diff --git a/backend/mempool-config.sample.json b/backend/mempool-config.sample.json
index 0825ce810..80c2b4e28 100644
--- a/backend/mempool-config.sample.json
+++ b/backend/mempool-config.sample.json
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@
     "PORT": 8332,
     "USERNAME": "mempool",
     "PASSWORD": "mempool",
-    "TIMEOUT": 60000
+    "TIMEOUT": 60000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "/path/to/bitcoin/.cookie"
   },
   "ELECTRUM": {
     "HOST": "127.0.0.1",
@@ -60,7 +62,9 @@
     "PORT": 8332,
     "USERNAME": "mempool",
     "PASSWORD": "mempool",
-    "TIMEOUT": 60000
+    "TIMEOUT": 60000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "/path/to/bitcoin/.cookie"
   },
   "DATABASE": {
     "ENABLED": true,
diff --git a/backend/src/__fixtures__/mempool-config.template.json b/backend/src/__fixtures__/mempool-config.template.json
index 0e555014c..7d5a14de6 100644
--- a/backend/src/__fixtures__/mempool-config.template.json
+++ b/backend/src/__fixtures__/mempool-config.template.json
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@
     "PORT": 15,
     "USERNAME": "__CORE_RPC_USERNAME__",
     "PASSWORD": "__CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__",
-    "TIMEOUT": 1000
+    "TIMEOUT": 1000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "__CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__"
   },
   "ELECTRUM": {
     "HOST": "__ELECTRUM_HOST__",
@@ -61,7 +63,9 @@
     "PORT": 17,
     "USERNAME": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME__",
     "PASSWORD": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__",
-    "TIMEOUT": 2000
+    "TIMEOUT": 2000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__"
   },
   "DATABASE": {
     "ENABLED": false,
diff --git a/backend/src/__tests__/config.test.ts b/backend/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
index fbf1e3f0a..a565c64af 100644
--- a/backend/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
+++ b/backend/src/__tests__/config.test.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ describe('Mempool Backend Config', () => {
         PORT: 8332,
         USERNAME: 'mempool',
         PASSWORD: 'mempool',
-        TIMEOUT: 60000
+        TIMEOUT: 60000,
+        COOKIE: false,
+        COOKIE_PATH: '/bitcoin/.cookie'
       });
 
       expect(config.SECOND_CORE_RPC).toStrictEqual({
@@ -74,7 +76,9 @@ describe('Mempool Backend Config', () => {
         PORT: 8332,
         USERNAME: 'mempool',
         PASSWORD: 'mempool',
-        TIMEOUT: 60000
+        TIMEOUT: 60000,
+        COOKIE: false,
+        COOKIE_PATH: '/bitcoin/.cookie'
       });
 
       expect(config.DATABASE).toStrictEqual({
diff --git a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-api-abstract-factory.ts b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-api-abstract-factory.ts
index c44653a3d..9407a5441 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-api-abstract-factory.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-api-abstract-factory.ts
@@ -32,4 +32,5 @@ export interface BitcoinRpcCredentials {
   user: string;
   pass: string;
   timeout: number;
+  cookie?: string;
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-client.ts b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-client.ts
index 429638984..e8b30a888 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-client.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-client.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const nodeRpcCredentials: BitcoinRpcCredentials = {
   user: config.CORE_RPC.USERNAME,
   pass: config.CORE_RPC.PASSWORD,
   timeout: config.CORE_RPC.TIMEOUT,
+  cookie: config.CORE_RPC.COOKIE ? config.CORE_RPC.COOKIE_PATH : undefined,
 };
 
 export default new bitcoin.Client(nodeRpcCredentials);
diff --git a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-second-client.ts b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-second-client.ts
index 7f81a96a0..6ae9cefb0 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-second-client.ts
+++ b/backend/src/api/bitcoin/bitcoin-second-client.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const nodeRpcCredentials: BitcoinRpcCredentials = {
   user: config.SECOND_CORE_RPC.USERNAME,
   pass: config.SECOND_CORE_RPC.PASSWORD,
   timeout: config.SECOND_CORE_RPC.TIMEOUT,
+  cookie: config.SECOND_CORE_RPC.COOKIE ? config.SECOND_CORE_RPC.COOKIE_PATH : undefined,
 };
 
 export default new bitcoin.Client(nodeRpcCredentials);
diff --git a/backend/src/config.ts b/backend/src/config.ts
index 6ea7c48f8..37d5a2de9 100644
--- a/backend/src/config.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ interface IConfig {
     USERNAME: string;
     PASSWORD: string;
     TIMEOUT: number;
+    COOKIE: boolean;
+    COOKIE_PATH: string;
   };
   SECOND_CORE_RPC: {
     HOST: string;
@@ -85,6 +87,8 @@ interface IConfig {
     USERNAME: string;
     PASSWORD: string;
     TIMEOUT: number;
+    COOKIE: boolean;
+    COOKIE_PATH: string;
   };
   DATABASE: {
     ENABLED: boolean;
@@ -207,6 +211,8 @@ const defaults: IConfig = {
     'USERNAME': 'mempool',
     'PASSWORD': 'mempool',
     'TIMEOUT': 60000,
+    'COOKIE': false,
+    'COOKIE_PATH': '/bitcoin/.cookie'
   },
   'SECOND_CORE_RPC': {
     'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
@@ -214,6 +220,8 @@ const defaults: IConfig = {
     'USERNAME': 'mempool',
     'PASSWORD': 'mempool',
     'TIMEOUT': 60000,
+    'COOKIE': false,
+    'COOKIE_PATH': '/bitcoin/.cookie'
   },
   'DATABASE': {
     'ENABLED': true,
diff --git a/backend/src/rpc-api/jsonrpc.ts b/backend/src/rpc-api/jsonrpc.ts
index 4f7a38baa..0bcbdc16c 100644
--- a/backend/src/rpc-api/jsonrpc.ts
+++ b/backend/src/rpc-api/jsonrpc.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 var http = require('http')
 var https = require('https')
+import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
 
 var JsonRPC = function (opts) {
   // @ts-ignore
@@ -55,7 +56,13 @@ JsonRPC.prototype.call = function (method, params) {
     }
 
     // use HTTP auth if user and password set
-    if (this.opts.user && this.opts.pass) {
+    if (this.opts.cookie) {
+      if (!this.cachedCookie) {
+        this.cachedCookie = readFileSync(this.opts.cookie).toString();
+      }
+      // @ts-ignore
+      requestOptions.auth = this.cachedCookie;
+    } else if (this.opts.user && this.opts.pass) {
       // @ts-ignore
       requestOptions.auth = this.opts.user + ':' + this.opts.pass
     }
@@ -93,7 +100,7 @@ JsonRPC.prototype.call = function (method, params) {
       reject(err)
     })
 
-    request.on('response', function (response) {
+    request.on('response', (response) => {
       clearTimeout(reqTimeout)
 
       // We need to buffer the response chunks in a nonblocking way.
@@ -104,7 +111,7 @@ JsonRPC.prototype.call = function (method, params) {
       // When all the responses are finished, we decode the JSON and
       // depending on whether it's got a result or an error, we call
       // emitSuccess or emitError on the promise.
-      response.on('end', function () {
+      response.on('end', () => {
         var err
 
         if (cbCalled) return
@@ -113,6 +120,14 @@ JsonRPC.prototype.call = function (method, params) {
         try {
           var decoded = JSON.parse(buffer)
         } catch (e) {
+          // if we authenticated using a cookie and it failed, read the cookie file again
+          if (
+            response.statusCode === 401 /* Unauthorized */ &&
+            this.opts.cookie
+          ) {
+            this.cachedCookie = undefined;
+          }
+
           if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
             err = new Error('Invalid params, response status code: ' + response.statusCode)
             err.code = -32602
diff --git a/docker/README.md b/docker/README.md
index 13bda7ec6..8dc1f264a 100644
--- a/docker/README.md
+++ b/docker/README.md
@@ -164,7 +164,9 @@ Corresponding `docker-compose.yml` overrides:
     "PORT": 8332,
     "USERNAME": "mempool",
     "PASSWORD": "mempool",
-    "TIMEOUT": 60000
+    "TIMEOUT": 60000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": ""
   },
 ```
 
@@ -177,6 +179,8 @@ Corresponding `docker-compose.yml` overrides:
       CORE_RPC_USERNAME: ""
       CORE_RPC_PASSWORD: ""
       CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT: 60000
+      CORE_RPC_COOKIE: false
+      CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH: ""
       ...
 ```
 
@@ -231,7 +235,9 @@ Corresponding `docker-compose.yml` overrides:
     "PORT": 8332,
     "USERNAME": "mempool",
     "PASSWORD": "mempool",
-    "TIMEOUT": 60000
+    "TIMEOUT": 60000,
+    "COOKIE": false,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": ""
   },
 ```
 
@@ -244,6 +250,8 @@ Corresponding `docker-compose.yml` overrides:
       SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME: ""
       SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD: ""
       SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT: ""
+      SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE: false
+      SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH: ""
       ...
 ```
 
diff --git a/docker/backend/mempool-config.json b/docker/backend/mempool-config.json
index 0e445b358..a1359db97 100644
--- a/docker/backend/mempool-config.json
+++ b/docker/backend/mempool-config.json
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@
     "PORT": __CORE_RPC_PORT__,
     "USERNAME": "__CORE_RPC_USERNAME__",
     "PASSWORD": "__CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__",
-    "TIMEOUT": __CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__
+    "TIMEOUT": __CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__,
+    "COOKIE": __CORE_RPC_COOKIE__,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "__CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__"
   },
   "ELECTRUM": {
     "HOST": "__ELECTRUM_HOST__",
@@ -61,7 +63,9 @@
     "PORT": __SECOND_CORE_RPC_PORT__,
     "USERNAME": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME__",
     "PASSWORD": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__",
-    "TIMEOUT": __SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__
+    "TIMEOUT": __SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__,
+    "COOKIE": __SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE__,
+    "COOKIE_PATH": "__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__"
   },
   "DATABASE": {
     "ENABLED": __DATABASE_ENABLED__,
diff --git a/docker/backend/start.sh b/docker/backend/start.sh
index 3987dbc23..23c578efe 100755
--- a/docker/backend/start.sh
+++ b/docker/backend/start.sh
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ __CORE_RPC_PORT__=${CORE_RPC_PORT:=8332}
 __CORE_RPC_USERNAME__=${CORE_RPC_USERNAME:=mempool}
 __CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__=${CORE_RPC_PASSWORD:=mempool}
 __CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__=${CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT:=60000}
+__CORE_RPC_COOKIE__=${CORE_RPC_COOKIE:=false}
+__CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__=${CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH:=""}
 
 # ELECTRUM
 __ELECTRUM_HOST__=${ELECTRUM_HOST:=127.0.0.1}
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ __SECOND_CORE_RPC_PORT__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_PORT:=8332}
 __SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME:=mempool}
 __SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD:=mempool}
 __SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT:=60000}
+__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE:=false}
+__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__=${SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH:=""}
 
 # DATABASE
 __DATABASE_ENABLED__=${DATABASE_ENABLED:=true}
@@ -188,6 +192,8 @@ sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_PORT__!${__CORE_RPC_PORT__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_USERNAME__!${__CORE_RPC_USERNAME__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__!${__CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__!${__CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__}!g" mempool-config.json
+sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_COOKIE__!${__CORE_RPC_COOKIE__}!g" mempool-config.json
+sed -i "s!__CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__!${__CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__}!g" mempool-config.json
 
 sed -i "s!__ELECTRUM_HOST__!${__ELECTRUM_HOST__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__ELECTRUM_PORT__!${__ELECTRUM_PORT__}!g" mempool-config.json
@@ -205,6 +211,8 @@ sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PORT__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PORT__}!g" mempool-config
 sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_USERNAME__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_PASSWORD__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_TIMEOUT__}!g" mempool-config.json
+sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE__}!g" mempool-config.json
+sed -i "s!__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__!${__SECOND_CORE_RPC_COOKIE_PATH__}!g" mempool-config.json
 
 sed -i "s!__DATABASE_ENABLED__!${__DATABASE_ENABLED__}!g" mempool-config.json
 sed -i "s!__DATABASE_HOST__!${__DATABASE_HOST__}!g" mempool-config.json