Node

A node is a computer running a blockchain’s software, participating in the network by storing the ledger, relaying data and checking that transactions and blocks follow the rules.

How it works

A full node keeps a complete, independently verified copy of the blockchain and rejects anything invalid, enforcing the network’s rules without trusting anyone else. Lighter nodes store only part of the data and rely on full nodes for the rest. Validators or miners are nodes that also produce new blocks, but most nodes simply verify and relay.

Why it matters

The more independent nodes a network has, the harder it is to censor or rewrite, because each one enforces the rules for itself. A healthy spread of nodes is a core measure of how decentralized a blockchain really is.

Example

Running your own full node lets you verify your transactions directly instead of trusting a third party’s view of the chain.