Ergo Node Zmqpub is a free, open source plugin for the Ergo node that picks up blockchain events, such as new blocks and transactions, and publishes them on a ZeroMQ publish socket. It is aimed at developers, node operators and small teams who want other software to react to Ergo activity in real time without repeatedly querying the node.
Please note up front: the code was last updated in December 2023, and the project is a community effort rather than a tool from a large company. It is still useful as a reference for event publishing, but check that it matches the Ergo node version you run before using it in production. The plugin is listed for Windows, Linux and Docker, so the setup below covers the Windows route as well as general steps. Read the safety section before installing anything.
What Is an Event Publisher for Blockchain Nodes?
A blockchain node keeps a full copy of the ledger and checks every new block against the network rules. Most of the time it does this quietly, so outside software has to ask it for updates. An event publisher changes that pattern. It watches for things that happen, such as a new block or a transaction, and pushes a message to anyone listening.
Ergo Node Zmqpub is a publisher of this kind for the Ergo network. It picks up events from a running Ergo node and sends them out on a ZeroMQ publish socket. Instead of writing code that repeatedly asks the node what changed, you write code that waits for messages.
This matters for tools that need to react quickly. A price dashboard, a block explorer backend or a monitoring script can update the moment a block arrives. It can also reduce repeated queries to the node, which keeps the setup tidier.
Who Ergo Node Zmqpub Is For
The plugin is most useful for people who already run, or plan to run, an Ergo node and want to build on top of it. It is not a wallet, and it does not show balances or send coins. Its audience is closer to developers and technical operators. Typical readers include:
- Developers building analytics tools that track new Ergo blocks.
- Node operators who want to log or forward events to a central system.
- Hobbyists learning how blockchain event streams work.
- Teams that run Ergo infrastructure in Docker and want the same plugin on Windows test machines.
If you only want to hold ERG, a wallet is the right kind of tool. This plugin is for building things that watch the chain. Expect to spend time on configuration and testing before you see value. The plugin gives you a feed, and turning that feed into something useful is your job. Plan for that work from the start.
How Publish-Subscribe Messaging Works in Practice
Publish-subscribe, often called pub/sub, is a messaging pattern with two roles. A publisher sends messages without knowing who receives them. A subscriber connects and receives the messages it is interested in. ZeroMQ implements this pattern with fast, lightweight sockets and does not require a separate broker server.
In this setup, the Ergo node with the plugin acts as the publisher. Your subscriber program opens a connection to the published address and waits. When the node sees a new block, the plugin sends a message, and the subscriber handles it. If the subscriber is offline for a while, it misses the messages sent during that time, so it should be designed to handle gaps.
That last point is a common trap. Developers who expect guaranteed delivery are often surprised. Plan for reconnection logic and, where needed, a way to fetch missed data directly from the node afterward.
Key features
Real-time event publishing
Standard ZeroMQ transport
Runs alongside your node
Supported coins
The plugin is documented for Ergo, the native coin of the Ergo network, referred to as ERG. It publishes events from the Ergo network only and does not add support for other blockchains. If you operate more than one Ergo node, each node that runs the plugin will publish its own event feed.
How to install Ergo Node Zmqpub on Windows
- 1
Prepare a running Ergo node
Install and sync the Ergo node on your Windows machine first. The plugin depends on the node, so it cannot run on its own. Give the node time to finish syncing before you test the event feed.
- 2
Get the plugin from the official source
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/cruxfinance/ergo-node-zmqpub. Look for a release package on the Releases page. If no ready-made package is posted, follow the build notes in the repository instead of trusting a binary from an unknown site.
- 3
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published alongside it. If no checksum is published, review the source code in the repository before running anything. Do not proceed if the values do not match.
-
Place the plugin and set the endpoint
Copy the plugin into the plugin location your Ergo node setup uses, then configure the ZeroMQ address and port the publisher should bind to. Restart the node so it loads the plugin. Check that the socket is listening before you connect any subscriber.
System requirements
- A working Ergo node, since the plugin cannot run without one
- Windows, which the documentation lists among supported platforms, alongside Linux and Docker
- A stable internet connection to keep the Ergo node synced
How to use Ergo Node Zmqpub
Once the node is running with the plugin loaded, the event feed is ready for any software you connect to it. The steps below show a basic check that events are arriving.
- Start the Ergo node and wait until it is fully synced.
- Confirm the ZeroMQ socket is open on the address and port you configured.
- Connect a simple subscriber, written in any language with ZeroMQ bindings, to that address.
- Subscribe to the event types you need, starting with new blocks.
- Watch for messages as new blocks arrive, and log them to confirm the stream is steady.
- Add your own logic, such as updating a dashboard or triggering a notification, only after the basic stream works.
Keep the subscriber separate from the node process so a bug in your code is less likely to disturb the node itself.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so the code can be read and reviewed
- Publishes node events over ZeroMQ, a widely used messaging library
- Lets other software react to new blocks without constant polling
- Listed for Windows, Linux and Docker
- Small scope makes it easy to understand what the plugin does
- Last code update was in December 2023, so compatibility with current node releases is uncertain
- Community-maintained, so support depends on volunteers
- Requires a running Ergo node and is not a standalone tool
- Windows support is mentioned in the documentation rather than clearly verified
- Has no built-in dashboard, so you need code on the receiving end
Is Ergo Node Zmqpub safe?
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/cruxfinance/ergo-node-zmqpub. Compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature of the file with the published value before running it. The project was last updated in December 2023, which is more than two years ago, so treat it with extra care. Review the source code, test on a non-production node, and check the latest version on the official website before installing. The plugin does not handle wallet keys, but it runs next to your node, so treat it like any third-party software. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website. If a security tool flags the file, investigate why before you run it.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/cruxfinance/ergo-node-zmqpub. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Ergo Node Zmqpub is a plugin, not a full node. Ergode is an experimental full node implementation written in TypeScript, so it covers the whole client rather than adding an event feed to an existing one. Bitcoin Core and Geth are well-established full clients for their own networks, and Nethermind is an Ethereum execution client built on .NET. If you need a ready-made event stream from the Ergo network, this plugin fits that job. If you need a complete client for another chain, compare the full node options instead.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 19 Dec 2023
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/cruxfinance/ergo-node-zmqpub
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The plugin is listed as free and open source, so you can download, run and inspect the code without a license fee. Costs still apply to the hardware and internet connection you use to run an Ergo node, since the plugin needs one to work.
The documentation mentions Windows among the supported platforms, alongside Linux and Docker. The plugin runs inside an Ergo node, so you need a working Ergo node on Windows first. Test the event feed on a non-production setup before relying on it, since Windows support is not clearly verified.
It publishes events it picks up from the Ergo node, such as new blocks and transactions. Subscribers receive these as messages over a ZeroMQ PUB socket. Because the plugin only forwards events, it does not add wallet, mining or trading features to your setup.
It can be used safely if you obtain it from the project's own repository, check its checksum, and test it first. The plugin does not handle wallet keys, but it runs next to your node, so review the code like any third-party software. Its last update was in December 2023, which makes a review even more important.
In most cases, yes. The plugin publishes messages, but someone must write or run a subscriber that receives and processes them. Basic familiarity with ZeroMQ and a programming language that has ZeroMQ bindings makes setup much easier.
The documentation lists Ergo (ERG) as the supported network, so the plugin is built for the Ergo node. It is not designed to publish events from chains such as Ethereum or Bitcoin. For those networks, the full node clients in the related programs list are a better starting point.
Verdict
Ergo Node Zmqpub suits developers and node operators who already run an Ergo node and want a lightweight way to stream new blocks and transactions to their own software. It is free, open source and small in scope. The December 2023 update and community-maintained status mean it needs a careful review and a test run before production use. If you need a complete client rather than an event feed, compare the full node options covered above.