Overview

Firo Core currently supports Tor integration for network privacy and censorship resistance. However, native I2P (Invisible Internet Project) support is not yet available. Integrating I2P natively into Firo Core would provide users with an additional layer of anonymity and allow node and wallet traffic to be routed over the I2P network, similar to Monero and other privacy-focused projects.

Motivation

• Strengthen Firo’s privacy guarantees by providing alternative anonymizing networks.
• Increase censorship resistance by making it more difficult to block or surveil Firo traffic.
• Match and exceed the privacy features of other cryptocurrencies, such as Monero, which already has native I2P support.
• I2P supports both UDP and TCP, whereas Tor is limited to TCP only. This allows I2P to be more versatile and, in many cases, faster for peer-to-peer traffic.
• I2P operates in a more decentralized manner, with every peer routing traffic for others, which better aligns with the P2P ethos of cryptocurrencies, compared to Tor’s more centralized directory authority model.
• Recent developments in the Tor project such as a shift in focus from technical advancement to doublespeak politics. Controversial move to rewrite core components in Rust (raising concerns about corporate influence), and gatekeeping decisions like removing the user-agent string in Tor Browser and discussions about removing the security slider suggest a decline in Tor’s suitability for privacy-first projects. These changes make I2P a more attractive and resilient option for integration. I'm in no way saying to not use Tor or to remove Tor but it would be nice to introduce more users to another Privacy network tool that is I2P.

Proposed Solution

• Integrate I2P natively into Firo Core, allowing users to run nodes and wallets as I2P hidden services.
• Provide configuration options (CLI flags and config file parameters) for enabling and customizing I2P usage.
• Ensure compatibility with both Tor and I2P simultaneously, giving users flexibility.
• Update documentation to include setup and usage instructions for I2P.

Additional Information

• Monero docs: ANONYMITY_NETWORKS.md
• Monero native I2P implementation: i2p_address.cpp, i2p_address.h
• Monero merged PR introducing main I2P support: I2P/Tor White Noise #5793
  • Note: There are multiple follow-up PRs and improvements; see all merged I2P PRs.

Impact

• Enhanced privacy for all users.
• Improved resistance to network-level attacks and censorship especially in countries that block Tor.
• Increased adoption among privacy-focused users and communities.