Why you should run a Bitcoin node

[BitGoba]

If you hold Bitcoin, you should install one of the Bitcoin client software implementations, such as Bitcoin Core or Bitcoin Knots, on your computer. For example, if you have hardware wallets, especially those for scam shitcoins  like Ledger or Trezor, you cannot be sure if you truly own Bitcoin when connecting to these wallet applications. These applications may show you numbers on the screen, but that doesn't mean you own real Bitcoin. Gold stopped being a medium of exchange and a unit of account in the 16th and 17th centuries precisely because counterfeit gold coins appeared, and it became difficult to verify whether the gold was real. Gold was placed in bank vaults, and banks issued IOU certificates (banknotes). Thus, banknotes became the medium of exchange and the unit of account

This marked the beginning of the fiat standard. Bitcoin is much better than gold because it is easier to transfer and store without any costs, but most importantly, verification is very simple. Anyone can verify if they own Bitcoin by running a node. Don’t trust, verify

Installing a node on your computer is very simple and doesn't require many resources. The Bitcoin client doesn't need to be online 24/7; you can use it only when making transactions or occasionally activate it to sync with the network. The easiest way to use it is with the Sparrow wallet.

[Charles-Tim]

Are you implying that running what takes 500 gigabyte is simple to run? Also it will take more than that as you continue to go online with it. Not everyone can run bitcoin node.

Know that if you run SPV wallet, it can make privacy more difficult but it is still your coins on blockchain if you use noncustodial wallet.

[MusaMohamed]

These applications may show you numbers on the screen, but that doesn't mean you own real Bitcoin.

You can not trust these figures on screen but you can check them on block explorers to verify what you see.

Anyone can verify if they own Bitcoin by running a node. Don’t trust, verify

It is more practical when you make a payment, receive a payment for security of your fund; and it helps you to gain better privacy too, with Bitcoin full node + Tor.

You can see the Bitcoin node distribution map with 62% of nodes are Tor nodes. People run a Bitcoin nodes actually care about privacy and they use Tor to achieve privacy.
https://newhedge.io/terminal/bitcoin/node-map

Running a node

Holding your own keys ensures you can't lose money due to mistakes made by other people. Running a full node ensures no one can trick you into accepting invalid payments. Running and using your own node is how you attain the strongest security model available to Bitcoin users and also strengthens the system as a whole.

Why run a full node? Securing your financial sovereignty
How to run a full node
To node or not to node?

Installing a node on your computer is very simple and doesn't require many resources.

More resources required than SPV wallets and not all people can have enough resources to run a full node.

The easiest way to use it is with the Sparrow wallet.

If it is like this, Sparrow wallet can be used most popularly but information is opposite with 98% of Bitcoin nodes are run with Bitcoin Core, so I disagree with you.
https://coin.dance/nodes
https://coin.dance/nodes#share

[Solosanz]

This marked the beginning of the fiat standard. Bitcoin is much better than gold because it is easier to transfer and store without any costs, but most importantly, verification is very simple. Anyone can verify if they own Bitcoin by running a node. Don’t trust, verify

What? most Bitcoin holders didn't even understand the difference between custodial wallet and non custodial wallet, now you're asking them to run full node.

If you expect Average Joe that want to invest in Bitcoin must run full node, it will be harder for them rather than buy and hold gold.

As long as I see my coins in my wallet, I can view it in explorer and I can sign a message from my wallet, it's already enough to verify if I do own Bitcoin.

[MusaMohamed]

What? most Bitcoin holders didn't even understand the difference between custodial wallet and non custodial wallet, now you're asking them to run full node.

If you expect Average Joe that want to invest in Bitcoin must run full node, it will be harder for them rather than buy and hold gold.

Start with investment in Bitcoin is good, for investors and for Bitcoin adoption. Then Bitcoin investors will do their investment safer if they store bitcoin in non custodial wallets. That's enough for them. Later with their experience in Bitcoin market, they might care more about privacy, and it's time when they will consider running a Bitcoin full node.

It's realistic to say that very few people who will start with Bitcoin investment and Bitcoin full node at their beginnings.

As long as I see my coins in my wallet, I can view it in explorer and I can sign a message from my wallet, it's already enough to verify if I do own Bitcoin.

You can check your Bitcoin address on Bitcoin block explorers, to see balance but do it with Tor.

You don't have to sign a message from your non custodial wallet, to verify that you actually own Bitcoin.

[Zaguru12]

Bitcoin is much better than gold because it is easier to transfer and store without any costs, but most importantly, verification is very simple. Anyone can verify if they own Bitcoin by running a node. Don’t trust, verify

In as much as this is part of the essential of running a node and also a the best form of staying anonymous amongst other means I think this isn’t the most important reason why people should run node, verification of bitcoin transactions and such can be done anonymously without having even to run a node so when telling someone to run a node I will rather convince the person to do that just because it is a way to add to decentralized nature of the network which holds their precious assets, this is even more important than verification advantage.

Installing a node on your computer is very simple and doesn't require many resources. The Bitcoin client doesn't need to be online 24/7; you can use it only when making transactions or occasionally activate it to sync with the network. The easiest way to use it is with the Sparrow wallet.

It’s not simple like that requires you to actually spend some funds on the device, for a starter the amount of data bundle need to even download the data is huge and also the spec needed on the device for running the node is still somewhat a substantial amount. Many will prefer to hold more coins than actually doing that

[bitmover]

If you hold Bitcoin, you should install one of the Bitcoin client software implementations, such as Bitcoin Core or Bitcoin Knots, on your computer. For example, if you have hardware wallets, especially those for scam shitcoins  like Ledger or Trezor, you cannot be sure if you truly own Bitcoin when connecting to these wallet applications.

Every word here is wrong.

Ledger and trezoe are not shitcoins, but wallet which support many different assets and are extremely safe .

The only benefit of running a full node is that you have more privacy, you won't have more security neither more bitcoins by just running one.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

If you hold Bitcoin, you should install one of the Bitcoin client software implementations, such as Bitcoin Core or Bitcoin Knots, on your computer.

Bitcoincore is good to use, we can recommend it, but I will advise that only the pro should make use of this software client because of its technicalities, we should know that there are others simple ways through which we can still acheive the security and privacy that we want with the use of non custodial wallets, as long as we are in charge of our private keys, there's nothing to fear about, of all you have mentioned, I will go for bitcoincore.

[ChiBitCTy]

In beginning of my bitcoin days, I ran a node myself.  I had purchased Andreas Antonopoulos (Greek entrepreneur and cryptographer whom is HIGHY regarded in the space) "Mastering Bitcoin" book.  Oh boy, that was a tough read for myself to say the least.  The book is really geared towards programmer..which I did not find out until I finished the book lol.  But one thing wrote about is that everyone should be running a node. Today I'm not so sure everyone should be doing so.

[NeuroticFish]

You've written an impressive amount of incorrect statements in only a few lines.
I would have been expecting something much better from a 5 years old account.

Today I'm not so sure everyone should be doing so.

Actually since we live in times of increased surveillance (from state, businesses, scammers, script kiddies, name it), using your own node is the smart thing to do.
Of course the smart thing to do is not for everybody nowadays! (and I'm not mocking you, I'm mocking the current society)

[seoincorporation]

Running a bitcoin node is not for all, it deemands space in the hard disk, and you need to have your node running to have it updated.

That's why I think the users should run a node only if they will use it, but if it's only to contribute to the network then users should think it twice before decide to run it.

[AVE5]

Are you implying that running what takes 500 gigabyte is simple to run? Also it will take more than that as you continue to go online with it. Not everyone can run bitcoin node.

Know that if you run SPV wallet, it can make privacy more difficult but it is still your coins on blockchain if you use noncustodial wallet.

That's very sophisticated on a high-end regarding that not every enthusiasts that may have the technical competence to run a bitcoin node which is assumed not to be so easy.
Perhaps, it could be exhobitant with the expected hardware capacity of 500GB free disc space also as such proficient uninterrupted internet supply of 400KB for convenient data transmission.

[Queen077]

Running a Bitcoin node is more than just contributing to the network's decentralization; it's a tangible way to support the future of cryptocurrency. Here's why you should consider becoming a node operator:

Resilience: A decentralized network is less vulnerable to attacks and censorship.
Trustlessness: Nodes verify transactions independently, eliminating the need for a central authority.
Verification: Nodes verify the validity of transactions and blocks, ensuring the integrity of the blockchain.
Early detection: Nodes can help identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities.

[CB777]

If not running a Bitcoin node, then which crypto wallet is recommended?  Thanks

[OcTradism]

If not running a Bitcoin node, then which crypto wallet is recommended?  Thanks

You can use https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet and its filter to practice.

If you want wallets with Full node.
https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet?step=5&platform=windows&features=full_node

If you want wallets with no need of Full node.
https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet?step=5&platform=windows&features=

There are more filters, in this example I only used Full node for filter.

[Segmadis]

The only issue I have with this is that someday it will become practically impossible to have full node on home machine.
2015 I used to run a full node on my laptop and it was more or less much easier. But the time goes...

[ABCbits]

I can't believe there are so many fake or wrong information on OP's statement.

For example, if you have hardware wallets, especially those for scam shitcoins  like Ledger or Trezor, you cannot be sure if you truly own Bitcoin when connecting to these wallet applications. These applications may show you numbers on the screen, but that doesn't mean you own real Bitcoin.

Ledger and Trezor are hardware wallet, not cryptocurrency or scam shitcoin. And while both of them offer mobile/desktop application, it's just one of many ways to interact with the hardware wallet.

Bitcoin is much better than gold because it is easier to transfer and store without any costs, but most importantly, verification is very simple. Anyone can verify if they own Bitcoin by running a node. Don’t trust, verify

Whenever you create transaction, you need to pay TX fee. These days, there's no way to avoid paying TX fee unless you own mining pool where you include your own TX on the mined blocks.

Installing a node on your computer is very simple and doesn't require many resources. The Bitcoin client doesn't need to be online 24/7; you can use it only when making transactions or occasionally activate it to sync with the network. The easiest way to use it is with the Sparrow wallet.

Downloading and (optionally) storing 600GB of blockchain data require fair amount of resources. Sparrow Wallet doesn't have capacity to act as full node, although you can configure it to connect to your Bitcoin full node.

P.S. there are other wrong information that i don't bother mention.

[Hispo]

I literally stop reading when OP somehow mixed Ledger and Trezor up (which happen to be hardware wallet makers) with shitcoins and having anything to do with the displaying of fake figures of what one actually owns in Bitcoin/cryptocurrency.
Anyways, leaving those details to one side:
I have personally liked the idea to run my own node and give some small contribution to the Bitcoin network through it, unfortunately, my internet connection would not allow me to download the whole Bitcoin Blockchain in a comfortable time, not even mentioning the fact one needs to keep ones node synchronized and up to date with the rest of the network for it to function.
It is not a coincidence most of the Bitcoin nodes around the world are located in developed countries, in Europe and also in the United States, while there are only a few of them in developing countries in Africa and South America.

Last time I sought for node here in my country, there were like one or two of them, out of a population of nearly 30 million people. 

[Synchronice]

Are you implying that running what takes 500 gigabyte is simple to run? Also it will take more than that as you continue to go online with it. Not everyone can run bitcoin node.

Know that if you run SPV wallet, it can make privacy more difficult but it is still your coins on blockchain if you use noncustodial wallet.

To be honest, yes, it's simple to run Bitcoin node despite the fact that it takes 500 gigabytes. Why? Because it's very cheap to buy HDD and SSD. The price of brand new 1TB SSD can be as low as $50 and sometimes even lower. You can buy Raspberry Pi 4 8GB for 70 dollars + SSD and that's all. Or you can buy a second hand laptop and run a Bitcoin node. It's not really expensive. It might be expensive for those who live in a very poor countries and can't even afford a smartphone or computer but overall, it's not expensive and is pretty simple.

P.S. Another reason to run your own Bitcoin node is the security. When you connect to other nodes, there is a big chance that when you broadcast a transaction, they collect your IP address. When you run your own node, your security is enhanced and it also helps the community to have many running nodes.

[JanNettFoster]

Running a Bitcoin node gives you control and privacy by verifying transactions yourself, without relying on third parties. Paired with Waterfall Network (https://waterfall.network/use-waterfall/stake-water), you can enhance functionality and access staking rewards, all while supporting decentralized infrastructure.