diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp
index 83f204b3..4f90c288 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ public:
    std::string sendrawtransaction(const std::string &tx_hex);
    std::string walletlock();
    bool walletpassphrase(const std::string &passphrase, uint32_t timeout = 60);
-   uint64_t ping(rpc_connection &conn) const;
+
+   virtual uint64_t ping(rpc_connection &conn) const override;
 
 private:
    std::string ip;
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.hpp
index 919e87aa..5521521f 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.hpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.hpp
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ public:
    std::string eth_send_transaction(const std::string &params);
    std::string eth_send_raw_transaction(const std::string &params);
    std::string eth_get_transaction_receipt(const std::string &params);
+
+   virtual uint64_t ping(rpc_connection &conn) const override;
 };
 
 class sidechain_net_handler_ethereum : public sidechain_net_handler {
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.hpp
index 87b08644..122578ef 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.hpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.hpp
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ public:
    std::string get_head_block_time();
    std::string get_is_test_net();
    std::string get_last_irreversible_block_num();
-   uint64_t ping(rpc_connection &conn) const;
+
+   virtual uint64_t ping(rpc_connection &conn) const override;
 };
 
 class sidechain_net_handler_hive : public sidechain_net_handler {
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
index 78dd06b2..fe7471d8 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
@@ -244,8 +244,7 @@ bool bitcoin_rpc_client::walletpassphrase(const std::string &passphrase, uint32_
       return true;
 }
 
-uint64_t bitcoin_rpc_client::ping(rpc_connection &conn) const
-{
+uint64_t bitcoin_rpc_client::ping(rpc_connection &conn) const {
    return std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max();
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.cpp
index 5254412b..7fa2682b 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.cpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_ethereum.cpp
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ std::string ethereum_rpc_client::eth_get_transaction_receipt(const std::string &
    return send_post_request("eth_getTransactionReceipt", "[\"" + params + "\"]", debug_rpc_calls);
 }
 
+uint64_t ethereum_rpc_client::ping(rpc_connection &conn) const {
+   return std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max();
+}
+
 sidechain_net_handler_ethereum::sidechain_net_handler_ethereum(peerplays_sidechain_plugin &_plugin, const boost::program_options::variables_map &options) :
       sidechain_net_handler(_plugin, options) {
    sidechain = sidechain_type::ethereum;
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.cpp
index c9729f07..1b62d2b3 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.cpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_hive.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ sidechain_net_handler_hive::sidechain_net_handler_hive(peerplays_sidechain_plugi
       debug_rpc_calls = options.at("debug-rpc-calls").as<bool>();
    }
 
-   rpc_url = options.at("hive-node-rpc-url").as<std::string>();
+   rpc_urls = options.at("hive-node-rpc-url").as<std::vector<std::string>>();
    if (options.count("hive-rpc-user")) {
       rpc_user = options.at("hive-rpc-user").as<std::string>();
    } else {
@@ -159,11 +159,17 @@ sidechain_net_handler_hive::sidechain_net_handler_hive(peerplays_sidechain_plugi
       }
    }
 
-   rpc_client = new hive_rpc_client(rpc_url, rpc_user, rpc_password, debug_rpc_calls);
+   std::vector<std::string> rpc_users, rpc_passwords;
+   for (size_t i=0; i < rpc_urls.size(); i++) {
+      rpc_users.push_back(rpc_user);
+      rpc_passwords.push_back(rpc_password);
+   }
+
+   rpc_client = new hive_rpc_client(rpc_urls, rpc_users, rpc_passwords, debug_rpc_calls);
 
    const std::string chain_id_str = rpc_client->get_chain_id();
    if (chain_id_str.empty()) {
-      elog("No Hive node running at ${url}", ("url", rpc_url));
+      elog("No Hive node running at ${url}", ("url", rpc_urls[0]));
       FC_ASSERT(false);
    }
    chain_id = chain_id_type(chain_id_str);