diff --git a/onionr/api.py b/onionr/api.py
index 0490d5a7..d413c2d9 100755
--- a/onionr/api.py
+++ b/onionr/api.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class API:
             except:
                 data = ''
             startTime = math.floor(time.time())
-            # we should keep a hash DB of requests (with hmac) to prevent replays
+
             action = request.args.get('action')
             #if not self.debug:
             token = request.args.get('token')
diff --git a/onionr/communicator2.py b/onionr/communicator2.py
index 19697f47..24529a2f 100755
--- a/onionr/communicator2.py
+++ b/onionr/communicator2.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     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 sys, os, core, config, onionrblockapi as block, requests, time, logger, threading, onionrplugins as plugins
+import sys, os, core, config, onionrblockapi as block, requests, time, logger, threading, onionrplugins as plugins, base64
 import onionrexceptions
 from defusedxml import minidom
 
@@ -93,7 +93,16 @@ class OnionrCommunicatorDaemon:
         for blockHash in self.blockQueue:
             content = self.peerAction(self.pickOnlinePeer(), 'getData', data=blockHash)
             if content != False:
-                newBlock = block.Block()
+                try:
+                    content = content.encode()
+                except AttributeError:
+                    pass
+                content = base64.b64decode(content).decode()
+                if self._core._crypto.sha3Hash(content) == blockHash:
+                    metas = self._core._utils.getBlockMetadataFromData(content)
+                    metadata = metas[0]
+                    meta = metas[1]
+                    #if self._core._crypto.verifyPow(metas[2], metas[1])
         return
 
     def pickOnlinePeer(self):
diff --git a/onionr/onionrutils.py b/onionr/onionrutils.py
index 5246bb88..cf41c861 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrutils.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrutils.py
@@ -209,6 +209,22 @@ class OnionrUtils:
 
         return pass1
 
+    def getBlockMetadataFromData(self, blockData):
+        '''
+            accepts block contents as string and returns a tuple of metadata, meta (meta being internal metadata)
+        '''
+        try:
+            blockData = blockData.encode()
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        metadata = json.loads(blockData[:blockData.find(b'\n')].decode())
+        data = blockData[blockData.find(b'\n'):].decode()
+        try:
+            meta = json.loads(metadata['meta'])
+        except KeyError:
+            meta = {}
+        return (metadata, meta, data)
+
     def checkPort(self, port, host=''):
         '''
             Checks if a port is available, returns bool