Full node
A computer that checks every Bitcoin transaction and block against the rules, trusting no one.
In plain words
A full node downloads every block and checks every payment against the rules. No shortcuts. No trust. It does not believe miners, companies, or other nodes — it verifies. Thousands of people doing this independently is what makes the rules real: a block that breaks them is rejected, whoever mined it. Any normal computer can run one. Yours can.
Why it matters
- Your node is your proof. You check your money; you take no one's word.
- Miners propose blocks. Nodes decide if they count.
- The more independent nodes, the harder to change Bitcoin quietly.
Numbers that matter
- 8333 — the network port full nodes talk on.
- ~10 minutes — how often a new block arrives to check.
Not to be confused with
- Miner — builds new blocks. A node checks them; most nodes don't mine.
- Wallet — holds your keys. A node checks history; Bitcoin Core includes both.
Go deeper
- Bitcoin Core — the software most full nodes run.
- Pruned node
- Why run a node?
Updated 2026-07-29