diff --git a/onionr/onionrblacklist.py b/onionr/onionrblacklist.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7261cf4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/onionr/onionrblacklist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+'''
+    Onionr - P2P Microblogging Platform & Social network.
+
+    This file handles maintenence of a blacklist database, for blocks and peers
+'''
+'''
+    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+    GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+'''
+import sqlite3, os
+class OnionrBlackList:
+    def __init__(self, coreInst):
+        self.blacklistDB = 'data/blacklist.db'
+        self._core = coreInst
+        
+        if not os.path.exists(self.blacklistDB):
+            self.generateDB()
+
+        return
+    
+    def inBlacklist(self, data):
+        return
+
+    def _dbExecute(self, toExec):
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(self.blacklistDB)
+        c = conn.cursor()
+        c.execute(toExec)
+        conn.commit()
+        conn.close()
+    
+    def deleteBeforeDate(self, date):
+        # TODO, delete blacklist entries before date
+        return
+
+    def generateDB(self):
+        self._dbExecute'''CREATE TABLE blacklist(
+            hash text primary key not null,
+            type text
+            );
+        ''')
+        return
+    
+    def clearDB(self):
+        self._dbExecute('''delete from blacklist;);''')
+
+    
+    def addToDB(self, data):
+        hashed = self._core._crypto.sha3Hash(data)
+        if not hashed.isalnum():
+            raise Exception("Hashed data is not alpha numeric")
+        insert = (hashed,)
+        self._dbExecute('insert into blacklist (hash) VALUES(' + data + ');')
diff --git a/onionr/onionrutils.py b/onionr/onionrutils.py
index afa86ef6..e25e692c 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrutils.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrutils.py
@@ -597,6 +597,19 @@ class OnionrUtils:
         else:
             self.powSalt = retData
         return retData
+    
+    def strToBytes(self, data):
+        try:
+            data = data.encode()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        return data
+    def bytesToStr(self, data):
+        try:
+            data = data.decode()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        return data
 
 def size(path='.'):
     '''