<p>Yes but not by default.</p>
<p>C-lightning uses a <a href="https://lightning.readthedocs.io/PLUGINS.html#bitcoin-backend" rel="nofollow noreferrer">pluggable Bitcoin backend</a>. The default one, <code>bcli</code>, will use the <code>bitcoin-cli</code> executable to make requests to a <code>bitcoind</code>.<br />
It exposes <a href="https://lightning.readthedocs.io/lightningd-config.5.html#general-options" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>bitcoin-cli</code>'s <code>rpcconnect</code> startup option to <code>lightningd</code></a> which does not not support onion hosts. And you probably don't want it to as <em>it is not meant to be exposed</em>.</p>
<p>If you want to run C-lightning without having the full block chain locally you'd probably opt for a light backend solution, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/#pruning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">A pruned <code>bitcoind</code></a> (beware of misconfiguration)</li>
<li>An explorer-backed backend.<br />
For example, <a href="https://github.com/lightningd/plugins/tree/master/sauron" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Sauron plugin</a> which you could connect to an external
Esplora instance you would run on a machine with more space. It supports onion services.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you really want to remotely access <code>bitcoind</code>'s RPC, you should probably opt for an SSH tunnel.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-10T14:30:45.627Z
Thank you. I will check the prune parameter for bitcoind and also a plugin [c-lightning-pruning-plugin](https://github.com/Start9Labs/c-lightning-pruning-plugin)
James
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-10T11:50:22.347Z
2020-08-10T11:50:22.347Z
Antoine Poinsot
<p>I would like to connect my C-lightning node to a remote Bitcoin node, in order to be able to run <code>lightningd</code> on a small storage capacity VPS.</p>
<p>I could achieve this by using clearnet connection and wanted to know if would be possible to proxy the connection through the Tor network ?</p>

<bitcoind><json-rpc><lightning-network><core-lightning><tor>
Connect C-lightning to a remote bitcoind through tor
James
# Connect C-lightning to a remote bitcoind through tor

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-10)

I would like to connect my C-lightning node to a remote Bitcoin node, in order to be able to run `lightningd` on a small storage capacity VPS.

I could achieve this by using clearnet connection and wanted to know if would be possible to proxy the connection through the Tor network ?

**Tags:** bitcoind, json-rpc, lightning-network, core-lightning, tor


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-08-10. Score: 2

Yes but not by default.

C-lightning uses a [pluggable Bitcoin backend](https://lightning.readthedocs.io/PLUGINS.html#bitcoin-backend). The default one, `bcli`, will use the `bitcoin-cli` executable to make requests to a `bitcoind`.  
It exposes [`bitcoin-cli`'s `rpcconnect` startup option to `lightningd`](https://lightning.readthedocs.io/lightningd-config.5.html#general-options) which does not not support onion hosts. And you probably don't want it to as *it is not meant to be exposed*.

If you want to run C-lightning without having the full block chain locally you'd probably opt for a light backend solution, such as:

* [A pruned `bitcoind`](https://github.com/ElementsProject/lightning/#pruning) (beware of misconfiguration)
* An explorer-backed backend.  
  For example, [the Sauron plugin](https://github.com/lightningd/plugins/tree/master/sauron) which you could connect to an external
  Esplora instance you would run on a machine with more space. It supports onion services.

If you really want to remotely access `bitcoind`'s RPC, you should probably opt for an SSH tunnel.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you. I will check the prune parameter for bitcoind and also a plugin [c-lightning-pruning-plugin](https://github.com/Start9Labs/c-lightning-pruning-plugin)  

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