How to run pricenode

A Bisq Pricenode is a service that provides essential market data to Bisq clients. It fetches cryptocurrency exchange rates (e.g., BTC/USD, BTC/EUR) and Bitcoin network mining fee estimations from various external providers and relays this aggregated data to Bisq users upon request.

Pricenodes run as Tor hidden services. This allows Bisq clients to retrieve price and fee data without revealing their IP address or connecting outside the Tor network, thus preserving user privacy.

While anyone with the technical capability can run a pricenode for personal use (e.g., configuring their client via command-line arguments), the Bisq application by default connects to a list of nodes run by established, DAO-approved contributors who meet certain reliability standards and are required to be bonded.

Note: In the Bisq 2 Roles framework, this function may be referred to as the Market Price Node.

The primary source for the pricenode software and technical details is the official GitHub repository. This guide summarizes the key steps based on that repository.

Overview

The pricenode software runs a simple HTTP service, typically listening on `localhost:8080`, with key endpoints including:

• `/getAllMarketPrices`: Returns current BTC exchange rates against various fiat currencies and altcoins.
• `/getFees`: Returns current estimates for Bitcoin transaction fees (in satoshis/vByte) for different confirmation targets.
• `/getParams`, `/info`: Provide metadata and status information about the node.

Prerequisites

Running a pricenode requires a stable environment, typically a server or VPS:

• Operating System: Linux (Debian/Ubuntu preferred, as automated scripts are available).
• Java: A compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is needed to run the application. (Check the GitHub repository for current version requirements).
• Tor: The `tor` binary must be installed and operational for running as a hidden service.
• System Resources: While not extremely resource-intensive, reliable uptime, sufficient RAM (e.g., 1GB+), disk space (~10GB), and network bandwidth (~1TB/month might be a starting point) are needed. Official requirements may be specified on the Pricenode Operator role page.

Setup and Installation

The recommended method for Debian-based systems like Ubuntu is the automated install script. Advanced users or those on other systems can build from source.

Method 1: Installation Script (Recommended for Debian/Ubuntu)

This script automates the installation of dependencies, building the software, configuring the Tor hidden service, and setting up the pricenode to run as a system service.

1. Ensure `curl` and `sudo` are available: `sudo apt update && sudo apt install curl`
2. Run the installer script:

curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bisq-network/bisq-pricenode/main/scripts/install_pricenode_debian.sh | sudo bash

1. Follow any prompts from the script.
2. **Important:** At the end of the script, it should output your node's unique **Tor `.onion` address**. Record this address carefully, especially if you plan to use the node yourself or apply to become a default operator. You will also need to back up the hidden service's private key (`/var/lib/tor/hidden_service/private_key` or similar, depending on Tor setup).

Method 2: Build from Source

This method requires manual setup of dependencies and Tor configuration.

1. Install Git and a compatible JDK. (Check the GitHub repository for current version requirements).
2. Clone the repository (including submodules):

git clone --recursive https://github.com/bisq-network/bisq-pricenode.git
cd bisq-pricenode

1. Build the application using Gradle:

./gradlew clean build

1. Manually configure Tor to create a hidden service that points to the pricenode's listening port (default 8080). Consult the official Tor documentation for setting up onion services.
2. Determine how to run the built Java application persistently (e.g., using `screen`, `tmux`, or creating your own `systemd` service).

Running and Managing

If you used the installation script (Method 1), the pricenode should be running as a `systemd` service named `bisq-pricenode`. You can manage it with standard commands:

• Check Status: `sudo systemctl status bisq-pricenode`
• Stop Service: `sudo systemctl stop bisq-pricenode`
• Start Service: `sudo systemctl start bisq-pricenode`
• Restart Service: `sudo systemctl restart bisq-pricenode`
• View Logs (live): `journalctl -u bisq-pricenode -f`

If you built from source (Method 2), you are responsible for starting, stopping, and managing the Java process using your chosen method (e.g., `screen`, `tmux`, manual execution).

Testing

You can test if your node is running correctly by querying its endpoints using `curl` or a similar tool.

• Locally (if installed via script):

Check if the node is responding on the default local port:

curl http://localhost:8080/getAllMarketPrices
curl http://localhost:8080/getFees

• Over Tor (replace with your node's address):

Use `torsocks` (or configure Tor as a system proxy) to query your node's `.onion` address (replace `YOUR_ONION_ADDRESS.onion` with the actual address):

torsocks curl http://YOUR_ONION_ADDRESS.onion/getAllMarketPrices
torsocks curl http://YOUR_ONION_ADDRESS.onion/getFees

Successful queries should return JSON formatted data containing price and fee information.

Becoming a Default Operator

Running a pricenode doesn't automatically make it used by other Bisq clients. To become one of the default nodes hardcoded in the Bisq software, you generally need to:

1. Apply for the Pricenode Operator role.
2. Gain DAO approval through voting.
3. Set up the required BSQ bond (currently 10,000 BSQ).
4. Meet reliability and uptime standards.
5. Set up mandatory monitoring systems.

Contact current maintainers or check the `#pricenode` channel on Matrix/Discord for details on the current application process.

Monitoring

Operators whose nodes are included in the default list within Bisq releases are required to set up monitoring using `collectd` and provide network size data. This involves running additional setup scripts found in the GitHub repository's README (see Monitoring section) and coordinating with the Bisq monitoring team.

Compensation

Approved Pricenode Operators who maintain reliable nodes included in the default list can request compensation from the Bisq DAO for their service and hosting costs.

• The current compensation rate is 130 USD per DAO cycle (paid in BSQ).
• The significant initial effort for setting up the node, Tor, monitoring, and the bonding process may also be justifiable for a one-time setup compensation request.