[2017-03-18] 6 Reasons to Run a Bitcoin Full Node

[Kemarit]

6 Reasons to Run a Bitcoin Full Node


Running a Bitcoin full node isn’t just for mining pools and companies. Today, we’re going to outline 6 reasons why the average user should also consider running their own Bitcoin full node.

TO NODE OR NOT TO NODE?

With current events pointing towards a possible change in the Bitcoin consensus rules, it is important to remind users that, now more than ever, there are multiple advantages to running a Bitcoin full node.

It is advisable that users run the popular Bitcoin Core client, as there may be certain risks to running less popular clients like Bitcoin Unlimited. Only two days ago, a bug was found and exploited on the Bitcoin Unlimited client, which led a large portion of BU nodes to go offline. The problem was fixed and the BU node count has since recovered.

Full Read Here: http://bitcoinist.com/6-reasons-run-bitcoin-full-node/]http://bitcoinist.com/6-reasons-run-bitcoin-full-node/]http://bitcoinist.com/6-reasons-run-bitcoin-full-node/

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[Iranus]

This isn't exactly easy for most people to do.  The article claims that it's easy and that's it's as simple as downloading the most recent version of Bitcoin Core, but as the article later points out it requires over 100gb of your disk space to be dedicated to it (an amount which most people aren't willing to designate to one thing for slight benefits over a specific provider).  It also mentions that for practical purposes you need to keep your decent computer running pretty much 24/7, which is also impractical and people would need to take some serious backups of their expensive hard drive etc. 

[Kprawn]

This isn't exactly easy for most people to do.  The article claims that it's easy and that's it's as simple as downloading the most recent version of Bitcoin Core, but as the article later points out it requires over 100gb of your disk space to be dedicated to it (an amount which most people aren't willing to designate to one thing for slight benefits over a specific provider).  It also mentions that for practical purposes you need to keep your decent computer running pretty much 24/7, which is also impractical and people would need to take some serious backups of their expensive hard drive etc. 

Yea, and to add to that.... they should also dedicate a portion of their bandwidth to update the Blockchain. In 1st world countries this is not a big

issue... because the bandwidth is cheap and fast. Satoshi actually predicted that in the future... nodes will be run by big corporate entities and not

individuals. If you can run a full node... you should do it. 

[richardsNY]

I try to let my core client stay open to function as full node when I am not on the PC, to support the network, but I have to close it at the time I am using my PC. Point is that it is too HDD intensive as it slows down my system significantly. Especially when it's updating when a few blocks are found rapidly after each other. I might at some point buy myself a large SSD, but they don't come cheap when you look at +1TB disks.

[1Referee]

I try to let my core client stay open to function as full node when I am not on the PC, to support the network, but I have to close it at the time I am using my PC.

No worries. In the hours that you have your client running as node you can still help other nodes to receive the latest bit of data.

OP; I am operating 3 full Core nodes through my currently 'unused' VPS's, all connected to 100MBPS fibre optic, and I am proud to do so. It would be fantastic if all people with unused (or partly unused) VPS's / dedicated servers could host themselves a Core node to support the network. But unfortunately, people won't do this from themselves automatically if they are not really that much into the technical aspects of Bitcoin. Most people are only here to earn.