diff --git a/docs/COMMAND_LINE.MD b/docs/COMMAND_LINE.MD
index fd4b07b..a8bf72d 100644
--- a/docs/COMMAND_LINE.MD
+++ b/docs/COMMAND_LINE.MD
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 --no-autodiff         Disable automatic difficulty adjustment for miners connected to stratum (WARNING: incompatible with Nicehash and MRR)
 --rpc-login           Specify username[:password] required for Monero RPC server
 --socks5              Specify IP:port of a SOCKS5 proxy to use for outgoing connections
+--socks5-proxy-type   The type of SOCKS5 proxy. Can be one of the following values: auto, plain, tor. Default is auto (auto-detect by the port number)
 --no-dns              Disable DNS queries, use only IP addresses to connect to peers (seed node DNS will be unavailable too)
 --p2p-external-port   Port number that your router uses for mapping to your local p2p port. Use it if you are behind a NAT and still want to accept incoming connections
 --no-upnp             Disable UPnP port forwarding
diff --git a/src/console_commands.cpp b/src/console_commands.cpp
index aed65bd..00c12b6 100644
--- a/src/console_commands.cpp
+++ b/src/console_commands.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static constexpr int DEFAULT_BACKLOG = 1;
 namespace p2pool {
 
 ConsoleCommands::ConsoleCommands(p2pool* pool)
-	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, ConsoleClient::allocate, std::string())
+	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, ConsoleClient::allocate, std::string(), Params::ProxyType::INVALID)
 	, m_pool(pool)
 	, m_tty{}
 	, m_stdin_pipe{}
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 817e2eb..2e1f6e5 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ void p2pool_usage()
 		"--no-autodiff         Disable automatic difficulty adjustment for miners connected to stratum (WARNING: incompatible with Nicehash and MRR)\n"
 		"--rpc-login           Specify username[:password] required for Monero RPC server\n"
 		"--socks5              Specify IP:port of a SOCKS5 proxy to use for outgoing connections\n"
+		"--socks5-proxy-type   The type of SOCKS5 proxy. Can be one of the following values: auto, plain, tor. Default is auto (auto-detect by the port number)\n"
 		"--no-dns              Disable DNS queries, use only IP addresses to connect to peers (seed node DNS will be unavailable too)\n"
 		"--p2p-external-port   Port number that your router uses for mapping to your local p2p port. Use it if you are behind a NAT and still want to accept incoming connections\n"
 #ifdef WITH_UPNP
diff --git a/src/merge_mining_client_tari.cpp b/src/merge_mining_client_tari.cpp
index 0d948e4..0236f2b 100644
--- a/src/merge_mining_client_tari.cpp
+++ b/src/merge_mining_client_tari.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ MergeMiningClientTari::MergeMiningClientTari(p2pool* pool, std::string host, con
 	, m_auxWallet(wallet)
 	, m_pool(pool)
 	, m_tariJobParams{}
-	, m_server(new TariServer(pool->params().m_socks5Proxy))
+	, m_server(new TariServer(pool->params().m_socks5Proxy, pool->params().m_socks5ProxyType))
 	, m_hostStr(host)
 	, m_workerStop(0)
 	, m_pushBlockStop(0)
@@ -863,8 +863,8 @@ void MergeMiningClientTari::run()
 // TariServer and TariClient are simply a proxy from a localhost TCP port to the external Tari node
 // This is needed for SOCKS5 proxy support (gRPC library doesn't support it natively)
 
-MergeMiningClientTari::TariServer::TariServer(const std::string& socks5Proxy)
-	: TCPServer(1, MergeMiningClientTari::TariClient::allocate, socks5Proxy)
+MergeMiningClientTari::TariServer::TariServer(const std::string& socks5Proxy, Params::ProxyType socks5ProxyType)
+	: TCPServer(1, MergeMiningClientTari::TariClient::allocate, socks5Proxy, socks5ProxyType)
 	, m_TariNodeIsV6(false)
 	, m_TariNodeHost()
 	, m_TariNodePort(0)
diff --git a/src/merge_mining_client_tari.h b/src/merge_mining_client_tari.h
index 247101b..8059b74 100644
--- a/src/merge_mining_client_tari.h
+++ b/src/merge_mining_client_tari.h
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ private:
 
 	struct TariServer : public TCPServer
 	{
-		explicit TariServer(const std::string& socks5Proxy);
+		TariServer(const std::string& socks5Proxy, Params::ProxyType socks5ProxyType);
 		~TariServer() {}
 
 		[[nodiscard]] bool start();
diff --git a/src/p2p_server.cpp b/src/p2p_server.cpp
index d96a431..1f1934c 100644
--- a/src/p2p_server.cpp
+++ b/src/p2p_server.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static constexpr hash seed_onion_nodes[] = {
 };
 
 P2PServer::P2PServer(p2pool* pool)
-	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, P2PClient::allocate, pool->params().m_socks5Proxy)
+	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, P2PClient::allocate, pool->params().m_socks5Proxy, pool->params().m_socks5ProxyType)
 	, m_pool(pool)
 	, m_cache(pool->params().m_blockCache ? new BlockCache(pool->params()) : nullptr)
 	, m_cacheLoaded(false)
@@ -426,14 +426,16 @@ void P2PServer::update_peer_connections()
 
 	uint32_t num_outgoing = m_numConnections - m_numIncomingConnections;
 
-	// Try to have at least N/2 outgoing onion connections
-	if (!m_socks5Proxy.empty()) {
+	// Try to have at least N/2 (or N if clearnet P2P is disabled) outgoing onion connections
+	if (!m_socks5Proxy.empty() && (m_socks5ProxyType == Params::ProxyType::TOR)) {
 		std::vector<hash> pubkeys = m_pool->side_chain().seen_onion_pubkeys();
 
 		// Add seed nodes
 		pubkeys.insert(pubkeys.end(), seed_onion_nodes, seed_onion_nodes + array_size(seed_onion_nodes));
 
-		for (uint32_t i = m_numOnionConnections, n = N / 2; (i < n) && !pubkeys.empty();) {
+		const uint32_t n = m_pool->params().m_noClearnetP2P ? N : (N / 2);
+
+		for (uint32_t i = m_numOnionConnections; (i < n) && !pubkeys.empty();) {
 			const uint64_t k = get_random64() % pubkeys.size();
 			const std::string addr = to_onion_v3(pubkeys[k]);
 
@@ -727,8 +729,21 @@ void P2PServer::load_peer_list()
 	}
 
 	// Finally load peers from p2pool_peers.txt and p2pool_onion_peers.txt
-	for (size_t i = 0, n = (m_socks5Proxy.empty() ? 1 : 2); i < n; ++i) {
-		const std::string path = m_pool->params().m_dataDir + (i ? saved_onion_peer_list_file_name : saved_peer_list_file_name);
+	std::vector<std::string> paths;
+	paths.resize(Params::ProxyType::MAX);
+
+	paths[Params::ProxyType::PLAIN] = saved_peer_list_file_name;
+
+	if (!m_socks5Proxy.empty() && (m_socks5ProxyType == Params::ProxyType::TOR)) {
+		paths[Params::ProxyType::TOR] = saved_onion_peer_list_file_name;
+	}
+
+	for (int i = Params::ProxyType::PLAIN; i < Params::ProxyType::MAX; ++i) {
+		const std::string& path = paths[i];
+
+		if (path.empty()) {
+			continue;
+		}
 
 		std::ifstream f(path);
 
@@ -740,7 +755,7 @@ void P2PServer::load_peer_list()
 				std::getline(f, address);
 
 				if (!address.empty()) {
-					if (i > 0) {
+					if (i == Params::ProxyType::TOR) {
 						const hash h = from_onion_v3(address);
 						if (!h.empty()) {
 							pubkeys.emplace_back(h);
@@ -756,7 +771,7 @@ void P2PServer::load_peer_list()
 			}
 			f.close();
 
-			if (i > 0) {
+			if (i == Params::ProxyType::TOR) {
 				s.add_onion_pubkeys(pubkeys);
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/params.cpp b/src/params.cpp
index 631a449..233ca21 100644
--- a/src/params.cpp
+++ b/src/params.cpp
@@ -238,6 +238,18 @@ Params::Params(const std::vector<std::vector<std::string>>& args)
 			ok = true;
 		}
 
+		if ((arg[0] == "socks5-proxy-type") && has1(arg)) {
+			const std::string s = tolower(arg[1]);
+
+			m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::INVALID;
+
+			if (s == "auto")  m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::AUTO;
+			if (s == "plain") m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::PLAIN;
+			if (s == "tor")   m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::TOR;
+
+			ok = m_socks5ProxyType != ProxyType::INVALID;
+		}
+
 		if (arg[0] == "no-dns") {
 			m_dns = false;
 			disable_resolve_host = true;
@@ -426,6 +438,29 @@ Params::Params(const std::vector<std::vector<std::string>>& args)
 	else {
 		fixup_path(m_dataDir);
 	}
+
+	// Detect the proxy type
+	if (!m_socks5Proxy.empty() && (m_socks5ProxyType == ProxyType::AUTO)) {
+		m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::INVALID;
+
+		const size_t k = m_socks5Proxy.find_last_of(':');
+
+		if ((k != std::string::npos) && (k < m_socks5Proxy.length() - 1)) {
+			const uint32_t port = std::stoul(m_socks5Proxy.substr(k + 1), nullptr, 10);
+
+			if ((port > 0) && (port < 65536)) {
+				switch (port) {
+				case 9050:
+					m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::TOR;
+					break;
+
+				default:
+					m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::PLAIN;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 bool Params::valid() const
@@ -478,6 +513,11 @@ bool Params::valid() const
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	if (m_socks5ProxyType == ProxyType::INVALID) {
+		LOGERR(1, "Invalid SOCKS5 proxy type. Check the --socks5 parameter.");
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/params.h b/src/params.h
index a330b46..a50d09f 100644
--- a/src/params.h
+++ b/src/params.h
@@ -108,7 +108,17 @@ struct Params
 	bool m_mini = false;
 	bool m_nano = false;
 	bool m_autoDiff = true;
+
 	std::string m_socks5Proxy;
+
+	enum ProxyType {
+		INVALID = -1,
+		AUTO    =  0,
+		PLAIN   =  1,
+		TOR     =  2,
+		MAX     =  3,
+	} m_socks5ProxyType = ProxyType::AUTO;
+
 	bool m_dns = true;
 	int32_t m_p2pExternalPort = 0;
 #ifdef WITH_UPNP
diff --git a/src/stratum_server.cpp b/src/stratum_server.cpp
index 4811f42..2400ab9 100644
--- a/src/stratum_server.cpp
+++ b/src/stratum_server.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static constexpr int32_t BAN_THRESHOLD_POINTS = -15;
 namespace p2pool {
 
 StratumServer::StratumServer(p2pool* pool)
-	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, StratumClient::allocate, std::string())
+	: TCPServer(DEFAULT_BACKLOG, StratumClient::allocate, std::string(), Params::ProxyType::INVALID)
 	, m_pool(pool)
 	, m_autoDiff(pool->params().m_autoDiff)
 	, m_enableFullValidation(pool->params().m_enableFullValidation)
diff --git a/src/tcp_server.cpp b/src/tcp_server.cpp
index fac43a7..263c5c3 100644
--- a/src/tcp_server.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp_server.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static thread_local const char* log_category_prefix = "TCPServer ";
 
 namespace p2pool {
 
-TCPServer::TCPServer(int default_backlog, allocate_client_callback allocate_new_client, const std::string& socks5Proxy)
+TCPServer::TCPServer(int default_backlog, allocate_client_callback allocate_new_client, const std::string& socks5Proxy, Params::ProxyType socks5ProxyType)
 	: m_allocateNewClient(allocate_new_client)
 	, m_defaultBacklog(default_backlog)
 	, m_loopThread{}
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ TCPServer::TCPServer(int default_backlog, allocate_client_callback allocate_new_
 	, m_portMapping(0)
 #endif
 	, m_socks5Proxy(socks5Proxy)
+	, m_socks5ProxyType(socks5ProxyType)
 	, m_socks5ProxyV6(false)
 	, m_socks5ProxyIP{}
 	, m_socks5ProxyPort(-1)
diff --git a/src/tcp_server.h b/src/tcp_server.h
index e4f069e..b5ac073 100644
--- a/src/tcp_server.h
+++ b/src/tcp_server.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "uv_util.h"
+#include "params.h"
 
 #ifdef WITH_TLS
 #include "tls.h"
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ public:
 	struct Client;
 	typedef Client* (*allocate_client_callback)();
 
-	TCPServer(int default_backlog, allocate_client_callback allocate_new_client, const std::string& socks5Proxy);
+	TCPServer(int default_backlog, allocate_client_callback allocate_new_client, const std::string& socks5Proxy, Params::ProxyType socks5ProxyType);
 	virtual ~TCPServer();
 
 	[[nodiscard]] bool connect_to_peer(bool is_v6, const char* ip, int port);
@@ -191,6 +192,7 @@ protected:
 #endif
 
 	std::string m_socks5Proxy;
+	Params::ProxyType m_socks5ProxyType;
 	bool m_socks5ProxyV6;
 	raw_ip m_socks5ProxyIP;
 	int m_socks5ProxyPort;
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index 613cf39..bae90b9 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -1014,12 +1014,8 @@ hash from_onion_v3(const std::string& address)
 		return {};
 	}
 
-	// Convert address to lowercase
-	std::string s = address;
-	std::transform(s.begin(), s.end(), s.begin(), [](unsigned char c) { return static_cast<char>(std::tolower(c)); });
-
 	// Checksum validation
-	if (to_onion_v3(result) != s) {
+	if (to_onion_v3(result) != tolower(address)) {
 		LOGWARN(3, "Invalid onion address \"" << address << "\": checksum failed");
 		return {};
 	}
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 2df9b27..f3307fd 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -395,6 +395,18 @@ FORCEINLINE void secure_zero_memory(T& value)
 	secure_zero_memory(&value, sizeof(T));
 }
 
+FORCEINLINE std::string tolower(const std::string& s)
+{
+	std::string result;
+	result.reserve(s.size() + 1);
+
+	for (char c : s) {
+		result.push_back(static_cast<char>(std::tolower(c)));
+	}
+
+	return result;
+}
+
 std::string to_onion_v3(const hash& pubkey);
 hash from_onion_v3(const std::string& address);