Running an Anyone Router: Navigating CGNAT and Setting Up Your Hardware

Since 2020, I’ve been diving into DePIN projects, and the Anyone Protocol is a standout, revolutionizing online privacy with its decentralized privacy network. The Anyone Router, a plug-and-play device, lets you contribute bandwidth to this network, protect your online activity, and earn $ANYONE tokens. But there’s a catch: you need a public-facing IP address to run it. I ran into trouble with Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT) from my ISP, and I want to help you avoid the same issue. In this post, I’ll guide you through setting up an Anyone Router, explain the CGNAT roadblock, share workarounds, and provide a step-by-step process to check if you’re behind CGNAT. Plus, we’ll cover port forwarding to get your relay ready to roll.

What Is the Anyone Router?

The Anyone Router is a plug-and-play device that boosts your internet privacy while earning you tokens. It’s part of the Anyone Protocol, a decentralized network that keeps your online activity anonymous without relying on centralized VPN servers like NordVPN. The Router routes your data through a global network of user-operated relays, encrypting it multiple times to obscure its origin and destination. No central entity controls the network or logs your activity, eliminating the need to trust a single provider.

To use the Anyone router, you plug it in, connect it to your Wi-Fi, and it creates a secure hotspot for your devices. By contributing bandwidth to the Anyone network, you earn $ANYONE tokens through a Proof-of-Uptime system, making it perfect for anyone wanting secure browsing and a chance to earn a bit with it.

Why a Public IP Matters for the Anyone Router

The Anyone Router acts as a relay, routing private traffic for users, so it needs a public-facing IP address to receive incoming connections from other nodes. Without it, your Router can’t function, as external devices won’t be able to reach it. The Anyone setup guide stresses this requirement, noting that relays must be reachable to contribute bandwidth and earn rewards. A public IP ensures your Router can handle incoming and outgoing traffic, acting as a node in this peer-to-peer network.

The CGNAT Roadblock

CGNAT is a technology ISPs use to conserve IPv4 addresses by assigning a single public IP to multiple customers, each with a private IP in a range like 100.64.0.0–100.127.255.255. This setup blocks inbound connections, making it impossible to run an Anyone Router without a public IP. Many ISPs, including Starlink’s standard plans, use CGNAT, which caught me off guard when I tried setting up my Router. The Anyone FAQ confirms that CGNAT makes running a relay “challenging without workarounds” like VPNs or cloud tunneling.

How to Check If You’re Behind CGNAT

Before buying an Anyone Router, check if your ISP uses CGNAT by comparing your public IP and WAN IP. I’m behind CGNAT, and I’m going to show you how to see if you are as well to avoid the same issue. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Find Your Public IP: Visit https://www.whatismyip.com to see the IP address your ISP assigns to your internet traffic. Write it down.
  
  
• Find Your Router’s WAN IP: Log into your router’s admin panel using a browser. Enter your router’s IP (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.100.1 for Starlink) in the address bar. Check your router’s manual if unsure. Navigate to the “Status,” “Internet,” or “Network” section to find the WAN IP.
  
  
• Compare the IPs: If the public IP and WAN IP match, you have a public-facing IP and can run the Router. If they differ, and the WAN IP is in the range 100.64.0.0–100.127.255.255, you’re definitely behind CGNAT.

Comparing your public IP with your router’s WAN IP is a reliable way to detect CGNAT. If you’re behind CGNAT, don’t despair—there are workarounds, though they add effort or cost.

Workarounds for CGNAT

If you’re behind CGNAT, like I was, you can still run an Anyone Router with these options:

• Contact Your ISP: Ask for a public IP, which could be dynamic (changes occasionally) or static (fixed). Some ISPs provide this for free, others charge (e.g., $5–$15/month for a static IP), and some, like in my case, don’t offer it at all. Confirm the IP supports inbound connections, as this is critical for relays.
  
  
• Starlink Users: Standard Starlink plans (Residential and Roam) use CGNAT, blocking relays. Upgrading to a Priority or Mobile Priority plan ($250+/month) provides a public IPv4 address, though it may change with relocation or updates. This IP is relay-ready but costly.
  
  
• Use a VPN with Dedicated IP: Services like PureVPN offer dedicated IPs with port forwarding, bypassing CGNAT by routing traffic through a public IP. Setup involves configuring the VPN on your Router or device and forwarding the relay’s port (e.g., 9001). This adds a monthly cost but works on standard ISP plans.
  
  
• Cloud Tunneling or VPS: Advanced users can use services like Remote.It or set up a reverse SSH tunnel to a Virtual Private Server (VPS) with a public IP. This routes traffic to your Router but requires technical know-how and ongoing VPS costs.
  
  
• Future IPv6 Support: Some ISPs, like Starlink, offer IPv6, which assigns public addresses. However, Anyone’s relay setup doesn’t yet support IPv6, so this isn’t a current solution but may be in the future.

These workarounds make running an Anyone Router possible behind CGNAT, but check costs and complexity before proceeding. The Anyone FAQ notes that VPNs like WireGuard won’t work, so stick to dedicated IP solutions.

Port Forwarding: The Final Setup Step

If your public IP and WAN IP match, you’re good to go and just need to port forward in your router. Port forwarding allows external traffic to reach your router’s designated port (default: 9001). Here’s how to set it up:

• Access Your Router: Open a browser, enter your router’s IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1), and log in with your credentials (check the router’s label or manual for defaults).
  
  
• Find Port Forwarding: Look for a “Port Forwarding,” “Virtual Server,” or “Applications” section, often under “Advanced” or “Security.”
  
  
• Create a Rule:
  Name: Call it “Anyone Relay.”
  Port: Enter 9001.
  Protocol: Select TCP/UDP.
  Internal IP: Enter your Anyone Router’s local IP (find it in your router’s connected devices list or set it as static).
  Source IP: Leave blank to allow all connections.
  
  
• Save and Test: Save the rule and reboot your router if needed. Check the Anyone Relay Control Panel’s “Reachability” status (under “Network” on the “Home” page). If it says “OK” and the Router’s lights pulse blue, your relay is live!

Ensure your router’s firewall allows the forwarded port, and use a tool like canyouseeme.org to verify the port is open. Port forwarding is critical, as the Anyone setup guide stresses, to make your router reachable.

Final Thoughts

Running an Anyone Router is a rewarding way to contribute to a decentralized privacy network while earning $ANYONE tokens. The public-facing IP requirement and CGNAT roadblock can be hurdles, but checking your IP setup and using workarounds like a dedicated IP VPN or ISP upgrade can get you up and running! Ensure proper port forwarding and a stable setup to maximize your rewards.

Let me know what you think about the Anyone router in the comments!