It depends on what you want the node to accomplish. There are different types of Bitcoin nodes, and not all need to download or store the entire blockchain:
Full Node: A full node must download the entire blockchain (currently about 570 GB) in order to validate all transactions and blocks. This ensures full independence and trustlessness, as the node validates all activity from the genesis block onward. Full nodes are considered necessary for those who want maximum security and trust in the network without relying on third parties.
Pruned Node: A pruned node also downloads the entire blockchain initially, but it does not store the full history permanently. It only keeps a set number of the most recent blocks (configurable, usually around 2-10 GB). This allows users to run a full-validating node with less storage but still participate fully in the Bitcoin network. Pruned nodes validate all transactions but don't retain the full history.
Lightweight (SPV) Nodes: These are "partial" nodes and do not download the full blockchain. Instead, they only download block headers (which are much smaller) and rely on full nodes for validation. SPV nodes offer a tradeoff between lower storage and less direct trust in the network but are acceptable for casual users who just want to send and receive transactions.
The main point being that you can run a full node with minimal hardware and capital investment. This is in contrast to Kaspa which requires millions of dollars of capital investment and colocation in a low latency data center to have any hope of running trustlessly.
BitcoinStu
npub1ua…dx9cn
2024-09-09 17:24:18
in reply to nevent1q…auyr
Author Public Key
npub1uavkq2z6vqczd772ple0p0k44ncjcxv5lg4sq6r069aagvra47uq2dx9cnPublished at
2024-09-09 17:24:18Event JSON
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"content": "It depends on what you want the node to accomplish. There are different types of Bitcoin nodes, and not all need to download or store the entire blockchain:\n\nFull Node: A full node must download the entire blockchain (currently about 570 GB) in order to validate all transactions and blocks. This ensures full independence and trustlessness, as the node validates all activity from the genesis block onward. Full nodes are considered necessary for those who want maximum security and trust in the network without relying on third parties.\n\nPruned Node: A pruned node also downloads the entire blockchain initially, but it does not store the full history permanently. It only keeps a set number of the most recent blocks (configurable, usually around 2-10 GB). This allows users to run a full-validating node with less storage but still participate fully in the Bitcoin network. Pruned nodes validate all transactions but don't retain the full history.\n\nLightweight (SPV) Nodes: These are \"partial\" nodes and do not download the full blockchain. Instead, they only download block headers (which are much smaller) and rely on full nodes for validation. SPV nodes offer a tradeoff between lower storage and less direct trust in the network but are acceptable for casual users who just want to send and receive transactions.\n\nThe main point being that you can run a full node with minimal hardware and capital investment. This is in contrast to Kaspa which requires millions of dollars of capital investment and colocation in a low latency data center to have any hope of running trustlessly.",
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