diff --git a/node/chain.go b/node/chain.go
index 92a916c2d..ef8e98743 100644
--- a/node/chain.go
+++ b/node/chain.go
@@ -3,12 +3,15 @@ package node
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/util"
 	"io/ioutil"
-	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
-	"time"
 )
 
 // A structure that specifies a non-native blockchain.
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ type HostedChain struct {
 	Blockchain `json:"blockchain"`
 	Port       string `json:"port"`
 	Host       string `json:"host"`
+	Path       string `json:"path"`   // url path for token based authentication
 	Medium     string `json:"medium"` // http, ws, tcp, etc.
 }
 
@@ -81,11 +85,12 @@ func ChainToHosted(b Blockchain) HostedChain {
 }
 
 // "dialHC" attempts to connect to the specific host:port hosting the chain.
-func dialHC(host string, port string) error {
-	if _, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", host+":"+port, time.Duration(1*time.Second)); err != nil {
-		return err
+func dialHC(u *url.URL) error {
+	resp, _ := http.Get(u.String())
+	if resp.StatusCode == 400 || resp.StatusCode == 200 {
+		return nil
 	}
-	return nil
+	return errors.New(strconv.Itoa(resp.StatusCode) + " : " + resp.Status)
 }
 
 // "TestChains" tests for hosted blockchain clients.
@@ -94,10 +99,21 @@ func TestChains() {
 	mux.Lock()
 	defer mux.Unlock()
 	for _, c := range hc {
-		if err := dialHC(c.Host, c.Port); err != nil {
-			fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, c.Name+" client is not detected @ "+c.Host+":"+c.Port+"\n")
+		s, err := util.URLProto(c.Host + ":" + c.Port)
+		if err != nil {
+			ExitGracefully(err.Error())
+		}
+		u, err := url.ParseRequestURI(s)
+		if err != nil {
+			ExitGracefully(err.Error())
+		}
+		if c.Path != "" {
+			u.Path = c.Path
+		}
+		if err := dialHC(u); err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, c.Name+" client is not detected @ "+u.String()+"\n")
 			ExitGracefully(c.Name + " client isn't detected" + "\n")
 		}
-		fmt.Println(c.Name + " NetID:" + c.NetID + " client is active and ready for service on port " + c.Port)
+		fmt.Println(c.Name + " NetID:" + c.NetID + " client is active and ready for service @ " + u.String())
 	}
 }
diff --git a/plugin/rpc/rpc.go b/plugin/rpc/rpc.go
index e8ea5daca..88b678bc5 100644
--- a/plugin/rpc/rpc.go
+++ b/plugin/rpc/rpc.go
@@ -7,15 +7,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/util"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 )
 
 // "ExecuteRequest" takes in the raw json string and forwards it to the port
-func ExecuteRequest(jsonStr []byte, host string, port string) (string, error) {
-	url, err := util.URLProto(host + ":" + port)
+func ExecuteRequest(jsonStr []byte, u *url.URL) (string, error) {
+	ur, err := util.URLProto(u.String())
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", url, bytes.NewBuffer(jsonStr))
+	req, err := http.NewRequest("POST", ur, bytes.NewBuffer(jsonStr))
 	req.Close = true
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	resp, err := (&http.Client{}).Do(req)
diff --git a/service/service.go b/service/service.go
index 6b6d50b9c..949a51daa 100644
--- a/service/service.go
+++ b/service/service.go
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@ package service
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 
 	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/config"
 	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/const"
-	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/logs"
 	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/node"
 	"github.com/pokt-network/pocket-core/plugin/rpc"
 )
@@ -25,13 +24,14 @@ type Relay struct {
 func RouteRelay(relay Relay) (string, error) {
 	if node.EnsureDWL(node.DWL(), relay.DevID) {
 		hc := node.ChainToHosted(node.Blockchain{Name: relay.Blockchain, NetID: relay.NetworkID})
-		port := hc.Port
-		host := hc.Host
-		if port == "" || host == "" {
-			logs.NewLog("Not a supported blockchain", logs.ErrorLevel, logs.JSONLogFormat)
-			return "This blockchain is not supported by this node", errors.New("not a supported blockchain")
+		u, err := url.ParseRequestURI(hc.Host + ":" + hc.Port)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
 		}
-		return rpc.ExecuteRequest([]byte(relay.Data), host, port)
+		if hc.Path != "" {
+			u.Path = hc.Path
+		}
+		return rpc.ExecuteRequest([]byte(relay.Data), u)
 	}
 	return "Invalid credentials", nil
 }