What a node is
A node is a computer running Bitcoin software that keeps its own copy of the blockchain and independently checks every block and transaction against Bitcoin’s rules. There are tens of thousands of them worldwide, and none is in charge.
Miners propose new blocks. Nodes decide whether to accept them. If a miner breaks the rules (say, by creating extra coins), every honest node simply ignores that block.
Why run your own
Types of nodes
| Type | Storage | Validates everything? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full (archival) node | ~760 GB and growing (~7 GB/month) | Yes | Keeps the whole history. Needed for apps like your own mempool explorer. |
| Pruned node | As little as ~10–50 GB | Yes | Validates everything, then deletes old blocks. Perfect for a laptop. |
| Light / SPV wallet | Tiny | No | Trusts other nodes. Convenient, but not sovereign. |
Node software
Bitcoin Core is the reference software run by the large majority of nodes. As of October 2026 the newest major release is version 31.1 (July 2026), which also fixed a privacy issue in 31.0’s new “private broadcast” feature. Older branches (30.x, 29.x) still receive security updates.
Bitcoin Knots is an alternative based on Core, maintained by Luke Dashjr. It follows the same consensus rules but applies stricter filters on what it relays, notably on extra data in transactions (“OP_RETURN”). As Core v30 moved to relax those limits in late 2025, Knots grew to a significant share of reachable nodes. Both are valid choices; this is an ongoing community debate about policy, not a split in Bitcoin itself.
Whatever you run, download only from the official site (bitcoincore.org or bitcoinknots.org) and keep it updated.
Your options
The cheapest route. Add an SSD if needed and run pruned to save space. Great for learning.
Step-by-step below ↓A personal server with a beautiful app store: Bitcoin node, Electrum server, mempool explorer, Lightning and more, all one click.
Visit Umbrel →StartOS: a private, sovereign personal server with a strong focus on security and doing things properly.
Visit Start9 →Open-source node packages for tinkerers. A Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB) with an NVMe SSD works well.
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Hardware guide
| Setup | CPU | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pruned node | Modern dual-core | 4–8 GB | SSD, ~100 GB free |
| Full node | Modern quad-core | 8 GB | 2 TB SSD |
| Node + apps (Electrum server, mempool, Lightning) | Modern x86 / Pi 5 | 16 GB | 2 TB+ NVMe SSD |
Use an SSD, not a hard drive or microSD; the initial sync can take days on slow storage. A 1 TB drive will fill up soon; 2 TB gives you years of headroom.
Step by step: Bitcoin Core
- Download & verifyGet the installer from bitcoincore.org/en/download. Verify the SHA256 checksum and the signatures (the download page explains how). This proves nobody tampered with it.
- Install and choose a data folderPick a drive with enough space. Defaults: Windows
%APPDATA%\Bitcoin, macOS~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin, Linux~/.bitcoin. - Choose full or prunedOn first launch, tick “Limit block chain storage” to prune, or leave it unticked for a full node.
- Let it syncThe Initial Block Download checks every block since 2009. Expect anywhere from a day to a week depending on your hardware and connection. Leave it running.
- Confirm you’re in syncThe progress bar disappears when done. Advanced users can run
bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfoand check"initialblockdownload": false. - Keep it updatedInstall new releases as they come out, always from the official site.
A simple bitcoin.conf
For extra control, create a file called bitcoin.conf in your data folder:
# Keep ~50 GB of recent blocks (remove for a full node)
prune=51200
# Allow wallets like Sparrow on this computer to connect
server=1
# Use more memory to speed up the initial sync (in MB)
dbcache=4000A pruned node fully validates everything, but can’t serve old blocks or run some apps (like your own Electrum server). Start pruned if space is tight; you can switch to full later.
Connect your wallet
A node only helps your privacy once your wallet actually uses it.
- Sparrow Wallet (desktop): Settings → Server → Bitcoin Core. It connects directly to Core on the same computer, even a pruned one.
- Mobile and other wallets usually need an Electrum server (such as Electrs or Fulcrum) on top of a full node. Umbrel and Start9 install one in a click.
- Your own mempool explorer: install the mempool app on your node to look up transactions without telling anyone which ones you care about.
Running it well
- Leave it on. A node that’s online most of the time stays in sync and helps the network.
- Use Tor for privacy. Node packages like Umbrel and Start9 make this one click.
- Back up your seed, not the node. The blockchain can always be re-downloaded. Your keys can’t.
- Never expose RPC to the internet. Keep wallet connections on your own computer or home network.
- Update regularly and read release notes for security fixes.
BeSovereign guides are for education only and are not financial, legal or tax advice. Products and prices change, so always check the official source before buying or moving funds.