Why aren't you running a node yet? \ stacker news ~bitcoin

2449 sats \ 46 comments \ @DesertDave 4h bitcoin

I want to hear from the stackers who have yet to set up their own Bitcoin Node. I personally have had one set up a couple times in the past and shut them down for a few different reasons, usually complications with my lifestyle being off-grid. I am starting again and I plan to keep it up this time. We all have heard that individuals running nodes is important to the network. And yet, still so few do. Why is that? I also want to hear about why it is so important. I want to hear from you all. Thanks for sharing. 💚

It's too complicated23.1%

I don't want to spend the time15.4%

It costs too much15.4%

I am lazy15.4%

It's not important0.0%

Other, explain below30.8%

13 votes \ 20h left

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52 sats \ 0 replies \ @Golu 2h

I'm running it because I hardly understand what it's for. But I'll give it a shot.

31 sats \ 0 replies \ @TheMorningStar 59m

I don't know much but running a node will require some essentials like a computer, running it all the times incur electricity costs and you also have to give some time. The benefits of all these aren't too so big as the costs are. Unless you're getting much in fees what's the use of them?

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @Coinsreporter 1h

I'm not pleb and I think Nodes aren't necessary for personal uses. If you're doing it for business, it's necessary.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Kontext 57m

Travelling, have no permanent place ATM to stay and run it.

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 55m

That makes sense.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @BTCLNAT 1h

I would like to be able to run one. I don't have a full one for obvious reasons, technically it's more complicated and it would be more of a harm on my part than a help to the community. Also having a full node means 24/7 connection, I live in Cuba, here the connection is TERRIBLE and also very expensive, to have wi-fi 24/7 I would have to spend my monthly salary.

So I would like to have a simple node and believe me when I tell you that it's hard for me to do it, even though I've read a lot of guides. I hope that one day I can achieve it.

From Cuba, no AlbyHub, Zeus not even close, Blixt either. I tried Lightning.Pub and during the installation the internet went to the floor, Nodo.js was installed and during the installation of Lightning.Pub things got complicated. A real headache.

I hope I can do it one day.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 54m

Sounds challenging in your situation..

11 sats \ 3 replies \ @poe7645 2h

I'm sorry I can't resist.

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @DesertDave OP 2h

Better trust him. He seems like he knows what he is talking about.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @poe7645 2h

We need duh banks. Said the spider to the fly.

To be fair I do run a node, a core node to broadcast or verify my transactions on Sparrow, and a shoddy LND node for my own curiosities. It's an ongoing process.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 55m

It sure is. I have a lot to learn.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei 3h

Two kids

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

Kids should always come first.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @south_korea_ln 4h

Ran a pretty active routing node in the past. Was taking me too much time and got some big hardware scares. Now, I've settled on some simpler solutions (AlbyHub, Phoenix) for personal use. Might get back to running a routine node if/when I get more time.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

I don't think I want to do much routing. I just want to be able to take care of my own Bitcoin.

11 sats \ 30 replies \ @Cje95 4h

For me it’s a mix of not knowing what I’m doing as well as life is just busy. Maybe if life slows down I’d look into it but from what I understand it takes a level of technical know how that I just don’t have. If there was a solid plug and go option than maybe I’d look into it

11 sats \ 15 replies \ @ChrisS 4h

To run a bitcoin node all you have to do is download bitcoin core on your computer and open the application.

https://bitcoincore.org/en/download/

For a lighting node, Zeus embedded node on any phone is very quick and easy as well but you will need some knowledge how channels work to be able to use it effectively

https://zeusln.com/

0 sats \ 14 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

If I wanted to run on a PC, how much does that PC need to be up and running?

11 sats \ 13 replies \ @ChrisS 3h

For a bitcoin node you could leave it running for a few hours or days at the start to download the blockchain. After that you can shut it down as desired and every time you reopen it bitcoin core will download the blocks you missed which shouldn't take long as long as you open the computer every few days. Lightning nodes need to be online as much as possible.

11 sats \ 11 replies \ @Cje95 3h

It seems like it would take up a ton of space does it not?

11 sats \ 6 replies \ @ChrisS 3h

The blockchain is 693 GB right now but you can run a pruned node if space is a limited. A pruned node still downloads and verifies all blocks but deletes them past one that increase beyond a certain threshold that you can set base on your needs. All newer computers have more than enough space to run a pruned node.

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

How small can a pruned node be?

11 sats \ 4 replies \ @ChrisS 3h

Last I remember you can prune the blockchain down to 550 mb, but you still have to store the utxo set which is maybe 10 to 15 GB. Looking at your other comment a 256 GB ssd would be plenty.

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0 sats \ 3 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

I think right now it is less than 700 GB. Depends on what is a lot for you. Storage is quite cheap now. Unless you mean physical space.

11 sats \ 2 replies \ @Cje95 3h

I mean my laptop doesn’t have 700 GB of storage 😂

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

@ChrisS says you can prune it down to under 20gb or so.

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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

My Mac only has 256 gb. They charge so much for storage so.i went with a smaller size. Kind of annoying..

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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 3h

Good to know. I am off-grid so sometimes the power goes down and I can't run a PC 24/7.

0 sats \ 13 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

That makes sense. I am sure that is a common answer. Its not all that hard anymore. And there are some somewhat plug and play solutions I think? I am using a umbrel node on a pi 4. I have heard of something called start 9. Not sure how easy that is.

11 sats \ 10 replies \ @Bee_Aye 4h

start9 is awesome! click, btc node...click, electrs server...click, lnd node

🤙

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

Kind of pricey. I assume they are more powerful. Can they be used for things other than nodes?

22 sats \ 3 replies \ @Bee_Aye 2h

you can buy an old mini comp and load the OS onto there since its FOSS. i got mine for $200 with 2 tb, 16 gigs ram which will be decent for running a btc stack

0 sats \ 2 replies \ @DesertDave OP 2h

The start 9 os?

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bee_Aye 2h

ya,

https://docs.start9.com/0.3.5.x/flashing-guides/os-x86

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 2h

Very cool. I didn't know that.

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11 sats \ 0 replies \ @ChrisS 3h

Yes they specialize in many self hosting apps like bitwarden next cloud and others but I would be careful running other apps like those on the same machine as a bitcoin/lightning node.

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

What makes that a better option than a PC or a pi? I'm assuming it's easier.

22 sats \ 2 replies \ @Bee_Aye 2h

you dont ever have to fuck with command line

49 sats \ 1 reply \ @DesertDave OP 2h

That's a big bonus. I like that.

11 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bee_Aye 2h

the caveat to start9 is you only get local network access and tor access. the next release of the OS will supposidly provide clearnet access to services running on a start9, but details and release timeline are scant.

11 sats \ 1 reply \ @Cje95 4h

I’ve always debated on getting a pi but it never quite lined up with being able to do stuff with it

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DesertDave OP 4h

I also run a home media server off a pi. And I have used one for retro gaming in the past. They are super useful and fun to play with. I am not super technical and still am able to figure it out with YouTube. I recommend it for sure. I like that option because it's always useful for something.