Bitcoin Forum

I couldnt find one anywhere but was wondering if an Android Bitcoin Node app (like Bitcoin QT) exists. Rather than running my computer 24/7 to make a node, I'd like to support the network by having a small android tablet run as a node. Cheers.

lol no cant do....

A complete node would require a full blockchain.

No way you can have it on a mobile device.... its a RAM hog as well.

Impossible.

Possible - but not neccesary.

Um why not? Storage clearly isn't the issue... processing the blockchain could take a while but isn't impossible. I don't see why this is entirely out of the question.

I've seen one
But processing would take months

i'm upping this 3d cause i'm interested.... are there any possibilities?

You can run a bitcoin node on a raspberry pi

http://blog.pryds.eu/2014/06/compile-bitcoin-core-on-raspberry-pi.html

yes thanks i know it...but i was looking for something specifically for android since i have one unused android minipc.

If you ever do this please don't let others connect to your node over port 8333. You'd be doing a disservice to the overall performance of the network.

I don't think this would be a very good idea. If you were to run such an app then it would be a bandwidth hog and bandwidth is very expensive on mobile devices, plus the fact that mobile devices tend to be less efficient in terms of CPU usage and memory capacity

Is it pointless running a node on Android? This reddit thread says nodes without port port 8333 open cannot make connections with nodes joining the network or looking for more connections.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1scd4z/im_running_a_full_node_and_so_should_you/cdw3lrh?context=3

Quoting a post on the reddit thread.

Having a maximum of 8 connections corresponds to bitcoin not being set up to listen to the outside world on port 8333, usually due to a router or firewall. If a node is not listening for connections, then it can only connect to existing nodes that have their port open. Nodes without their port open cannot make connections with nodes joining the network or looking for more connections. By running a node without the port open, you are essentially taking resources from the network but not giving anything back yourself.

You can easily open port 8333 on your android phone. The question really is weather or not the phone is capable of actually providing any meaningful amount of resources to the network

It is possible to build https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin for Android. I compiled Qt wallet on Android and I ran it.
But I do not think it's necessary. Need to redraw the interface to use comfortably Qt on Android...

Will be possible in a short future to run at least half of the blockchain with our smartphone? Just asking...

Maybe you should use the android phone with 64G disk, or else this must be nightmare

Exactly. In fact if a low-power node craps out in the middle of serving out blocks to other nodes that are unfortunate enough to be connected to it those other nodes could hang for 30 seconds or more before giving up and then trying to request the information from another node.

When I download blocks for a new Bitcoin Core installation with no special settings, it takes about 2-3 days to catch up with the current blockchain. When I do the same thing but I set "connect=" in bitcoin.conf to another of my own nodes that is running on good server hardware with 1Gbps internet bandwidth, it takes at most 6 hours to download the blockchain. The reason why the former is so slow is because there are a lot of crap full nodes out there and as Bitcoin Core randomly connects to them your download slows down or even stalls.

Perhaps it would be best to build bitcoinj on Android over bitcoin core due to it's SPV abilities.  Moores law implies that it will get easier to run fully decentralised wallets on lightweight devices.

BitcoinJ will work. However you will need to run it in full node mode and allocate sufficient storage. Seems like a waste to use an android device when a raspberry pi with a USB HD might suffice instead.

That's why it is not a good idea to create some android crap nodes. I don't reccomend you running a node on your android device. If you want to just see, go for it, but running full-time node from android device is not reccomended at all.
You will slow down BTC network and kill your device

Take a look at this:

www.boetchain.com or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boetchain.bitcoinnode

It still very early, so for now, only maintaining connections with peers are available - but it is a start.

Disclaimer: I am a dev on the project

Would love to try it but the app doesn't show up on the playstore even when clicking your link or searching for it.
Would it be able to download the blockchain and verify blocks later on?
I assume it would be pruned because of the space requirements.
P.S your post (and mine) will be deleted because of necro bump.
You should create a thread of your app on this section.

@Xynerise the app is still being uploaded - it  should propagate in the next few mins!
I never thought someone would take a look so quick!!

Hahaha, no, a bitcoin node not only requires teh fully indexed blockchain but would also need a stable always one connection and, well, is better running on a server  :-*

Just installed.
Right now it's a bit barebones and only shows peers in the network.
PS the chat lingo to represent inv and ping messages is a nice touch
https://ibb.co/gZ90TH