diff --git a/side-node/src/cli/mod.rs b/side-node/src/cli/mod.rs
index cf50b6f..d20431d 100644
--- a/side-node/src/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/side-node/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
 
 #[derive(Subcommand)]
 pub(crate) enum Commands {
+    /// Placeholder for future BTC commands
+    Btc {},
+
     /// runs the Side Node
     Run { name: String },
 
diff --git a/side-node/src/clients/btc.rs b/side-node/src/clients/btc.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc5359c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/side-node/src/clients/btc.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+use bitcoincore_rpc::{Auth, Client, RpcApi};
+
+pub fn client() {
+    let rpc = Client::new(
+        "http://localhost:8332",
+        Auth::UserPass(
+            "<FILL RPC USERNAME>".to_string(),
+            "<FILL RPC PASSWORD>".to_string(),
+        ),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    let best_block_hash = rpc.get_best_block_hash().unwrap();
+    println!("best block hash: {}", best_block_hash);
+}
diff --git a/side-node/src/clients/mod.rs b/side-node/src/clients/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0c6d71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/side-node/src/clients/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub mod btc;
+pub mod websocket;
diff --git a/side-node/src/websocket.rs b/side-node/src/clients/websocket.rs
similarity index 86%
rename from side-node/src/websocket.rs
rename to side-node/src/clients/websocket.rs
index b3a1e05..f7bfde0 100644
--- a/side-node/src/websocket.rs
+++ b/side-node/src/clients/websocket.rs
@@ -5,19 +5,17 @@ use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 
 use crate::utils;
 
-pub struct WebSocketClient {
+pub struct Client {
     incoming_sender: mpsc::Sender<SignedOp>,
-    handle: ezsockets::Client<WebSocketClient>,
+    handle: ezsockets::Client<Client>,
 }
 
-impl WebSocketClient {
+impl Client {
     /// Start the websocket client
-    pub async fn new(
-        incoming_sender: mpsc::Sender<SignedOp>,
-    ) -> ezsockets::Client<WebSocketClient> {
+    pub async fn new(incoming_sender: mpsc::Sender<SignedOp>) -> ezsockets::Client<Client> {
         let config = ClientConfig::new("ws://localhost:8080/websocket");
         let (handle, future) = ezsockets::connect(
-            |client| WebSocketClient {
+            |client| Client {
                 incoming_sender,
                 handle: client,
             },
@@ -32,7 +30,7 @@ impl WebSocketClient {
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl ezsockets::ClientExt for WebSocketClient {
+impl ezsockets::ClientExt for Client {
     // Right now we're only using the Call type for sending signed ops
     // change this to an enum if we need to send other types of calls, and
     // match on it.
diff --git a/side-node/src/lib.rs b/side-node/src/lib.rs
index 9400626..149b3de 100644
--- a/side-node/src/lib.rs
+++ b/side-node/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
 use bft_json_crdt::json_crdt::{BaseCrdt, SignedOp};
 use cli::{parse_args, Commands};
+use clients::websocket;
 use crdt::TransactionList;
 use node::SideNode;
 use tokio::{sync::mpsc, task};
-use websocket::WebSocketClient;
 
 pub(crate) mod cli;
+pub mod clients;
 pub mod crdt;
 pub(crate) mod init;
 pub mod keys;
 pub mod node;
 pub(crate) mod stdin;
 pub mod utils;
-pub mod websocket;
 
 #[tokio::main]
 pub async fn run() {
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ pub async fn run() {
             let mut node = setup(name).await;
             node.start().await;
         }
+        Some(Commands::Btc {}) => {
+            println!("BTC command not yet implemented.");
+        }
         None => println!("No command provided. Exiting. See --help for more information."),
     }
 }
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ async fn setup(name: &String) -> SideNode {
     });
 
     // Finally, create the node and return it
-    let handle = WebSocketClient::new(incoming_sender).await;
+    let handle = websocket::Client::new(incoming_sender).await;
     let node = SideNode::new(
         crdt,
         bft_crdt_keys,
diff --git a/side-node/src/node.rs b/side-node/src/node.rs
index 19156a8..882b4a0 100644
--- a/side-node/src/node.rs
+++ b/side-node/src/node.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use bft_json_crdt::json_crdt::{BaseCrdt, SignedOp};
 use fastcrypto::ed25519::Ed25519KeyPair;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 
-use crate::{crdt::TransactionList, utils, websocket::WebSocketClient};
+use crate::{clients::websocket::Client, crdt::TransactionList, utils};
 
 pub struct SideNode {
     crdt: BaseCrdt<TransactionList>,
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub struct SideNode {
     bitcoin_keys: bitcoin::secp256k1::Keypair,
     incoming_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<SignedOp>,
     stdin_receiver: std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<String>,
-    handle: ezsockets::Client<WebSocketClient>,
+    handle: ezsockets::Client<Client>,
 }
 
 impl SideNode {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ impl SideNode {
         bitcoin_keys: bitcoin::secp256k1::Keypair,
         incoming_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<SignedOp>,
         stdin_receiver: std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<String>,
-        handle: ezsockets::Client<WebSocketClient>,
+        handle: ezsockets::Client<Client>,
     ) -> Self {
         let node = Self {
             crdt,
diff --git a/side-node/tests/side_node.rs b/side-node/tests/side_node.rs
index 355d7d6..951a1a9 100644
--- a/side-node/tests/side_node.rs
+++ b/side-node/tests/side_node.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use bft_json_crdt::{
     json_crdt::{BaseCrdt, SignedOp},
     keypair::make_keypair,
 };
-use side_node::{crdt::TransactionList, keys, node::SideNode, utils, websocket::WebSocketClient};
+use side_node::{clients::websocket::Client, crdt::TransactionList, keys, node::SideNode, utils};
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 
 #[tokio::test]
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ async fn setup(_: &str) -> SideNode {
     let (_, stdin_receiver) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
 
     // Finally, create the node and return it
-    let handle = WebSocketClient::new(incoming_sender).await;
+    let handle = Client::new(incoming_sender).await;
     let node = SideNode::new(
         crdt,
         bft_crdt_keys,