor Network’s V3 addresses for enhanced security, a top Bitcoin core developer Pieter Wuille has confirmed. Meanwhile, Tor Network’s old V2 addresses are set to become obsolete on October 15, 2021. Tor Network’s V3 addresses will fully become the new standard in 2021.
Tor V3 addresses to enhance network security
“Bitcoin Core v0.21 will support Tor V3 addresses, and BIP155 (which supports gossiping them over the network). Tor V2 addresses are deprecated since last month, and will be disabled in Oct 2021,” said Pieter Wuille, a co-founder and former engineer at Blockstream.
Bitcoin Core v0.21 will support Tor V3 addresses, and BIP155 (which supports gossiping them over the network).
Tor V2 addresses are deprecated since last month, and will be disabled in Oct 2021: https://t.co/GQjTN94L4j https://t.co/QimLo4tSJx
— Pieter Wuille (@pwuille) October 11, 2020
Bitcoin reference implementation consolidates Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 155, which consists of details of the compatibility with Tor. It will go into effect alongside Bitcoin Core version 0.21.
The Tor Network enables anonymous and encrypted communication over the Internet. Tor is open-source software that allows users to access Dark Web.
A few months ago, developers working on the Tor network announced that their V2 addresses will be no longer functional after October 15, 2021. To recall, V2 addresses in the Tor network have been functional for more than ten years. Developers will replace V2 addresses in the Tor network with V3 addresses that have been in development for the last five years.
“As humankind’s understanding of math and cryptography evolved, the foundation of version 2 became fragile and at this point in time, unsafe,” Tor said. “a large scale development effort spanning over 3 years resulted in version 3.”
Version 3 addresses have certain benefits over Version 2 addresses. For instance, in addition to significant improvements, version 3 addresses implement a stronger form of cryptography. The Tor Network will also be more secure, courtesy of Version 3 addresses.
Although single relays on the Tor Network are already compatible with V3 addresses, the network will migrate to the latest version between 2020 – 2021. Version 2 addresses will gradually deprecate.
Wuille believes Bitcoin Core v0.21 will be released much sooner than Tor’s deadline. Bitcoin’s new software will help hidden nodes find other nodes to securely connect to.
