Blockchain Nodes
How U.CASH watches chains: your own nodes first, then a provider cascade, with a credit-metered last resort - payments are never lost to a single dead source.
Detection architecture#
Every payment check walks a priority chain:
- Your own node (BTC, ETH, Solana, Lightning) if configured
- Your custom explorer if configured (see Custom Explorers)
- Provider cascade - multiple independent public sources per coin, tried in order until one answers
- CryptoAPIs - the credit-metered last resort, used only when the free cascade came up empty
For EVM chains, 19 networks carry ordered default public RPC endpoints (official-first), and token chains fall back to direct keyless RPC after the cascade. A failing source never blocks a payment - the next source takes over.
Running your own nodes#
Under Settings → Nodes & Testnet (requires the wallets permission) you can connect:
| Node | Settings | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | Node URL, optional headers, xpub | Address generation from your xpub, sweeping transfers, and on-chain refunds |
| Ethereum | Node URL, headers, network (mainnet/Sepolia) | Address generation, transfers, instant conversion, refunds |
| Solana | Node URL | Detection and transfers on Solana |
| Lightning (LND) | REST URL, macaroon | Lightning invoices and instant settlement - see Lightning Network |
Node URLs must be HTTPS with valid certificates; extra headers are supported for proxies and authentication. Wallet-affecting settings require the wallets permission.
Provider keys (bring your own)#
Detection uses several data providers. You can plug in your own API keys for any of them under the blockchain settings - Blockdaemon, Tatum, Etherscan, Ethplorer, and CryptoAPIs - and your keys are used ahead of platform capacity. Keys are stored encrypted.
Operating notes#
- Scans run continuously: pending transactions are re-checked every 2 minutes; payments up to 48 hours old stay in the scan window
- Non-custodial either way: nodes you run only add capabilities (xpub generation, sweeps, refunds) - without any node, payments still detect and settle to your addresses
- Rate limits: your own nodes and explorer keys take the load off shared providers, which matters at volume
- Monero: detection uses Monero-specific sources; incoming payments are matched by amount and payment id