diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/cli.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/cli.py
index 1beb2c07e..0327954cc 100755
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/cli.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/cli.py
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ def float_range_checker(arg):
     [
         ("--electrs-url",),
         {
-            "help": "the URL of the Electrs server",
+            "help": "the complete URL of the Electrs API, possibly including a specific port, for example: `https://mempool.space/api`",
         },
     ],
     [
diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/backend/electrs.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/backend/electrs.py
index 69be0698b..b9072a760 100644
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/backend/electrs.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/backend/electrs.py
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
 import binascii
+import logging
 
 import requests
 
 from counterpartycore.lib import config, exceptions, script, util
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(config.LOGGER_NAME)
+
 
 def electr_query(url):
     if config.ELECTRS_URL is None:
         raise exceptions.ElectrsError("Electrs server not configured")
     try:
-        return requests.get(f"{config.ELECTRS_URL}/{url}", timeout=10).json()
+        full_url = f"{config.ELECTRS_URL}/{url}"
+        logger.debug(f"Querying Electrs: {full_url}")
+        return requests.get(full_url, timeout=10).json()
     except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
         raise exceptions.ElectrsError(f"Electrs error: {e}") from e
 
diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/composer.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/composer.py
index d6201f926..e4314781b 100644
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/composer.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/composer.py
@@ -587,7 +587,6 @@ def get_dummy_witness(script_pub_key):
     elif output_type == "P2TR":
         witness = [DUMMY_SCHNORR_SIG]
     if witness is not None:
-        print("WITNESS", witness)
         return TxWitnessInput(witness)
     return None
 
diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/config.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/config.py
index e58a79940..2d6688d23 100644
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/config.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/config.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 VERSION_REVISION = int(version[2])
 VERSION_PRE_RELEASE = "-".join(VERSION_STRING.split("-")[1:])
 
-DEFAULT_ELECTRS_URL_MAINNET = "https://api.counterparty.io:3000"
-DEFAULT_ELECTRS_URL_TESTNET = "https://api.counterparty.io:13000"
+DEFAULT_ELECTRS_URL_MAINNET = "https://blockstream.info/api"
+DEFAULT_ELECTRS_URL_TESTNET = "https://blockstream.info/testnet/api"
 
 # When updating to a new verion, we are making a rollback if major version changes.
 # If minor version changes and if needed, we are making a reparse from a given block.
diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/util.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/util.py
index 768536e04..16d700a75 100644
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/util.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/lib/util.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import threading
 import time
 from operator import itemgetter
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 import requests
 from counterparty_rs import utils as pycoin_rs_utils
@@ -708,3 +709,11 @@ def get_outputs_count_from_utxos_info(utxos_info):
 def get_op_return_output_from_utxos_info(utxos_info):
     _sources, _destination, _outputs_count, op_return_output = parse_utxos_info(utxos_info)
     return op_return_output
+
+
+def is_url(url):
+    try:
+        result = urlparse(url)
+        return all([result.scheme, result.netloc])
+    except ValueError:
+        return False
diff --git a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/server.py b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/server.py
index 98cbc730e..43ff3430b 100755
--- a/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/server.py
+++ b/counterparty-core/counterpartycore/server.py
@@ -586,6 +586,8 @@ def initialise_config(
     config.GUNICORN_WORKERS = gunicorn_workers
 
     if electrs_url:
+        if not util.is_url(electrs_url):
+            raise ConfigurationError("Invalid Electrs URL")
         config.ELECTRS_URL = electrs_url
     else:
         if config.NETWORK_NAME == "testnet":
diff --git a/release-notes/release-notes-v10.9.0.md b/release-notes/release-notes-v10.9.0.md
index 028aca54e..13a1f36ea 100644
--- a/release-notes/release-notes-v10.9.0.md
+++ b/release-notes/release-notes-v10.9.0.md
@@ -62,12 +62,14 @@
 - Use `satoshirate_normalized` and `give_quantity_normalized` to calculate `price_normalized`
 - Add a parameter `utxo_value` to the `attach.compose()` and `move.compose()` functions
 - Add `source_address` and `destination_address` in `sends` table
+- Use by default Blockstream for Electrs API
 
 ## CLI
 
 - Add `--cache-dir` flag
 - Add `severity` field to JSON logs for compatibility
 - Add `--refresh-state-db` and `--rebuild-state-db` flags for `start` command
+- Check if `--electrs-url` is a valid url
 
 # Credits