diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 8a970e39..dc4caae4 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ RUN \
       libreadline-dev \
       libssl-dev \
       libtool \
+      libzmq3-dev \
       locales \
       ntp \
       pkg-config \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8207bb29..941afa68 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ This is a quick introduction to get new developers and witnesses up to speed on
  The following dependencies were necessary for a clean install of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS:
 
  ```
- sudo apt-get install gcc-5 g++-5 cmake make libbz2-dev\
-     libdb++-dev libdb-dev libssl-dev openssl libreadline-dev\
-      autoconf libtool git
+ sudo apt-get install autoconf bash build-essential ca-certificates cmake \
+      doxygen git graphviz libbz2-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libncurses-dev \
+      libreadline-dev libssl-dev libtool libzmq3-dev locales ntp pkg-config \
+      wget
 ```
 ## Build Boost 1.67.0
 
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/CMakeLists.txt
index 931d4f45..47bb066c 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ file(GLOB HEADERS "include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/*.hpp")
 
 add_library( peerplays_sidechain
              peerplays_sidechain_plugin.cpp
+             sidechain_net_manager.cpp
+             sidechain_net_handler.cpp
+             sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
            )
 
 target_link_libraries( peerplays_sidechain graphene_chain graphene_app )
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.hpp
index d32fb09d..45628223 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.hpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.hpp
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <graphene/app/plugin.hpp>
-#include <graphene/chain/database.hpp>
-#include <graphene/chain/account_object.hpp>
 
-#include <fc/thread/future.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/account_object.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/database.hpp>
 
 namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
 using namespace chain;
@@ -30,5 +29,5 @@ class peerplays_sidechain_plugin : public graphene::app::plugin
       std::unique_ptr<detail::peerplays_sidechain_plugin_impl> my;
 };
 
-} } //graphene::peerplays_sidechain_plugin
+} } //graphene::peerplays_sidechain
 
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..af697c85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+class sidechain_net_handler {
+public:
+    sidechain_net_handler(const boost::program_options::variables_map& options);
+    virtual ~sidechain_net_handler();
+protected:
+    virtual void handle_block( const std::string& block_hash ) = 0;
+
+private:
+
+};
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
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
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df763377
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+#include <zmq.hpp>
+
+#include <fc/signals.hpp>
+#include <fc/network/http/connection.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/database.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+class bitcoin_rpc_client {
+public:
+   bitcoin_rpc_client( std::string _ip, uint32_t _rpc, std::string _user, std::string _password) ;
+   std::string receive_full_block( const std::string& block_hash );
+   int32_t receive_confirmations_tx( const std::string& tx_hash );
+   bool receive_mempool_entry_tx( const std::string& tx_hash );
+   uint64_t receive_estimated_fee();
+   void send_btc_tx( const std::string& tx_hex );
+   bool connection_is_not_defined() const;
+
+private:
+
+   fc::http::reply send_post_request( std::string body );
+
+   std::string ip;
+   uint32_t rpc_port;
+   std::string user;
+   std::string password;
+
+   fc::http::header authorization;
+};
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+class zmq_listener {
+public:
+   zmq_listener( std::string _ip, uint32_t _zmq );
+   bool connection_is_not_defined() const { return zmq_port == 0; }
+
+   fc::signal<void( const std::string& )> block_received;
+private:
+   void handle_zmq();
+   std::vector<zmq::message_t> receive_multipart();
+
+   std::string ip;
+   uint32_t zmq_port;
+
+   zmq::context_t ctx;
+   zmq::socket_t socket;
+};
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+class sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin : public sidechain_net_handler {
+public:
+   sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin(const boost::program_options::variables_map& options);
+   virtual ~sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin();
+
+   void handle_block( const std::string& block_hash );
+private:
+   std::string ip;
+   uint32_t zmq_port;
+   uint32_t rpc_port;
+   std::string rpc_user;
+   std::string rpc_password;
+
+   std::unique_ptr<zmq_listener> listener;
+   std::unique_ptr<bitcoin_rpc_client> bitcoin_client;
+   graphene::chain::database* db;
+
+};
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.hpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..703fe370
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/include/graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp>
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <boost/program_options.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+enum networks {
+   bitcoin,
+   //ethereum
+};
+
+class sidechain_net_manager {
+public:
+   sidechain_net_manager();
+   virtual ~sidechain_net_manager();
+
+   bool create_handler(peerplays_sidechain::networks network, const boost::program_options::variables_map& options);
+private:
+
+   std::vector<std::unique_ptr<sidechain_net_handler>> net_handlers;
+
+};
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.cpp
index 36d0b713..e528765d 100644
--- a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.cpp
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.cpp
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 #include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/peerplays_sidechain_plugin.hpp>
 
+#include <fc/log/logger.hpp>
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.hpp>
+
+namespace bpo = boost::program_options;
+
 namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
 
 namespace detail
 {
 
-
 class peerplays_sidechain_plugin_impl
 {
    public:
@@ -16,8 +20,8 @@ class peerplays_sidechain_plugin_impl
 
       peerplays_sidechain_plugin& _self;
 
-      uint32_t parameter;
-      uint32_t optional_parameter;
+      peerplays_sidechain::sidechain_net_manager _net_manager;
+
 };
 
 peerplays_sidechain_plugin_impl::~peerplays_sidechain_plugin_impl()
@@ -48,8 +52,11 @@ void peerplays_sidechain_plugin::plugin_set_program_options(
    )
 {
    cli.add_options()
-         ("parameter", boost::program_options::value<uint32_t>(), "Parameter")
-         ("optional-parameter", boost::program_options::value<uint32_t>(), "Optional parameter")
+         ("bitcoin-node-ip", bpo::value<string>()->implicit_value("127.0.0.1"), "IP address of Bitcoin node")
+         ("bitcoin-node-zmq-port", bpo::value<uint32_t>()->implicit_value(28332), "ZMQ port of Bitcoin node")
+         ("bitcoin-node-rpc-port", bpo::value<uint32_t>()->implicit_value(18332), "RPC port of Bitcoin node")
+         ("bitcoin-node-rpc-user", bpo::value<string>(), "Bitcoin RPC user")
+         ("bitcoin-node-rpc-password", bpo::value<string>(), "Bitcoin RPC password")
          ;
    cfg.add(cli);
 }
@@ -58,11 +65,12 @@ void peerplays_sidechain_plugin::plugin_initialize(const boost::program_options:
 {
    ilog("peerplays sidechain plugin:  plugin_initialize()");
 
-   if (options.count("parameter")) {
-       my->parameter = options["optional-parameter"].as<uint32_t>();
-   }
-   if (options.count("optional-parameter")) {
-       my->optional_parameter = options["optional-parameter"].as<uint32_t>();
+   if( options.count( "bitcoin-node-ip" ) && options.count( "bitcoin-node-zmq-port" ) && options.count( "bitcoin-node-rpc-port" )
+      && options.count( "bitcoin-node-rpc-user" ) && options.count( "bitcoin-node-rpc-password" ) )
+   {
+      my->_net_manager.create_handler(networks::bitcoin, options);
+   } else {
+      wlog("Haven't set up bitcoin sidechain parameters");
    }
 }
 
@@ -71,4 +79,5 @@ void peerplays_sidechain_plugin::plugin_startup()
    ilog("peerplays sidechain plugin:  plugin_startup()");
 }
 
-} }
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19e7db91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+sidechain_net_handler::sidechain_net_handler(const boost::program_options::variables_map& options) {
+}
+
+sidechain_net_handler::~sidechain_net_handler() {
+}
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..130fb544
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp>
+
+#include <thread>
+
+#include <boost/algorithm/hex.hpp>
+#include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp>
+#include <boost/property_tree/json_parser.hpp>
+
+#include <fc/crypto/base64.hpp>
+#include <fc/logger/log.hpp>
+#include <fc/network/ip.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+bitcoin_rpc_client::bitcoin_rpc_client( std::string _ip, uint32_t _rpc, std::string _user, std::string _password ):
+                      ip( _ip ), rpc_port( _rpc ), user( _user ), password( _password )
+{
+   authorization.key = "Authorization";
+   authorization.val = "Basic " + fc::base64_encode( user + ":" + password );
+}
+
+std::string bitcoin_rpc_client::receive_full_block( const std::string& block_hash )
+{
+   fc::http::connection conn;
+   conn.connect_to( fc::ip::endpoint( fc::ip::address( ip ), rpc_port ) );
+
+   const auto url = "http://" + ip + ":" + std::to_string( rpc_port ) + "/rest/block/" + block_hash + ".json";
+
+   const auto reply = conn.request( "GET", url );
+   if ( reply.status != 200 )
+      return "";
+
+   ilog( "Receive Bitcoin block: ${hash}", ( "hash", block_hash ) );
+   return std::string( reply.body.begin(), reply.body.end() );
+}
+
+int32_t bitcoin_rpc_client::receive_confirmations_tx( const std::string& tx_hash )
+{
+   const auto body = std::string("{\"jsonrpc\": \"1.0\", \"id\":\"curltest\", \"method\": \"getrawtransaction\", \"params\": [") +
+                      std::string("\"") + tx_hash + std::string("\"") + ", " + "true" + std::string("] }");
+
+   const auto reply = send_post_request( body );
+
+   if ( reply.status != 200 )
+      return 0;
+
+   const auto result = std::string( reply.body.begin(), reply.body.end() );
+
+   std::stringstream ss( result );
+   boost::property_tree::ptree tx;
+   boost::property_tree::read_json( ss, tx );
+
+   if( tx.count( "result" ) ) {
+      if( tx.get_child( "result" ).count( "confirmations" ) ) {
+         return tx.get_child( "result" ).get_child( "confirmations" ).get_value<int64_t>();
+      }
+   }
+   return 0;
+}
+
+bool bitcoin_rpc_client::receive_mempool_entry_tx( const std::string& tx_hash )
+{
+   const auto body = std::string("{\"jsonrpc\": \"1.0\", \"id\":\"curltest\", \"method\": \"getmempoolentry\", \"params\": [") +
+                      std::string("\"") + tx_hash + std::string("\"") + std::string("] }");
+
+   const auto reply = send_post_request( body );
+
+   if ( reply.status != 200 )
+        return false;
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+uint64_t bitcoin_rpc_client::receive_estimated_fee()
+{
+   static const auto confirmation_target_blocks = 6;
+
+   const auto body = std::string("{\"jsonrpc\": \"1.0\", \"id\":\"estimated_feerate\", \"method\": \"estimatesmartfee\", \"params\": [") +
+                     std::to_string(confirmation_target_blocks) + std::string("] }");
+
+   const auto reply = send_post_request( body );
+
+   if( reply.status != 200 )
+      return 0;
+
+   std::stringstream ss( std::string( reply.body.begin(), reply.body.end() ) );
+   boost::property_tree::ptree json;
+   boost::property_tree::read_json( ss, json );
+
+   if( json.count( "result" ) )
+      if ( json.get_child( "result" ).count( "feerate" ) ) {
+         auto feerate_str = json.get_child( "result" ).get_child( "feerate" ).get_value<std::string>();
+         feerate_str.erase( std::remove( feerate_str.begin(), feerate_str.end(), '.' ), feerate_str.end() );
+         return std::stoll( feerate_str );
+      }
+   return 0;
+}
+
+void bitcoin_rpc_client::send_btc_tx( const std::string& tx_hex )
+{
+   const auto body = std::string("{\"jsonrpc\": \"1.0\", \"id\":\"send_tx\", \"method\": \"sendrawtransaction\", \"params\": [") +
+                     std::string("\"") + tx_hex + std::string("\"") + std::string("] }");
+
+   const auto reply = send_post_request( body );
+
+   if( reply.body.empty() )
+      return;
+
+   std::string reply_str( reply.body.begin(), reply.body.end() );
+
+   std::stringstream ss(reply_str);
+   boost::property_tree::ptree json;
+   boost::property_tree::read_json( ss, json );
+
+   if( reply.status == 200 ) {
+      idump(( tx_hex ));
+      return;
+   } else if( json.count( "error" ) && !json.get_child( "error" ).empty() ) {
+      const auto error_code = json.get_child( "error" ).get_child( "code" ).get_value<int>();
+      if( error_code == -27 ) // transaction already in block chain
+         return;
+
+      wlog( "BTC tx is not sent! Reply: ${msg}", ("msg", reply_str) );
+   }
+}
+
+bool bitcoin_rpc_client::connection_is_not_defined() const
+{
+   return ip.empty() || rpc_port == 0 || user.empty() || password.empty();
+}
+
+fc::http::reply bitcoin_rpc_client::send_post_request( std::string body )
+{
+   fc::http::connection conn;
+   conn.connect_to( fc::ip::endpoint( fc::ip::address( ip ), rpc_port ) );
+
+   const auto url = "http://" + ip + ":" + std::to_string( rpc_port );
+
+   return conn.request( "POST", url, body, fc::http::headers{authorization} );
+}
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+zmq_listener::zmq_listener( std::string _ip, uint32_t _zmq ): ip( _ip ), zmq_port( _zmq ), ctx( 1 ), socket( ctx, ZMQ_SUB ) {
+   std::thread( &zmq_listener::handle_zmq, this ).detach();
+}
+
+std::vector<zmq::message_t> zmq_listener::receive_multipart() {
+   std::vector<zmq::message_t> msgs;
+
+   int32_t more;
+   size_t more_size = sizeof( more );
+   while ( true ) {
+      zmq::message_t msg;
+      socket.recv( &msg, 0 );
+      socket.getsockopt( ZMQ_RCVMORE, &more, &more_size );
+
+      if ( !more )
+         break;
+      msgs.push_back( std::move(msg) );
+   }
+
+   return msgs;
+}
+
+void zmq_listener::handle_zmq() {
+   socket.setsockopt( ZMQ_SUBSCRIBE, "hashblock", 0 );
+   socket.connect( "tcp://" + ip + ":" + std::to_string( zmq_port ) );
+
+   while ( true ) {
+      auto msg = receive_multipart();
+      const auto header = std::string( static_cast<char*>( msg[0].data() ), msg[0].size() );
+      const auto hash = boost::algorithm::hex( std::string( static_cast<char*>( msg[1].data() ), msg[1].size() ) );
+
+      block_received( hash );
+   }
+}
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin(const boost::program_options::variables_map& options) :
+      sidechain_net_handler(options) {
+   ip = options.at("bitcoin-node-ip").as<std::string>();
+   zmq_port = options.at("bitcoin-node-zmq-port").as<uint32_t>();
+   rpc_port = options.at("bitcoin-node-rpc-port").as<uint32_t>();
+   rpc_user = options.at("bitcoin-node-rpc-user").as<std::string>();
+   rpc_password = options.at("bitcoin-node-rpc-password").as<std::string>();
+
+   fc::http::connection conn;
+   try {
+      conn.connect_to( fc::ip::endpoint( fc::ip::address( ip ), rpc_port ) );
+   } catch ( fc::exception e ) {
+      elog( "No BTC node running at ${ip} or wrong rpc port: ${port}", ("ip", ip) ("port", rpc_port) );
+      FC_ASSERT( false );
+   }
+
+   listener = std::unique_ptr<zmq_listener>( new zmq_listener( ip, zmq_port ) );
+   bitcoin_client = std::unique_ptr<bitcoin_rpc_client>( new bitcoin_rpc_client( ip, rpc_port, rpc_user, rpc_password ) );
+   //db = _db;
+
+   listener->block_received.connect([this]( const std::string& block_hash ) {
+      std::thread( &sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::handle_block, this, block_hash ).detach();
+   } );
+
+   //db->send_btc_tx.connect([this]( const sidechain::bitcoin_transaction& trx ) {
+   //   std::thread( &sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::send_btc_tx, this, trx ).detach();
+   //} );
+}
+
+sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::~sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin() {
+}
+
+void sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::handle_block( const std::string& block_hash ) {
+   ilog("peerplays sidechain plugin:  sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin::handle_block");
+   ilog("                             block_hash: ${block_hash}", ("block_hash", block_hash));
+}
+
+// =============================================================================
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.cpp b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9c436d64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_manager.hpp>
+
+#include <fc/log/logger.hpp>
+#include <graphene/peerplays_sidechain/sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace peerplays_sidechain {
+
+sidechain_net_manager::sidechain_net_manager() {
+   ilog(__FUNCTION__);
+}
+
+sidechain_net_manager::~sidechain_net_manager() {
+   ilog(__FUNCTION__);
+}
+
+bool sidechain_net_manager::create_handler(peerplays_sidechain::networks network, const boost::program_options::variables_map& options) {
+   ilog(__FUNCTION__);
+
+   bool ret_val = false;
+
+   switch (network) {
+      case networks::bitcoin: {
+          std::unique_ptr<sidechain_net_handler> h = std::unique_ptr<sidechain_net_handler>(new sidechain_net_handler_bitcoin(options));
+          net_handlers.push_back(std::move(h));
+          ret_val = true;
+      }
+      default:
+         assert(false);
+   }
+
+   return ret_val;
+}
+
+} } // graphene::peerplays_sidechain
+