Archival node
A full node that keeps every block ever mined and serves history to newcomers.
In plain words
An archival node is a full node that deletes nothing. Every block since 2009 stays on its disk — hundreds of gigabytes and growing. That history is what new nodes download when they join: someone has to serve it, and archival nodes are the someone. Verification is identical to any full node. The difference is generosity: storage spent so the next person can check everything from block zero.
Why it matters
- New nodes can only verify history if someone stores it. Archival nodes do.
- Block explorers and researchers need the full record on hand.
- Security equals a pruned node's; the service to others is the point.
Numbers that matter
- Every block since January 3, 2009 — what it keeps.
Not to be confused with
- Pruned node — verifies the same history, then throws the old blocks away.
Go deeper
Updated 2026-07-30