diff --git a/electrum/bitcoin.py b/electrum/bitcoin.py
index abaa5ed24..6bebf498b 100644
--- a/electrum/bitcoin.py
+++ b/electrum/bitcoin.py
@@ -284,13 +284,15 @@ def script_to_address(script, *, net=None):
     assert t == TYPE_ADDRESS
     return addr
 
-def address_to_script(addr, *, net=None):
+def address_to_script(addr: str, *, net=None) -> str:
     if net is None:
         net = constants.net
+    if not is_address(addr, net=net):
+        raise BitcoinException(f"invalid bitcoin address: {addr}")
     witver, witprog = segwit_addr.decode(net.SEGWIT_HRP, addr)
     if witprog is not None:
         if not (0 <= witver <= 16):
-            raise BitcoinException('impossible witness version: {}'.format(witver))
+            raise BitcoinException(f'impossible witness version: {witver}')
         OP_n = witver + 0x50 if witver > 0 else 0
         script = bh2u(bytes([OP_n]))
         script += push_script(bh2u(bytes(witprog)))
@@ -305,7 +307,7 @@ def address_to_script(addr, *, net=None):
         script += push_script(bh2u(hash_160_))
         script += '87'                                       # op_equal
     else:
-        raise BitcoinException('unknown address type: {}'.format(addrtype))
+        raise BitcoinException(f'unknown address type: {addrtype}')
     return script
 
 def address_to_scripthash(addr):
@@ -491,24 +493,28 @@ def address_from_private_key(sec):
     public_key = ecc.ECPrivkey(privkey).get_public_key_hex(compressed=compressed)
     return pubkey_to_address(txin_type, public_key)
 
-def is_segwit_address(addr):
+def is_segwit_address(addr, *, net=None):
+    if net is None: net = constants.net
     try:
-        witver, witprog = segwit_addr.decode(constants.net.SEGWIT_HRP, addr)
+        witver, witprog = segwit_addr.decode(net.SEGWIT_HRP, addr)
     except Exception as e:
         return False
     return witprog is not None
 
-def is_b58_address(addr):
+def is_b58_address(addr, *, net=None):
+    if net is None: net = constants.net
     try:
         addrtype, h = b58_address_to_hash160(addr)
     except Exception as e:
         return False
-    if addrtype not in [constants.net.ADDRTYPE_P2PKH, constants.net.ADDRTYPE_P2SH]:
+    if addrtype not in [net.ADDRTYPE_P2PKH, net.ADDRTYPE_P2SH]:
         return False
     return addr == hash160_to_b58_address(h, addrtype)
 
-def is_address(addr):
-    return is_segwit_address(addr) or is_b58_address(addr)
+def is_address(addr, *, net=None):
+    if net is None: net = constants.net
+    return is_segwit_address(addr, net=net) \
+           or is_b58_address(addr, net=net)
 
 
 def is_private_key(key):
diff --git a/electrum/blockchain.py b/electrum/blockchain.py
index 0f8749056..2c72f6b37 100644
--- a/electrum/blockchain.py
+++ b/electrum/blockchain.py
@@ -72,7 +72,11 @@ def hash_header(header: dict) -> str:
         return '0' * 64
     if header.get('prev_block_hash') is None:
         header['prev_block_hash'] = '00'*32
-    return hash_encode(sha256d(bfh(serialize_header(header))))
+    return hash_raw_header(serialize_header(header))
+
+
+def hash_raw_header(header: str) -> str:
+    return hash_encode(sha256d(bfh(header)))
 
 
 blockchains = {}  # type: Dict[int, Blockchain]
diff --git a/electrum/daemon.py b/electrum/daemon.py
index 029231c97..b811905f3 100644
--- a/electrum/daemon.py
+++ b/electrum/daemon.py
@@ -30,15 +30,14 @@ import traceback
 import sys
 import threading
 from typing import Dict, Optional, Tuple
-import re
 
 import jsonrpclib
 
 from .jsonrpc import VerifyingJSONRPCServer
 from .version import ELECTRUM_VERSION
 from .network import Network
-from .util import json_decode, DaemonThread
-from .util import print_error, to_string
+from .util import (json_decode, DaemonThread, print_error, to_string,
+                   create_and_start_event_loop)
 from .wallet import Wallet, Abstract_Wallet
 from .storage import WalletStorage
 from .commands import known_commands, Commands
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ class Daemon(DaemonThread):
         if fd is None and listen_jsonrpc:
             fd, server = get_fd_or_server(config)
             if fd is None: raise Exception('failed to lock daemon; already running?')
-        self.create_and_start_event_loop()
+        self.asyncio_loop, self._stop_loop, self._loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
         if config.get('offline'):
             self.network = None
         else:
@@ -330,22 +329,3 @@ class Daemon(DaemonThread):
         except BaseException as e:
             traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
             # app will exit now
-
-    def create_and_start_event_loop(self):
-        def on_exception(loop, context):
-            """Suppress spurious messages it appears we cannot control."""
-            SUPPRESS_MESSAGE_REGEX = re.compile('SSL handshake|Fatal read error on|'
-                                                'SSL error in data received')
-            message = context.get('message')
-            if message and SUPPRESS_MESSAGE_REGEX.match(message):
-                return
-            loop.default_exception_handler(context)
-
-        self.asyncio_loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-        self.asyncio_loop.set_exception_handler(on_exception)
-        # self.asyncio_loop.set_debug(1)
-        self._stop_loop = asyncio.Future()
-        self._loop_thread = threading.Thread(target=self.asyncio_loop.run_until_complete,
-                                             args=(self._stop_loop,),
-                                             name='EventLoop')
-        self._loop_thread.start()
diff --git a/electrum/network.py b/electrum/network.py
index cb34d638f..36c957d8b 100644
--- a/electrum/network.py
+++ b/electrum/network.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import json
 import sys
 import ipaddress
 import asyncio
-from typing import NamedTuple, Optional, Sequence, List, Dict
+from typing import NamedTuple, Optional, Sequence, List, Dict, Tuple
 import traceback
 
 import dns
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ NODES_RETRY_INTERVAL = 60
 SERVER_RETRY_INTERVAL = 10
 
 
-def parse_servers(result):
+def parse_servers(result: Sequence[Tuple[str, str, List[str]]]) -> Dict[str, dict]:
     """ parse servers list into dict format"""
     servers = {}
     for item in result:
@@ -170,6 +170,7 @@ class Network(PrintError):
         INSTANCE = self
 
         self.asyncio_loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+        assert self.asyncio_loop.is_running(), "event loop not running"
         self._loop_thread = None  # type: threading.Thread  # set by caller; only used for sanity checks
 
         if config is None:
@@ -225,6 +226,8 @@ class Network(PrintError):
         self.server_queue = None
         self.proxy = None
 
+        self._set_status('disconnected')
+
     def run_from_another_thread(self, coro):
         assert self._loop_thread != threading.current_thread(), 'must not be called from network thread'
         fut = asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(coro, self.asyncio_loop)
@@ -411,10 +414,10 @@ class Network(PrintError):
             out = filter_noonion(out)
         return out
 
-    def _start_interface(self, server):
+    def _start_interface(self, server: str):
         if server not in self.interfaces and server not in self.connecting:
             if server == self.default_server:
-                self.print_error("connecting to %s as new interface" % server)
+                self.print_error(f"connecting to {server} as new interface")
                 self._set_status('connecting')
             self.connecting.add(server)
             self.server_queue.put(server)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/bip70.py b/electrum/scripts/bip70.py
index 2e04bfe76..7b3d0de2c 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/bip70.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/bip70.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 # create a BIP70 payment request signed with a certificate
+# FIXME: the code here is outdated, and no longer working
 
 import tlslite
 
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py b/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
index 649a0493e..abf6a2595 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
@@ -3,29 +3,33 @@
 # A simple script that connects to a server and displays block headers
 
 import time
-import sys
+import asyncio
 
-from .. import SimpleConfig, Network
-from electrum.util import print_msg, json_encode
+from electrum.network import Network
+from electrum.util import print_msg, json_encode, create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
 
 # start network
-c = SimpleConfig()
-network = Network(c)
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
 network.start()
 
 # wait until connected
-while network.is_connecting():
-    time.sleep(0.1)
+while not network.is_connected():
+    time.sleep(1)
+    print_msg("waiting for network to get connected...")
 
-if not network.is_connected():
-    print_msg("daemon is not connected")
-    sys.exit(1)
+header_queue = asyncio.Queue()
 
-# 2. send the subscription
-callback = lambda response: print_msg(json_encode(response.get('result')))
-network.send([('server.version',["block_headers script", "1.2"])], callback)
-network.subscribe_to_headers(callback)
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        await network.interface.session.subscribe('blockchain.headers.subscribe', [], header_queue)
+        # 3. wait for results
+        while network.is_connected():
+            header = await header_queue.get()
+            print_msg(json_encode(header))
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
 
-# 3. wait for results
-while network.is_connected():
-    time.sleep(1)
+# 2. send the subscription
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py b/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
index 85f63cef0..bcb8c4978 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
@@ -1,7 +1,29 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
-from . import util
 import json
-from electrum.network import filter_protocol
-peers = filter_protocol(util.get_peers())
-results = util.send_request(peers, 'blockchain.estimatefee', [2])
-print(json.dumps(results, indent=4))
+import asyncio
+from statistics import median
+from numbers import Number
+
+from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
+from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+
+import util
+
+
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
+network.start()
+
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        peers = await util.get_peers(network)
+        peers = filter_protocol(peers)
+        results = await util.send_request(network, peers, 'blockchain.estimatefee', [2])
+        print(json.dumps(results, indent=4))
+        feerate_estimates = filter(lambda x: isinstance(x, Number), results.values())
+        print(f"median feerate: {median(feerate_estimates)}")
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
+
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/get_history.py b/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
index c83f99d91..a97698288 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
 import sys
-from .. import Network
-from electrum.util import json_encode, print_msg
+import asyncio
+
 from electrum import bitcoin
+from electrum.network import Network
+from electrum.util import json_encode, print_msg, create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+
 
 try:
     addr = sys.argv[1]
@@ -11,8 +14,17 @@ except Exception:
     print("usage: get_history <bitcoin_address>")
     sys.exit(1)
 
-n = Network()
-n.start()
-_hash = bitcoin.address_to_scripthash(addr)
-h = n.get_history_for_scripthash(_hash)
-print_msg(json_encode(h))
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
+network.start()
+
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        sh = bitcoin.address_to_scripthash(addr)
+        hist = await network.get_history_for_scripthash(sh)
+        print_msg(json_encode(hist))
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
+
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/peers.py b/electrum/scripts/peers.py
index a887f0795..e8ec5b033 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/peers.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/peers.py
@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
+import asyncio
 
-from . import util
+from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
+from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum.blockchain import hash_raw_header
 
-from electrum.network import filter_protocol
-from electrum.blockchain import hash_header
+import util
 
-peers = util.get_peers()
-peers = filter_protocol(peers, 's')
 
-results = util.send_request(peers, 'blockchain.headers.subscribe', [])
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
+network.start()
 
-for n,v in sorted(results.items(), key=lambda x:x[1].get('block_height')):
-    print("%60s"%n, v.get('block_height'), hash_header(v))
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        peers = await util.get_peers(network)
+        peers = filter_protocol(peers, 's')
+        results = await util.send_request(network, peers, 'blockchain.headers.subscribe', [])
+        for server, header in sorted(results.items(), key=lambda x: x[1].get('height')):
+            height = header.get('height')
+            blockhash = hash_raw_header(header.get('hex'))
+            print("%60s" % server, height, blockhash)
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
+
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/servers.py b/electrum/scripts/servers.py
index c7201bc38..0c104f43b 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/servers.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/servers.py
@@ -1,10 +1,27 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
-
-from .. import set_verbosity
-from electrum.network import filter_version
-from . import util
 import json
-set_verbosity(False)
+import asyncio
+
+from electrum.network import filter_version, Network
+from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum import constants
+
+import util
+
+
+#constants.set_testnet()
+
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
+network.start()
+
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        peers = await util.get_peers(network)
+        peers = filter_version(peers)
+        print(json.dumps(peers, sort_keys=True, indent=4))
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
 
-servers = filter_version(util.get_peers())
-print(json.dumps(servers, sort_keys = True, indent = 4))
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/txradar.py b/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
index dda732274..8c150d8fe 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
@@ -1,20 +1,38 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
-from . import util
 import sys
+import asyncio
+
+from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
+from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+
+import util
+
+
 try:
-    tx = sys.argv[1]
+    txid = sys.argv[1]
 except:
     print("usage: txradar txid")
     sys.exit(1)
 
-peers = util.get_peers()
-results = util.send_request(peers, 'blockchain.transaction.get', [tx])
 
-r1 = []
-r2 = []
+loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
+network = Network()
+network.start()
 
-for k, v in results.items():
-    (r1 if v else r2).append(k)
+@log_exceptions
+async def f():
+    try:
+        peers = await util.get_peers(network)
+        peers = filter_protocol(peers, 's')
+        results = await util.send_request(network, peers, 'blockchain.transaction.get', [txid])
+        r1, r2 = [], []
+        for k, v in results.items():
+            (r1 if not isinstance(v, Exception) else r2).append(k)
+        print(f"Received {len(results)} answers")
+        try: propagation = len(r1) * 100. / (len(r1) + len(r2))
+        except ZeroDivisionError: propagation = 0
+        print(f"Propagation rate: {propagation:.1f} percent")
+    finally:
+        stopping_fut.set_result(1)
 
-print("Received %d answers"%len(results))
-print("Propagation rate: %.1f percent" % (len(r1) *100./(len(r1)+ len(r2))))
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(f(), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/util.py b/electrum/scripts/util.py
index 266348f75..43a95d7d2 100644
--- a/electrum/scripts/util.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/util.py
@@ -1,87 +1,46 @@
-import select, time, queue
-# import electrum
-from .. import Connection, Interface, SimpleConfig
+import asyncio
+from typing import List, Sequence
 
-from electrum.network import parse_servers
-from collections import defaultdict
+from aiorpcx import TaskGroup
+
+from electrum.network import parse_servers, Network
+from electrum.interface import Interface
 
-# electrum.util.set_verbosity(1)
-def get_interfaces(servers, timeout=10):
-    '''Returns a map of servers to connected interfaces.  If any
-    connections fail or timeout, they will be missing from the map.
-    '''
-    assert type(servers) is list
-    socket_queue = queue.Queue()
-    config = SimpleConfig()
-    connecting = {}
-    for server in servers:
-        if server not in connecting:
-            connecting[server] = Connection(server, socket_queue, config.path)
-    interfaces = {}
-    timeout = time.time() + timeout
-    count = 0
-    while time.time() < timeout and count < len(servers):
-        try:
-            server, socket = socket_queue.get(True, 0.3)
-        except queue.Empty:
-            continue
-        if socket:
-            interfaces[server] = Interface(server, socket)
-        count += 1
-    return interfaces
 
-def wait_on_interfaces(interfaces, timeout=10):
-    '''Return a map of servers to a list of (request, response) tuples.
-    Waits timeout seconds, or until each interface has a response'''
-    result = defaultdict(list)
-    timeout = time.time() + timeout
-    while len(result) < len(interfaces) and time.time() < timeout:
-        rin = [i for i in interfaces.values()]
-        win = [i for i in interfaces.values() if i.unsent_requests]
-        rout, wout, xout = select.select(rin, win, [], 1)
-        for interface in wout:
-            interface.send_requests()
-        for interface in rout:
-            responses = interface.get_responses()
-            if responses:
-                result[interface.server].extend(responses)
-    return result
+#electrum.util.set_verbosity(True)
 
-def get_peers():
-    config = SimpleConfig()
-    peers = {}
-    # 1. get connected interfaces
-    server = config.get('server')
-    if server is None:
-        print("You need to set a secure server, for example (for mainnet): 'electrum setconfig server helicarrier.bauerj.eu:50002:s'")
-        return []
-    interfaces = get_interfaces([server])
-    if not interfaces:
-        print("No connection to", server)
-        return []
-    # 2. get list of peers
-    interface = interfaces[server]
-    interface.queue_request('server.peers.subscribe', [], 0)
-    responses = wait_on_interfaces(interfaces).get(server)
-    if responses:
-        response = responses[0][1]  # One response, (req, response) tuple
-        peers = parse_servers(response.get('result'))
+async def get_peers(network: Network):
+    while not network.is_connected():
+        await asyncio.sleep(1)
+    interface = network.interface
+    session = interface.session
+    print(f"asking server {interface.server} for its peers")
+    peers = parse_servers(await session.send_request('server.peers.subscribe'))
+    print(f"got {len(peers)} servers")
     return peers
 
 
-def send_request(peers, method, params):
-    print("Contacting %d servers"%len(peers))
-    interfaces = get_interfaces(peers)
-    print("%d servers could be reached" % len(interfaces))
-    for peer in peers:
-        if not peer in interfaces:
-            print("Connection failed:", peer)
-    for msg_id, i in enumerate(interfaces.values()):
-        i.queue_request(method, params, msg_id)
-    responses = wait_on_interfaces(interfaces)
-    for peer in interfaces:
-        if not peer in responses:
-            print(peer, "did not answer")
-    results = dict(zip(responses.keys(), [t[0][1].get('result') for t in responses.values()]))
-    print("%d answers"%len(results))
-    return results
+async def send_request(network: Network, servers: List[str], method: str, params: Sequence):
+    print(f"contacting {len(servers)} servers")
+    num_connecting = len(network.connecting)
+    for server in servers:
+        network._start_interface(server)
+    # sleep a bit
+    for _ in range(10):
+        if len(network.connecting) < num_connecting:
+            break
+        await asyncio.sleep(1)
+    print(f"connected to {len(network.interfaces)} servers. sending request to all.")
+    responses = dict()
+    async def get_response(iface: Interface):
+        try:
+            res = await iface.session.send_request(method, params, timeout=10)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"server {iface.server} errored or timed out: ({repr(e)})")
+            res = e
+        responses[iface.server] = res
+    async with TaskGroup() as group:
+        for interface in network.interfaces.values():
+            await group.spawn(get_response(interface))
+    print("%d answers" % len(responses))
+    return responses
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py b/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
index 8fd5d4914..851160de5 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 
 import sys
-import time
-from electrum import bitcoin
-from .. import SimpleConfig, Network
-from electrum.util import print_msg, json_encode
+import asyncio
+
+from electrum.network import Network
+from electrum.util import print_msg, create_and_start_event_loop
+from electrum.synchronizer import SynchronizerBase
+
 
 try:
     addr = sys.argv[1]
@@ -12,25 +14,31 @@ except Exception:
     print("usage: watch_address <bitcoin_address>")
     sys.exit(1)
 
-sh = bitcoin.address_to_scripthash(addr)
-
 # start network
-c = SimpleConfig()
-network = Network(c)
+loop = create_and_start_event_loop()[0]
+network = Network()
 network.start()
 
-# wait until connected
-while network.is_connecting():
-    time.sleep(0.1)
 
-if not network.is_connected():
-    print_msg("daemon is not connected")
-    sys.exit(1)
+class Notifier(SynchronizerBase):
+    def __init__(self, network):
+        SynchronizerBase.__init__(self, network)
+        self.watched_addresses = set()
+        self.watch_queue = asyncio.Queue()
+
+    async def main(self):
+        # resend existing subscriptions if we were restarted
+        for addr in self.watched_addresses:
+            await self._add_address(addr)
+        # main loop
+        while True:
+            addr = await self.watch_queue.get()
+            self.watched_addresses.add(addr)
+            await self._add_address(addr)
+
+    async def _on_address_status(self, addr, status):
+        print_msg(f"addr {addr}, status {status}")
 
-# 2. send the subscription
-callback = lambda response: print_msg(json_encode(response.get('result')))
-network.subscribe_to_address(addr, callback)
 
-# 3. wait for results
-while network.is_connected():
-    time.sleep(1)
+notifier = Notifier(network)
+asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(notifier.watch_queue.put(addr), loop)
diff --git a/electrum/synchronizer.py b/electrum/synchronizer.py
index 0a6ed687e..cdde6d248 100644
--- a/electrum/synchronizer.py
+++ b/electrum/synchronizer.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from aiorpcx import TaskGroup, run_in_thread
 
 from .transaction import Transaction
 from .util import bh2u, make_aiohttp_session, NetworkJobOnDefaultServer
-from .bitcoin import address_to_scripthash
+from .bitcoin import address_to_scripthash, is_address
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from .network import Network
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ class SynchronizerBase(NetworkJobOnDefaultServer):
     def add(self, addr):
         asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(self._add_address(addr), self.asyncio_loop)
 
-    async def _add_address(self, addr):
+    async def _add_address(self, addr: str):
+        if not is_address(addr): raise ValueError(f"invalid bitcoin address {addr}")
         if addr in self.requested_addrs: return
         self.requested_addrs.add(addr)
         await self.add_queue.put(addr)
diff --git a/electrum/util.py b/electrum/util.py
index f4cb8ddd6..08ea73d40 100644
--- a/electrum/util.py
+++ b/electrum/util.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ class DaemonThread(threading.Thread, PrintError):
         self.print_error("stopped")
 
 
-verbosity = '*'
+verbosity = ''
 def set_verbosity(filters: Union[str, bool]):
     global verbosity
     if type(filters) is bool:  # backwards compat
@@ -983,3 +983,26 @@ class NetworkJobOnDefaultServer(PrintError):
         s = self.interface.session
         assert s is not None
         return s
+
+
+def create_and_start_event_loop() -> Tuple[asyncio.AbstractEventLoop,
+                                           asyncio.Future,
+                                           threading.Thread]:
+    def on_exception(loop, context):
+        """Suppress spurious messages it appears we cannot control."""
+        SUPPRESS_MESSAGE_REGEX = re.compile('SSL handshake|Fatal read error on|'
+                                            'SSL error in data received')
+        message = context.get('message')
+        if message and SUPPRESS_MESSAGE_REGEX.match(message):
+            return
+        loop.default_exception_handler(context)
+
+    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    loop.set_exception_handler(on_exception)
+    # loop.set_debug(1)
+    stopping_fut = asyncio.Future()
+    loop_thread = threading.Thread(target=loop.run_until_complete,
+                                         args=(stopping_fut,),
+                                         name='EventLoop')
+    loop_thread.start()
+    return loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread