• Data from the Bitnodes API shows that most Bitcoin (BTC) nodes are using the anonymous overlay network Tor.
• This shows the importance of privacy and anonymity among the more technical users of the Bitcoin network.
• The portion of nodes operating through Tor has steadily increased from 25% of all nodes one year ago.

The use of Bitcoin (BTC) nodes is becoming increasingly popular as the decentralized digital currency continues to grow and evolve. A recent deep dive into the BTC infrastructure has revealed that most of the nodes are routed through the anonymous overlay network Tor. This new data gives us an insight into the importance of privacy and anonymity among the more technical users of the Bitcoin network, as well as the decentralized nature of the blockchain’s infrastructure.

Tor is an open-source software that allows users to hide their IP address and location from prying eyes. It is a very useful tool for anyone wanting to keep their online activity anonymous. And for the Bitcoin network, it provides an extra layer of privacy and security for its nodes. The data from the Bitnodes application programming interface (API) shows that a significant portion of Bitcoin nodes – 8,162 out of 14,838, nearly 82% – are routing their traffic through Tor. This is a positive data point, particularly because these nodes are likely to ignore local regulation and stay outside of any enforcement action against Bitcoin node operators.

The portion of nodes operating through Tor has steadily increased from 25% of all the nodes about one year ago, after a bug led to them crashing. It is likely that this increase is due to the growing importance of privacy and anonymity among the more technical users of the Bitcoin network. Additionally, the decentralized nature of the blockchain’s infrastructure means that the risk of any regulation or enforcement action having a significant impact on the network is greatly reduced.

Overall, the data from the Bitnodes API reveals that privacy and anonymity are becoming increasingly important to Bitcoin users. Moreover, the decentralized nature of the blockchain’s infrastructure means that the network can remain secure and reliable even in the face of potential regulatory action. As the Bitcoin network continues to grow, it is likely that more nodes will start using Tor to protect their online activity and remain anonymous.