Running a Bitcoin Full Node: What are the Options

If you are already familiar with Bitcoin and Blockchain technology then you already know that its fundamentals are a decentralized network of computer nodes. In other words, all nodes are equal and there isn’t a central authority that controls everything. As a result of this, every participant has the possibility to run its own Bitcoin full node.

Many crypto enthusiasts are very charmed by this property and decentralization is the main reason they support this. But if there is not a central party in control, how to keep the network secure, safe and growing?

What is a Bitcoin Full Node?

First, it’s very important to know what a Bitcoin full node is all about. Running your own Bitcoin node means that you configured a computer with the Bitcoin Core software and have a full copy of the entire Blockchain database on it. This copy of the Blockchain database will continue to grow over time so it’s important to have a lot of storage space available.

How many storage space? Currently, the total Blockchain is about 230GB in size and the chart above is indicating linear growth. It’s very safe to say that 2 terabytes of storage size will keep you safe for the next 5 years.

Running a Bitcoin Full Node & Why it is important

To keep the network secure, it’s very important that there are as many full copies of the Blockchain as possible. These copies of the Blockchain will be running on Bitcoin full nodes and make sure that a 51% attack on the network is very low.

Besides Bitcoin nodes, there are also SPV nodes which are different types of nodes. SPV clients are so-called lightweight nodes. These clients validate Bitcoin transactions on the network without the need for downloading the entire Blockchain. So, why are Bitcoin nodes important?

• A Bitcoin node provides a lookup of historic blocks, which is necessary for new nodes when synchronizing.
• It provides filtered transaction lookup for SPV clients, which is necessary for those clients to function.
• A Bitcoin full node validates blocks and transactions, and relay them.

How many Bitcoin nodes are there?

Currently, there are more than 10K Bitcoin nodes on a global scale which makes it’s the no 1 safest Blockchain network in the world.

Is running a full Bitcoin node profitable?

If you are looking for a way to make a direct profit out of this then I have to disappoint you. Running a Bitcoin full node doesn’t give you an incentive like running masternodes or staking crypto from a wallet. So why should you care?

• You believe in Bitcoin and want the network to grow and succeed. Every node added to the network brings it closer to a future where everyone is transacting on the Bitcoin network.
• You intend to use the Bitcoin network to transact a lot and want to ensure that your transactions are verified. The idea behind Bitcoin is the removal of trust from the monetary system: you don’t have to trust a bank to hold or send your money. But as long as you’re not running your own node, you’re still trusting someone who IS running a node to verify that transaction in a timely manner. Taking your financial life into your own hands is empowering.
• You can tell all your friends that you don’t just own Bitcoin, you ARE Bitcoin… at least part of it

Bonus Video with Jimmy Song: What is a Bitcoin Full Node

Running a Bitcoin Full Node & What are the options

So now that you know WHAT a Bitcoin full node is and WHY it is so important to let’s dive into the options available. This Blockchain technology is still in its infancy and very easy solutions to participate aren’t there yet. Firstly, I want to give you an indication of what type of configuration is needed for running your own Bitcoin node.

1. A recent version of macOS, Linux, or Windows operating system
2. 250GB of free disk space
3. 4GB of RAM
4. A high-speed internet connection (at least 50kB/s)
5. Unlimited or very high upload/download limits (a node can upload ~200GB and download ~20GB per month)

***Changelly

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Option 1: Running a Bitcoin Full node on VPS

Nowadays it’s very cheap to go to a hosting provider and run a VPS server in the cloud. A VPS stands for Virtual Private Server and is actually a virtual configuration of a PC but it runs in the cloud.

This style of hosting is essentially one physical server, which is then divided into several smaller virtual servers. Each one of these virtual servers acts as its own dedicated server environment.

Since you have your own dedicated section of the server, you have your own set of allocated resources and can customize and configure your server partition exactly the way you want. Plus, there’s no exchange of data or file access between accounts on the VPS server.

Running a Bitcoin node on VPS pro’s & cons

The pros:

• It runs in the cloud for 24 hours
• Accessible from anywhere in the world
• Bitcoin node isn’t related to your ISP IP-address(Anonymity)

The cons:

• Resource intensive(minimal 250 GB hard disk)
• Running a Bitcoin wallet at a third-party is not very safe

Bitcoin node on VPS the costs

This VPS solution is totally up to you and of course, you have to decide what your priorities are. The costs for running a Bitcoin node on VPS will be about 40 – 50 US dollar pro month. Maybe you can get it cheaper and I would advise you to check the following hosting providers:

• Digital Ocean
• Hostinger
• Hetzner

Option 2: Out of the Box Solution

If you are a Bitcoin believer and want to participate with a node but don’t have the time to configure it yourself this solution would fit you best. Currently, there are several ‘out of the box’ nodes available to buy. The solution provided is a complete hardware box with all the relevant software already installed on it. This ‘Out of the Box ’ node comes with a price of about 300 US dollars, but customer support will be included.

So if you are still interested in spending money on a node and saving you the efforts of setting up everything by yourself, here are the options available to you. Note: This information is for free and I’m not affiliated to any of the products listed below.

• Lightning In A Box, $399.99: Bitcoin Core + Lightning node + BTCPay server preinstalled, generally better hardware (500GB SSD, 4 GB RAM)
• Raspiblitz, $249.99: Bitcoin Core + Lightning node (Raspberry Pi, LCD screen, 1TB HDD)
• BTCPi, $179.99: BTCPay server with LND pre-installed (Raspberry Pi, custom case)
• Bitseed 3, $359.00: Bitcoin Core node, 1TB HDD, user-friendly interface
• Nodl, $399: 500GB/1TB HDD choice, Bitcoin Core + LND + BTCPay server pre-installed
• Casa node, $300: Bitcoin Core + Lightning, custom UI, Raspberry Pi with a custom case, 1TB HDD
• Dojo, coming soon(It looks similar to the Bitseed model, probably integrating the same board/hardware)

Option 3: Do It Yourself – #BUIDL

If you are technically savvy and like to build things yourself then this is the option for you! Also, it’s the cheapest option compared to the others. As a matter of fact, this solution will cost you about $35 single investment. So, what’s this option all about?

Raspberry PI 4

The Raspberry PI is a mini-computer and very compact. For running a Bitcoin full node, no keyboard or graphical interface is required. As a result of this, the Raspberry PI is the perfect solution for this.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently released a new, more powerful model of its single-board computer. The new device will cost $35 a unit and has the capacity to run full nodes cheaply on the Bitcoin network.

Raspberry Pi 4 is here! A tiny, dual-display desktop computer, with three RAM variants to choose from, and all the hackability you know and love. On sale now from the familiar price of $35: https://t.co/d9iwVidexm #RaspberryPi4 pic.twitter.com/4fll4gx1Ax

— Raspberry Pi (@Raspberry_Pi) June 24, 2019

Earlier versions of the Raspberry Pi have been popular with Bitcoin enthusiasts and decentralization advocates as it provides a low barrier to entry for those interested in running their own full nodes on the network.

Raspberry PI & Bitcoin full node configuration

Raspberry PI Bitcoin node allows users to verify their own transactions over the Bitcoin network independently. As a result of this, users don’t have to trust third-party wallets or custodial service providers which makes the network safer. What are the hardware configurations for this?

• Raspberry PI version 4
• Micro SD card: 8 GB or more, incl. adapter to your regular computer
• USB power adapter: 5V/1.2A (more ampere is fine) + Micro USB cable
• External hard disk: 500 GB or more with dedicated power supply

Conclusion

Running a Bitcoin full node comes with several options nowadays. As a result, users who aren’t that tech-savvy have also possibilities to participate in the popular Bitcoin network with their own node. Of course, this service comes with a price. Although running a Bitcoin node doesn’t incentivize it’s users the amount of running nodes is at record highs(10K+).

The following articles might also be a good read for you:

• Running Masternodes Are They Profitable(2021)
• Crypto Lending vs Staking: Which concept generates the most Passive Income?
• What is the Best Way to Invest 1k in Crypto?
• 7 Most Trusted Crypto Exchanges(To trade Altcoins)
• Top 5 Do’s and Dont’s of Cryptocurrency Wallets