diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8a042b30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DISABLE_SHOCK_ENCRYPTION=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes.js b/src/routes.js
index ceb17e18..594f226e 100644
--- a/src/routes.js
+++ b/src/routes.js
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ module.exports = async (
     const deviceId = req.headers["x-shockwallet-device-id"];
     logger.debug("Decrypting route...")
     try {
-      if (nonEncryptedRoutes.includes(req.path)) {
+      if (nonEncryptedRoutes.includes(req.path) || process.env.DISABLE_SHOCK_ENCRYPTION) {
         return next();
       }
   
@@ -1618,7 +1618,7 @@ module.exports = async (
   const GunEvent = Common.Constants.Event
   const Key = require('../services/gunDB/contact-api/key')
   const { timeout5 } = require('../services/gunDB/contact-api/utils')
-  
+
   app.get("/api/gun/lndchanbackups", async (req,res) => {
     try{
       const user = require('../services/gunDB/Mediator').getUser()
diff --git a/src/server.js b/src/server.js
index c92b9b83..fca6bab3 100644
--- a/src/server.js
+++ b/src/server.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const server = program => {
   const Http = require('http')
   const Express = require('express')
   const Crypto = require('crypto')
+  const Dotenv = require('dotenv')
   const LightningServices = require('../utils/lightningServices')
   const Encryption = require('../utils/encryptionStore')
   const app = Express()
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ const server = program => {
   // load app default configuration data
   const defaults = require('../config/defaults')(program.mainnet)
   // define useful global variables ======================================
+  Dotenv.config()
   module.useTLS = program.usetls
   module.serverPort = program.serverport || defaults.serverPort
   module.httpsPort = module.serverPort
@@ -41,6 +43,12 @@ const server = program => {
 
   logger.info('Mainnet Mode:', !!program.mainnet)
 
+  if (process.env.DISABLE_SHOCK_ENCRYPTION) {
+    logger.error('Encryption Mode: false')
+  } else {
+    logger.info('Encryption Mode: true')
+  }
+
   const stringifyData = data => {
     if (typeof data === 'object') {
       const stringifiedData = JSON.stringify(data)
@@ -64,7 +72,10 @@ const server = program => {
     const deviceId = req.headers['x-shockwallet-device-id']
     const oldSend = res.send
 
-    if (!nonEncryptedRoutes.includes(req.path)) {
+    if (
+      !nonEncryptedRoutes.includes(req.path) &&
+      !process.env.DISABLE_SHOCK_ENCRYPTION
+    ) {
       res.send = (...args) => {
         if (args[0] && args[0].encryptedData && args[0].encryptionKey) {
           logger.warn('Response loop detected!')