You need to run a Bitcoin node

[Cryptohunterkill]

Hello guys, I think we all need to run a Bitcoin node, If you own Bitcoin, the safest way to know it’s really yours is to run your own node with software like Bitcoin Core. Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin. Unlike gold, which became hard to trust because of fakes, Bitcoin is easy to check and you can verify it yourself. That's One of the advantages of Bitcoin guys, Setting up a node is simple, doesn’t need to run all the time, and works smoothly with Sparrow Wallet. Always remember: don’t trust, verify.

[CamilaStar]

So are you trying to saying that running something that takes 500 GB is simple? It actually grows over time, so not everyone can run a Bitcoin node.
That said, if you use an SPV wallet, your privacy might be weaker, but as long as it’s a non custodial wallet, your coins are still truly on the blockchain.

[The Cryptovator]

I know running a node is definitely a better option. But you have to download the whole blockchain, for which you need a lot of space. That's the reason everyone doesn't use the Bitcoin Core wallet. Rather, they use non-custodial wallets to secure the funds. For myself, I had been using Electrum as a noncustodial wallet software. But lately I feel that I need more security for my funds. So I decide to use a hardware wallet. That's secure enough for me even if I don't download the entire blockchain for the core wallet. However, I am not denying your suggestion, but not downloading either Blockchain doesn't mean your funds aren't secure with hardware wallets if they're open source.

[BitMaxz]

So are you trying to saying that running something that takes 500 GB is simple? It actually grows over time, so not everyone can run a Bitcoin node.
That said, if you use an SPV wallet, your privacy might be weaker, but as long as it’s a non custodial wallet, your coins are still truly on the blockchain.

Not 500 GB. The current blockchain size is nearly 700 GB, which requires 1 TB of hard drive space, but that doesn't mean you can't run a node if you don't have enough hard disk space.

You only need a fully synced node if you are a developer to use other features, but if it's just a wallet, then use the pruned blockchain.

You can limit the blocks you sync by setting it up in prune to around 20GB or at least 550MB in size. That's enough for a wallet.

Alternatively, use a wallet that doesn't need intensive resources, like the one they recommend above, Electrum.

[promise444c5]

Those figures in your didn’t just appear like some magic  , it does connect to a specific server built on full nodes, that’s how you see all those balances in your wallet if you don’t use Bitcoin core . It’s not something custom, the whole thing still traces back to the entire blockchain.
 Fine, it’s good to run your own Bitcoin node. Apart from privacy, you’re also helping the system with your little contribution, but that doesn’t mean your coins aren’t truly yours if you don’t run one…Unless it’s a fake wallet which is designed for scamming. Solution: use a reputable wallet /run your node just as you’ve mentioned.

[OcTradism]

Hello guys, I think we all need to run a Bitcoin node, If you own Bitcoin, the safest way to know it’s really yours is to run your own node with software like Bitcoin Core. Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin.

To understand what is a Bitcoin node, and which benefits you can have by running a Bitcoin node, you must read some basic educational resources on it.
What is a Bitcoin node?
Node types and roles.

Then if you want to run your Bitcoin node, some guides can be helpful for your setup.
[GUIDE] The simplest Full Node guide ever.
[Guide] How to run a Bitcoin Core full node for under 50 bucks!

[God Of Thunder]

Why not use an open-source software wallet like Electrum? Anyone can check the source code; if you have doubts, you can also check it. Running a node 24/7 is not easy. Not everyone runs their computer 24/7. Let's say you were away for weeks, and when you come back home, you need to transfer funds, but you cannot because you have to synchronize the node first, and then you will be able to transfer the funds.

Have you ever seen a report of people losing money from their open-source wallet without making any mistakes? If their Bitcoin can be stolen even after someone uses Electrum, then they are not safe even if they use a node. It's that simple.

[TastyChillySauce00]

So are you trying to saying that running something that takes 500 GB is simple? It actually grows over time, so not everyone can run a Bitcoin node.
That said, if you use an SPV wallet, your privacy might be weaker, but as long as it’s a non custodial wallet, your coins are still truly on the blockchain.

Not 500 GB. The current blockchain size is nearly 700 GB, which requires 1 TB of hard drive space, but that doesn't mean you can't run a node if you don't have enough hard disk space.

You only need a fully synced node if you are a developer to use other features, but if it's just a wallet, then use the pruned blockchain.

You can limit the blocks you sync by setting it up in prune to around 20GB or at least 550MB in size. That's enough for a wallet.

Alternatively, use a wallet that doesn't need intensive resources, like the one they recommend above, Electrum.

I think dedicated server with 1 TB disk space isn't that expensive nowadays. Using pruned blockchain we can easily rent dedicated server for cheap from kimsufi for example.
It's still viable for people who really care about their bitcoin I guess, it's not like running it is as hard and resource hungry as people pictured it out to be.

[feltonmuggs]

So this is my first post here, rabbit-holed myself into a few node/mining forums recently and tend to simply lurk instead of comment.  Perhaps a few will agree 

100% every American street address should be a node.
If you're on the grid; you should be hashing.

If we want true decentralized governance, we need the entire planet on board.
It starts locally with your neighbors, friends and family.

m2cents,
Felton Muggs

[pooya87]

100% every American street address should be a node.
If you're on the grid; you should be hashing.

"be hashing"? You mean mining?
You don't mine bitcoin by just running a full node. For mining you are going to need specialized hardware called ASIC which you need to purchase and use up electricity to run so that you have a decent enough hashrate to mine bitcoin.

[X-ray]

Hello guys, I think we all need to run a Bitcoin node, If you own Bitcoin, the safest way to know it’s really yours is to run your own node with software like Bitcoin Core. Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin. Unlike gold, which became hard to trust because of fakes, Bitcoin is easy to check and you can verify it yourself. That's One of the advantages of Bitcoin guys, Setting up a node is simple, doesn’t need to run all the time, and works smoothly with Sparrow Wallet. Always remember: don’t trust, verify.

How exactly they gonna fake?

There are wallets that are open source and allow you to change RPC to your trusted full node RPC providers. You can check the connection yourself and made sure you're connecting to that RPC.

You can even query it if you want just to make sure the latest block is the same as in the blockchain explorers out there.

Unless you're using sketchy wallet you will be fine. But I agree that we should run full node if we like.

[Zaguru12]

I know running a node is definitely a better option. But you have to download the whole blockchain, for which you need a lot of space. That's the reason everyone doesn't use the Bitcoin Core wallet. Rather, they use non-custodial wallets to secure the funds. For myself, I had been using Electrum as a noncustodial wallet software. But lately I feel that I need more security for my funds. So I decide to use a hardware wallet. That's secure enough for me even if I don't download the entire blockchain for the core wallet. However, I am not denying your suggestion, but not downloading either Blockchain doesn't mean your funds aren't secure with hardware wallets if they're open source.

The thing is you don’t actually need to store a whole lot of the blocks if you’re running a node for your wallet only, you can simply run the prune node and actually set the limit of block storage to something like 2GB this means the whole 700GB plus block size will be downloaded and the block size will be trimmed to the size you want and store them this is not different from running a full node for address but trying to get details on other wallets might need the whole blockchain sync yet again which means whole downloading again.

Node running only gives you total privacy but they don’t actually make your wallet secured from hacks and any other security attacks. Also you don’t always even need to use an hardware wallet, with airgapped device you can simply use electrum as a cold storage

[feltonmuggs]

100% every American street address should be a node.
If you're on the grid; you should be hashing.

"be hashing"? You mean mining?
You don't mine bitcoin by just running a full node. For mining you are going to need specialized hardware called ASIC which you need to purchase and use up electricity to run so that you have a decent enough hashrate to mine bitcoin.

No, I mean supporting the network by contributing to validations. 
Not mining.  This just opens the door to mining.

Again, I'm new here so if I seem confused, not all who wander.

[notocactus]

No, I mean supporting the network by contributing to validations. 
Not mining.  This just opens the door to mining.

Bitcoin mining is different with Bitcoin node operation.

Bitcoin miners and Bitcoin mining pools can run their Bitcoin full nodes but don't confuse that if you run a Bitcoin full node, you are opening a gate to Bitcoin mining. If you want to be a Bitcoin miner and join Bitcoin mining, you must prepare infrastructure for mining.

At least try your luckiness with lottery mining like this one.
NERDMINER: Bitcoin lottery miners.

[BitGoba]

Hello guys, I think we all need to run a Bitcoin node, If you own Bitcoin, the safest way to know it’s really yours is to run your own node with software like Bitcoin Core. Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin. Unlike gold, which became hard to trust because of fakes, Bitcoin is easy to check and you can verify it yourself. That's One of the advantages of Bitcoin guys, Setting up a node is simple, doesn’t need to run all the time, and works smoothly with Sparrow Wallet. Always remember: don’t trust, verify.

Yes, one of the greatest advantages of Bitcoin compared to gold as a medium of exchange and money is precisely the ability to easily and securely verify its authenticity. While gold has often been subject to counterfeiting and is difficult and expensive to verify, Bitcoin can be independently verified and confirmed as genuine, which gives it much greater security and trust.Besides verifying your own Bitcoin, by verifying transactions you further strengthen the Bitcoin network and help preserve its decentralization.
Also, if you're running your own Bitcoin node, you can open Lightning channels that you control yourself.

I believe it's better to use Bitcoin Knots instead of Bitcoin Core

[feltonmuggs]

Is Knots like a "fork" of core?
What's different?
TYVM, FM

[IIrik11]

I think dedicated server with 1 TB disk space isn't that expensive nowadays. Using pruned blockchain we can easily rent dedicated server for cheap from kimsufi for example.
It's still viable for people who really care about their bitcoin I guess, it's not like running it is as hard and resource hungry as people pictured it out to be.

i'd run it if i could afford to tbh,,

i have an old pc which just sits idle & have no use whatsoever,, it already has a 500 gb hard drive

with 99% of it empty & i wouldn't mind adding another 1 tb hard drive or ssd if needed, they're not expensive either

the problem is downloading the 700 gb blockchain!! on 4g which is really expensive and would cost me almost $100 in inr if not more

& the second thing is the internet speed i get which is on average less than 500 kbps and isp's usually throttle speeds it if they see heavy downloading

which would make it worse if something goes wrong during the downloading and i have to re-download the whole thing

plus,, i don't see any incentive what-so-ever,, i mean maybe if i was going to do mining,, i might dedicate the time and money for it

but without any monetary motivation i find the whole practise pointless really

[Outhue]

Hello guys, I think we all need to run a Bitcoin node, If you own Bitcoin, the safest way to know it’s really yours is to run your own node with software like Bitcoin Core. Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin. Unlike gold, which became hard to trust because of fakes, Bitcoin is easy to check and you can verify it yourself. That's One of the advantages of Bitcoin guys, Setting up a node is simple, doesn’t need to run all the time, and works smoothly with Sparrow Wallet. Always remember: don’t trust, verify.

Nah, your reason of running a Bitcoin node isn't necessarily, I will rather advice people to run a node if they haven't for the experience sake or just to know more about Bitcoin, that's all.

Running a node doesn't makes your Bitcoin the safest, if you do anything stupid you will lose the Bitcoin, also Bitcoin is safe in the blockchain, a wallet is the door to move your Bitcoin around and the key is your private key or recovery seed.

Someone out there is running a public node, meaning every prune node is also the Same as you that's running your private bitcoin node, there isn't much difference here, it's not like if you are not running a private bitcoin node your Bitcoin are not safe, that's not correct.

[Despairo]

Using someone else node doesn't mean your coins belong to someone who run that node, but your coins are attached to someone else wallet. It's about privacy, not about ownership or fake/original coins.

The difference is, if you use someone else node, they will know your IP address, your address, how much your coins and every transactions you made.  

Wallet apps and devices might just show numbers, but that doesn’t guarantee you actually hold Bitcoin.

Easy, just send your coins to someone else as small as you want, if you receive in other wallet/exchange, your Bitcoin is legit.

[rat03gopoh]

Even if you run a full node, it won't actually achieve your goal.
You own the keys you own the coins. If no one else has it and there's no doubt your key is leaked, it's verifiable enough for your true ownership status accross support wallets.