Will mobile devices serve as BTC full nodes in the future?

[Abiky]

The Bitcoin blockchain has been the biggest one in size, compared to other blockchains, thus making sync time take quite some time. Nevertheless, as storage capacity increases each time, we've now seen new standards for mobile devices like a 200GB microSD card.

Now, storage like 200GB is far than enough to store Bitcoin blockchain data. So my question is, will there exist a possibility of running a full node from within your mobile device sometime in the future?

It would be ideal to achieve this, since mobile devices are much more accessible than PCs. Looking forward for your opinion about this. 

[Quarknet]

I do not think the mobile device will be a good idea to store the bitcoin block chain. It is better for the desk top.

[countryfree]

No, I don't expect that. The 32 Go SD-card on my phone is nearly full (maps taking the most space), and I can't imagine storing the blockchain on ther, even with a 256 Go card. Another issue is data transfer. That cost money, you know. And running a node supposes a permanent Internet connection, that's rarely the case on a mobile. When I'm in the city, I'm taking elevators, I'm going into buildings or basements, when in my car I'm driving through tunnels, so my connection is cut several times a day. You can't run a node like this.

[streazight]

It would be ideal to achieve this, since mobile devices are much more accessible than PCs.

In my understanding, we do not need not to access/monitor a full node more frequently unlike a hot wallet.
When a full node does not require any of our active participation often, carrying it everywhere in mobile will not serve any purposes.

[1Referee]

Nevertheless, as storage capacity increases each time, we've now seen new standards for mobile devices like a 200GB microSD card.

You are right that the capacity of smartphones and tablets are increasing. But you also have to take in mind that all kinds of applications get more graphic intensive (and thus require much more space), smartphone cameras are able to shoot photos and videos in 4K, etc. In that regard, the benefit of having higher storage capacities goes to waste.

Now, storage like 200GB is far than enough to store Bitcoin blockchain data. So my question is, will there exist a possibility of running a full node from within your mobile device sometime in the future?

It would be ideal to achieve this, since mobile devices are much more accessible than PCs. Looking forward for your opinion about this.  

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to run a full node from your smartphone or tablet. It's just not convenient. What if the mobile Bitcoin client on your smartphone will start with checking blocks for example? This process already slows down fairly decent PC systems, how would that be with a smartphone?

Another thing is that mobile devices that people take everywhere, change from their home WIFI, to mobile network, to hotspot, etc, quite frequently. Nodes are supposed to form a stable and solid point in the network. That's why a PC or a server constantly connected to the internet, is, and will always be the best possible option.

[bitbunnny]

This is not impossible, from technical side there are no obstacles for it but how much could be that used in practice without slowing down and interupting your mobile phone?
They should increase capacity a lot which is a tendency already, our smartphones are prety powerful, but there is also the question of security and stability of network.

[Abiky]

No, I don't expect that. The 32 Go SD-card on my phone is nearly full (maps taking the most space), and I can't imagine storing the blockchain on ther, even with a 256 Go card. Another issue is data transfer. That cost money, you know. And running a node supposes a permanent Internet connection, that's rarely the case on a mobile. When I'm in the city, I'm taking elevators, I'm going into buildings or basements, when in my car I'm driving through tunnels, so my connection is cut several times a day. You can't run a node like this.

Yeah I was wondering about that too, in terms of stable internet connection on the mobile device. Even though, you can get unlimited data for your smartphone, it would still not be enough as there will be places where signal reception would be lost. So that would be something to get around, in order to achieve this. 

Nevertheless, as storage capacity increases each time, we've now seen new standards for mobile devices like a 200GB microSD card.

You are right that the capacity of smartphones and tablets are increasing. But you also have to take in mind that all kinds of applications get more graphic intensive (and thus require much more space), smartphone cameras are able to shoot photos and videos in 4K, etc. In that regard, the benefit of having higher storage capacities goes to waste.

Now, storage like 200GB is far than enough to store Bitcoin blockchain data. So my question is, will there exist a possibility of running a full node from within your mobile device sometime in the future?

It would be ideal to achieve this, since mobile devices are much more accessible than PCs. Looking forward for your opinion about this.  

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to run a full node from your smartphone or tablet. It's just not convenient. What if the mobile Bitcoin client on your smartphone will start with checking blocks for example? This process already slows down fairly decent PC systems, how would that be with a smartphone?

Another thing is that mobile devices that people take everywhere, change from their home WIFI, to mobile network, to hotspot, etc, quite frequently. Nodes are supposed to form a stable and solid point in the network. That's why a PC or a server constantly connected to the internet, is, and will always be the best possible option.

Good point. I didn't have that in mind before, considering that there would constant read/write on the device, thus slowing down the entire system. But the way I see it, I think it may become a reality someday as manufacturers decide to make a dedicated storage right from the device. It would be more of like an integrated SSD used only for that purpose. The other storage would be used for system files, apps, etc. 

[1Referee]

But the way I see it, I think it may become a reality someday as manufacturers decide to make a dedicated storage right from the device. It would be more of like an integrated SSD used only for that purpose. The other storage would be used for system files, apps, etc. 

Ah, okay. I know what you are talking about right now. You should include that part into OP as people may not understand your point exactly. There is no way I see manufacturers insert a dedicated bit of storage just to allow people to host a node from there. It also doesn't make sense to be honest.

It has several negative aspects.

# No benefit in doing so for the manufacturers.
# Full Bitcoin client is way too intensive for a small device, where after a certain amount of hours the device will shut down due to overheating.
# People will complain about it as they see there is a certain amount of free space, but they can't use it because it is dedicated to hosting a node.

And there probably are more negative aspects, but these come to my mind now.

[sakinaka]

It will never because of space restrictions and moreover bandwith. Such a permanent usage would kill the battery's life too quickly.

[ivanpoldark]

Mobile devices are evolving at such a rate that I think technically realize this is not a problem

[asse.sauga]

If the blockchain sharding comes in and different levels of domains, like in Synereo for example. Then it became possible, that we don't need to download anymore full blockchain to ensure that whole chain is trusted. We need only a part of it and other part can be archived for example. In that case, mobiles might be well being "full" nodes in a future.

[DooMAD]

It will never because of space restrictions and moreover bandwith. Such a permanent usage would kill the battery's life too quickly.

This is assuming phones and mobile devices will continue to run on batteries in future.  Advances are already being made with wireless charging, so who's to say there won't be a more portable version of that in future where you can continually power a device whilst on the move?  It's doubtful that such a thing could be possible in the near future, but considering the potential longevity of Bitcoin, never say never.  When you think that less than 50 years ago, the closest thing to a mobile device looked like this and had to be plugged into a car to power it, you can't say with any certainty that phones won't be powerful enough to serve as a node in another 50 years, or possibly even less.

And with the looming advent of the 'Internet-of-Things', your toaster and kettle might be capable of serving as a full node in a decade or two. 

[LordCoder]

If it's not connected via Wi-Fi, I highly doubt anyone would spent their mobile bill on BTC blockchain. And, of course, I'd drain the battery very quick.

[U2]

Lol I'm not going to be slowing down my phone and I'm definitely not buying such a huge sd card. The answer is no. Maybe someone will try it as a gimmick because it can physically be done, but no one will actually do it.

[th3nolo]

I don't think this be possible and not due to memory problems, thats something we can upgrade.  is because the charge of an cellphone in general works for very a little time ,if we fix it in a future maybe. But why you should run a bitcoin node in a phone this is something weird. Is better to use a computer is cheaper  and easier.

[RealEstCoin]

Hypothetically, if a mobile-friendly node could be created, it could run automatically when the device is charging and on a wi-fi network.

[shinratensei_]

It will never because of space restrictions and moreover bandwith. Such a permanent usage would kill the battery's life too quickly.

This is assuming phones and mobile devices will continue to run on batteries in future.  Advances are already being made with wireless charging, so who's to say there won't be a more portable version of that in future where you can continually power a device whilst on the move?  It's doubtful that such a thing could be possible in the near future, but considering the potential longevity of Bitcoin, never say never.  When you think that less than 50 years ago, the closest thing to a mobile device looked like this and had to be plugged into a car to power it, you can't say with any certainty that phones won't be powerful enough to serve as a node in another 50 years, or possibly even less.

Even the power of a new model phone in this time are more than some computer's power. It's reasonable for a run the phone as nodes. About the battery, if you rather like to think the computer are using full supply, the phone can be your simple nodes.

[calkob]

I doubt it, but i also remember thinking that the idea of everyone having there own phone number in the mid 80's was also ridiculous ......;lol 

[Shiroslullaby]

It will be years but something like this could eventually be possible.
Data storage is not the problem, we already have devices with 64 or 128 GB storage and that will get larger in coming years.
Data transmission needs more throughput.
It will be a few generations, but in another ten or twenty years who knows what cell phone data networks will look like.

[jossiel]

This is nuts, my phone is still outdated and I don't have enough budget for buying a new phone, so usually my phone will get lag once it happen.

But don't worry, remember technology now can do everything and it is a very fast track with its innovation.