Node
In short
A node is a computer storing the full blockchain and verifying every transaction itself. Thousands of independent nodes make the network censorship- and manipulation-resistant.
Running your own node means trusting no one — you verify the rules yourself. For Bitcoin, a tiny computer with one hard drive suffices.
Is a node the same as a miner?
No: nodes verify and propagate rules, miners produce new blocks. Every miner needs a node, not vice versa.
Related terms
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