Contributing to the network

[peterwwwrowing]

Hi All,

As I own some btc and have done for a while I'd like to contribute to the network some how but am not in a position to keep a PC on 24/7 to run a node..

Is there other ways to contribute? (Any Android phone options?)

Thanks

[Kruw]

Hi All,

As I own some btc and have done for a while I'd like to contribute to the network some how but am not in a position to keep a PC on 24/7 to run a node..

Running a node isn't really that altruistic in regards to contributing to the network, the main purpose of running a node is to verify your own incoming transactions. If you want to contribute, a great way to do so is to test open source software for busy devs. Finding bugs, or even giving general feedback, helps figure out the roadmap for their software.

Is there other ways to contribute? (Any Android phone options?)

I have Blixt Wallet, Zeus Wallet, and Phoenix Wallet on Android. The first two are for power users, the last is for newbies who just want good UX.

[ABCbits]

I don't think there are other direct way to contribute to the network. Running full node on Android generally isn't feasible option, while there are already many full node running on various data centers (e.g. AWS). Besides, you don't have to force yourself to contribute to Bitcoin network. But other than that, how about donate to Bitcoin-related project?

[Dunamisx]

Its possible if you're going to fulfil the terms and conditions required in running a full node on a mobile device, the first is to get an external storage connected to your device except if the storage has the capacity that is not lesser than 1tb then you have a constant power supply to your device, the remaining steps are described on this link https://github.com/smartm0use/smartino whereby you can follow up with the procedures and begin, but i don't know how running a full node can help you in contributing to the network.

[Plaguedeath]

When you make a transaction and pay fees higher than what it should be, I think it's already a contribution to the network. Yeah you're actually giving extra money to the miners, but they're the one who validating the transactions and mine new coins, without them the network won't be as secure as right now.

but i don't know how running a full node can help you in contributing to the network.

It makes Bitcoin become more decentralized, the other benefit is increase the user's privacy.

[tranthidung]

As I own some btc and have done for a while I'd like to contribute to the network some how but am not in a position to keep a PC on 24/7 to run a node..

Your bitcoins belong to you and you must keep your bitcoins safely.

Your contribution to the Bitcoin network does not relate to your bitcoins. To contribute, you can run a Bitcoin full node that does not need to run 24/7. It is perfect if you can manage your full node operation 24/7 but with less time, your full node contribution is still meaningful for the network by verifying blocks and transactions.

[Guide] How to run a Bitcoin Core full node for under 50 bucks!
.

[pakhitheboss]

Why not start promoting Bitcoin among your family members and friends? In that way, you are still contributing to the network as you are increasing its adoption. Word of mouth is the reason why everyone in the initial days started buying Bitcoin or mining Bitcoin. It is another way to contribute to the development of Bitcoin and If you do not have the resources to run a node then you can do what I suggested. Bitcoin needs more individuals like you who can promote it within their community as the problem it is facing now is going into the hands of those who are rich or have resources to buy Bitcoin.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

Why not start promoting Bitcoin among your family members and friends?

It is one of worst idea. Things relate to money, I don't try to promote it to my family members, friends as there will be potentially negative effects for my relationships with them.

If you respect your relationship with them, want to maintain it, don't do any action relates to money.

In that way, you are still contributing to the network as you are increasing its adoption.

Adoption is not closely related to Bitcoin network. If they only buy bitcoin, hold it, it does not help the Bitcoin network that can be helped by Bitcoin full nodes and Bitcoin miners.

Word of mouth is the reason why everyone in the initial days started buying Bitcoin or mining Bitcoin

If you are a Bitcoin investor, you only can promote it to other people and introduce them to Bitcoin investment. You can not introduce them about Bitcoin mining as you have no experience with it.

[DannyHamilton]

Is there other ways to contribute? (Any Android phone options?)

In my opinion one of the best things you can do to strengthen Bitcoin's place in the world is to demonstrate to businesses that their customers have an interest in using bitcoin to pay for products and services.

• Install a Bitcoin wallet on your Android device.
• Send a small amount of Bitcoin to that wallet (similar to the amount of cash you might carry in a physical wallet, something that wouldn't be devastating to lose)
• Every time you need to pay for something that costs less than the value of Bitcoin you carry in the wallet, ask "Do you accept Bitcoin?"
• Be ready to actually pay with your Bitcoin if they say yes

99.99% of the time, they're not going to accept Bitcoin, and sometimes they'll think you're silly for asking. However, hearing this question plants the seed of thought in their mind that perhaps a competitive edge might be available over their competitors by simply accepting an additional form of payment. The more people they hear it from, the more pressure they'll feel to provide Bitcoin as a payment option.

[MFahad]

It is one of worst idea. Things relate to money, I don't try to promote it to my family members, friends as there will be potentially negative effects for my relationships with them.

If you respect your relationship with them, want to maintain it, don't do any action relates to money.

I completely agree with this because when you tell your friends and families or anyone that you know personally, you expose yourself to the blame they will put on you in case they lose money when investing in cryptocurrencies after you tell them about it, and this can become an issue between you and the person blaming you for it because your intentions might have been pure but they wouldn't see things that way when they lose money.
So even if someone decides to contribute in increasing the adoption for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, they shouldn't do it with family members or closed ones, and if they do it, they need to make sure that they explain each and everything beforehand such as risks involved, etc.

[thecodebear]

Why not start promoting Bitcoin among your family members and friends? In that way, you are still contributing to the network as you are increasing its adoption. Word of mouth is the reason why everyone in the initial days started buying Bitcoin or mining Bitcoin. It is another way to contribute to the development of Bitcoin and If you do not have the resources to run a node then you can do what I suggested. Bitcoin needs more individuals like you who can promote it within their community as the problem it is facing now is going into the hands of those who are rich or have resources to buy Bitcoin.

This is probably the best way for the average person to contribute. Help educate others. Sure most of the people are gonna call you a crypto bro or something stupid like that (though maybe that is more just over the internet rather in person), but every single time you convince someone to start owning bitcoin, you not only help out the network a tiny tiny bit, you also help one person. Just make sure you tell them to start owning bitcoin not in a bull market, as they will probably be mad at you for two years if you convince them to buy bitcoin this year.

[franky1]

Is there other ways to contribute? (Any Android phone options?)

In my opinion one of the best things you can do to strengthen Bitcoin's place in the world is to demonstrate to businesses that their customers have an interest in using bitcoin to pay for products and services.

• Install a Bitcoin wallet on your Android device.
• Send a small amount of Bitcoin to that wallet (similar to the amount of cash you might carry in a physical wallet, something that wouldn't be devastating to lose)
• Every time you need to pay for something that costs less than the value of Bitcoin you carry in the wallet, ask "Do you accept Bitcoin?"
• Be ready to actually pay with your Bitcoin if they say yes

99.99% of the time, they're not going to accept Bitcoin, and sometimes they'll think you're silly for asking. However, hearing this question plants the seed of thought in their mind that perhaps a competitive edge might be available over their competitors by simply accepting an additional form of payment. The more people they hear it from, the more pressure they'll feel to provide Bitcoin as a payment option.

this ^advice^ was very much true to try back in 2015 period when fee's were not a barrier, but until core pull their political finger out of their nether regions to sort out their feebumb, dust-rate and sat/kb minimums/defaults.., fee's are always going to be more annoying to turn daily use merchants away from adopting bitcoin.. and no this is not a time to advertise another network as solution. we need to get the central point of failure reference client of the bitcoin network to de-politicise the barriers of entry again, not promote migration to other networks
even i had merchant adoption success rates of 30% in 2015 times.. now its like 0.01% (as dannyhamilton also suggests now) so not worth the effort unless we get the community to push core into removing their political decisions over the barriers, they imposed since 2015

[coolcoinz]

If you can't run a node and can't mine, just transact and spread the word. The easiest and also the cheapest thing a bitcoin user can do is to disprove FUD, say the truth about bitcoin, how it's not bad for environment, how it helps you be your own bank and all that...

Apart from that you can transact. Your fees will help the network and you'll have your part in the ecosystem.
You said that you can't run a PC, but maybe you can run a raspberry pi? There are small nodes that you can buy and run 24/7 and they don't require a lot of power and space, like this one: https://mynodebtc.com/products/one

[peterwwwrowing]

Thanks all

[Upgrade00]

When you make a transaction and pay fees higher than what it should be, I think it's already a contribution to the network. Yeah you're actually giving extra money to the miners, but they're the one who validating the transactions and mine new coins, without them the network won't be as secure as right now.

Miners confirm transactions, nodes validated them.

Paying higher than you need to does not go a long way to encourage miners. They make 6.25BTC from mining reward and a couple of mBTCs from transaction fees. Paying higher would just look like someone who needs their transaction confirmed as soon as possible and not as an incentive.

[oktana]

You don’t have to keep your PC on for 24 hours of each day. I ran the node in January and in as much as I would like you to do it out of your own will, this link may encourage you because there is 14 merits reward for users who run the node. And in 14 days, users have ran the node without having to keep their PC stressed for so long in a day. Read here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5480200.0

[Mate2237]

You said it all and this is want I wanted to tell the Op that looking for a way to contribute to the bitcoin network with the amount of bitcoin has. If I were him I would have use to dash some poor people in my location because the network has enough coin that his own is not even needed. And I was looking for this link you provided and I saw yours so there is no need for me to go and look for it and and that is why I just quote your to make things easy for me.

Op as you can see the link above there is no need to work again. You can run your nod and sleep well with your PC off and start it whenever you wake up from the sleep. This is just week interval then you are done with your contribution. I wish you all the best.

[Antotena]

Hi All,

As I own some btc and have done for a while I'd like to contribute to the network some how but am not in a position to keep a PC on 24/7 to run a node..

Is there other ways to contribute? (Any Android phone options?)

Thanks

You can download Bitcoin core and run a node as prune node. With that, you don't need to keep all the Bitcoin files which can give you much space and then you can also open your laptop anytime you like and synchronize with the network, it's as simple as that but you need to understand that you need to do Initial block download(IBD) before you can use your Bitcoin core as nodde after which you can delete or prune the file you want to remove from your computer.

You can't make a node with your android phone because android phones don't have the capacity, even with laptop you need you some specifications like a higher ram, a larger ssd drive and good processor so that it doesn't lag when running a node.

[franky1]

You can download Bitcoin core and run a node as prune node. With that, you don't need to keep all the Bitcoin files which can give you much space and then you can also open your laptop anytime you like and synchronize with the network, it's as simple as that but you need to understand that you need to do Initial block download(IBD) before you can use your Bitcoin core as nodde after which you can delete or prune the file you want to remove from your computer.

the OP said he was not in a position to run a PC 24/7 so full or pruned he didnt want to participate by being a node..

however should he want to at a later time..

..storage space is not a problem in 2024
a hard drive to store all bitcoin blockchain history PLUS next half of a decade only costs 2 congestion fee amount (under $50). so advising to just run a full node then cripple it into being a lite node is self defeatist, and doesnt help the network

advise to OP
if at a later date you are in a position to want to be a full node. don't prune, because pruning switches off many network peer services thus doesnt make you a full node.

[pinggoki]

As @ABCbits have already said, you don't have to force yourself to do some contributions, if you want to contribute somehow, maybe donating to those developers can help or do what @Kruw suggested, do the tests for those devs so they can easily check out the problems since there's other testers that would report the problems to them. Or you can contribute by being a philanthropist, helping your community by donating books that was bought using bitcoins, donating to your local library is a big help too or helping fund some students' education so they can go to college or have the education that they deserve. There's a lot of ways that you can contribute too, you just have to broaden your horizons OP.