3 Reasons Why Running a Bitcoin Node Is Easier Than You Think – Bitcoinist

If youre a true believer in Bitcoin and you want to see it succeed, you can help strengthen the network by running a full node. It may sound intimidating if youre not a programmer but its actually a lot easier than you think. Heres why.

Running a full node is not like mining bitcoins. You dont need to spend $3,000 on an ASIC Antminer S9. You also dont need to have an abundance of cheap power or even an excessively powerful device.

Unlike mining, running a full node wont take up much of your electricity. It also wont place anywhere near as much strain on your equipment. Contrary to popular belief, you dont actually need to keep your computer on all the time (although the longer the better). A minimum of six hours a day is required.

Lets be clear. You cant run a full node from your mobile phone or travel laptop. There are certain requirements youll need to meet otherwise youll just run into a myriad of performance and cost issues.

But if you have a decent piece of kit already thats running a recent version of Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux, youll only need 200GB of free disk space and 2GB of memory (RAM). This can be either a desktop or a laptop as long as it meets these specs.

You will also need an unmetered, high-speed internet connection, which many providers offer today. Although, be sure to check your internet plan first to make sure that excess upload bandwidth is included.

If your internet is spotty or youre barely able to stream Netflix, running a full node is probably not for you at this time.

Once youve checked with your internet provider and ensured that your equipment meets the minimum requirements, all you need to do is the latest Bitcoin core client version and run it.

Keep in mind that this may take some time. The Bitcoin blockchain is now over 260GB in size, so be patient while your node synchronizes.

If youre not tech-savvy in the slightest, it may be a good idea to call for some help in the beginning. While you certainly dont need a degree in computer science to contribute to making the network more robust and decentralized, you may encounter some issues.

For example, the Bitcoin blockchain contains parts of known computer viruses in it. Dont be alarmed, these cant infect your computer. But your anti-virus program may interfere and quarantine the data making it difficult to run Bitcoin Core.

This is generally a Windows problem and you can reach out to the community for assistance. Make sure that whoever helps you is qualified and reputable before taking their advice.

Running a full node isnt for everyone. But if youve been in the space for some time and want to help the network while also enjoying greater privacy, nows as good a time as any.

Did you find this helpful? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images via Shutterstock, Chart by Blockchain.info

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3 Reasons Why Running a Bitcoin Node Is Easier Than You Think - Bitcoinist