<p>Your IP is exposed to the Electrum server(s) you communicate with. Since <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Electrum" rel="nofollow">anyone can run</a> an Electrum server, you should consider this to be public exposure. These servers could record your IP if they wish to, and use it for any purpose. This is more exposed than running an ordinary full client: in that case, your IP is exposed to your peers, but even your immediate peers don't know it was <em>you</em> who created a given transaction. In either case, someone could <a href="https://blockchain.info/tx/98250fd33a9abe46b90c3899266817e962e363a106e4c519b6b1102470fc968d" rel="nofollow">record the IP</a> they first saw the transaction from, which would often be geographically near you (maybe even your IP).</p>

<p>This does not make it unsafe in the "people can digitally steal my coins" sense, but it does reduce <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Anonymity" rel="nofollow">anonymity</a>. This might make it unsafe in the senses of: "people can more easily find me <a href="http://xkcd.com/538/" rel="nofollow">and beat me</a> until I tell them my password so they can steal my coins" or "people can arrest me for my actions" (if you're doing something illegal).</p>

<p>If you're concerned about that, you could run through <a href="https://www.torproject.org/" rel="nofollow">Tor</a> to hide your IP.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-14T22:37:28.800Z
In addition to using Tor there are some servers that run as hidden services .onion
rdymac
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-14T17:23:36.060Z
2014-03-14T17:44:38.157Z
2014-03-14T17:44:38.157Z
Tim S.
<p>While using Electrum, your IP address can be seen by the Electrum servers you connect to for transactions and blockchain data. To enhance privacy, consider using a VPN or Tor.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-12-14T08:04:58.277Z
2024-12-14T08:04:58.277Z
rajni rydot
<p>Who exactly is my IP exposed to when sending transactions in Electrum.  I'm assuming the server operators can see it every time I connect (to query the servers about my balances).  </p>

<p>When I make a transaction, is my IP recorded and logged into blockchain.info (or is it the IP of the server who relays the transaction).</p>

<p>If so, does this make Electrum unsafe to use with larger balances? i.e tying large amounts to a single IP?</p>

<wallet><security><electrum><ip-address>
Who can see my IP address while using Electrum
Crohan40
# Who can see my IP address while using Electrum

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-14)

Who exactly is my IP exposed to when sending transactions in Electrum. I'm assuming the server operators can see it every time I connect (to query the servers about my balances).

When I make a transaction, is my IP recorded and logged into blockchain.info (or is it the IP of the server who relays the transaction).

If so, does this make Electrum unsafe to use with larger balances? i.e tying large amounts to a single IP?

**Tags:** wallet, security, electrum, ip-address


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-03-14. Score: 3

Your IP is exposed to the Electrum server(s) you communicate with. Since [anyone can run](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Electrum) an Electrum server, you should consider this to be public exposure. These servers could record your IP if they wish to, and use it for any purpose. This is more exposed than running an ordinary full client: in that case, your IP is exposed to your peers, but even your immediate peers don't know it was *you* who created a given transaction. In either case, someone could [record the IP](https://blockchain.info/tx/98250fd33a9abe46b90c3899266817e962e363a106e4c519b6b1102470fc968d) they first saw the transaction from, which would often be geographically near you (maybe even your IP).

This does not make it unsafe in the "people can digitally steal my coins" sense, but it does reduce [anonymity](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Anonymity). This might make it unsafe in the senses of: "people can more easily find me [and beat me](http://xkcd.com/538/) until I tell them my password so they can steal my coins" or "people can arrest me for my actions" (if you're doing something illegal).

If you're concerned about that, you could run through [Tor](https://www.torproject.org/) to hide your IP.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: In addition to using Tor there are some servers that run as hidden services .onion  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2024-12-14. Score: 0

While using Electrum, your IP address can be seen by the Electrum servers you connect to for transactions and blockchain data. To enhance privacy, consider using a VPN or Tor.


---

