Every transaction you send on a blockchain — whether it is a token transfer, a smart contract call, or a stablecoin payment — is received, verified, and propagated by nodes. Understanding what a node is in blockchain is fundamental to grasping how decentralized networks actually work, and why they are resistant to censorship, fraud, and single points of failure. Without nodes, there is no blockchain.

Yet the concept is often explained in vague terms. This guide takes a practical, technically grounded approach: what nodes do, what types exist, what it takes to run one, and why it matters for businesses building Web3 infrastructure in 2026.

A blockchain node is any computer or device that connects to a blockchain network, maintains a copy of the ledger (or a portion of it), and participates in validating and relaying transactions. Nodes communicate using peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols, ensuring that every participant has access to the same data without relying on a central server.

When a user initiates a transaction, it is broadcast to the network and picked up by nearby nodes. Each node independently verifies the transaction against the protocol's rules — checking signatures, balances, and consensus requirements. Valid transactions are then relayed to other nodes and eventually included in a new block.

This redundancy is the backbone of decentralization. If one node goes offline, the network continues operating. If a malicious actor tries to inject a fraudulent transaction, honest nodes reject it. The more nodes a network has, the more resilient and trustworthy it becomes.

As of early 2026, Ethereum maintains approximately 14,339 active nodes distributed across the globe, with 66% running on Linux-based systems (Source: Etherscan Ethernodes). Bitcoin's network, meanwhile, sustains over 17,000 reachable nodes, each storing roughly 800 GB of blockchain data (Source: Bitnodes).

Not all nodes perform the same function. The type of node you run — or connect to — depends on your needs, resources, and role in the network. Here is a breakdown of the four main categories.

A full node downloads and validates the entire blockchain from the genesis block to the latest transaction. It enforces all consensus rules independently, meaning it does not trust any other node — it verifies everything itself. Full nodes are the gold standard for security and sovereignty.

Running a full node on Bitcoin requires approximately 800 GB of storage, while an Ethereum full node needs around 2 TB. These nodes are essential for the network's health: they are the arbiters of what is valid and what is not.

A light node — also called a Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) node — stores only block headers rather than the full chain. It relies on full nodes to verify transactions. Light nodes are ideal for mobile wallets and resource-constrained devices where downloading terabytes of data is impractical.

The tradeoff is clear: light nodes sacrifice some trust guarantees for efficiency. They trust that the full nodes they query are honest, which introduces a mild centralization risk.

On proof-of-work (PoW) networks like Bitcoin, miner nodes compete to solve cryptographic puzzles and propose new blocks. On proof-of-stake (PoS) networks like Ethereum, validator nodes stake collateral (32 ETH on Ethereum) and are selected to propose and attest to blocks.

Both types earn rewards for their participation but carry financial risk. Validators who behave dishonestly — or simply go offline — can be penalized through slashing mechanisms. These nodes are the engines of network consensus.

An archival node stores not just the current state of the blockchain but every historical state at every block height. This makes archival nodes critical for blockchain analytics platforms, auditing firms, and developers who need to query past contract states.

The storage requirements are enormous — Ethereum archival nodes can exceed 15 TB — but the data they provide is irreplaceable for forensic analysis and regulatory compliance.

For fintechs, startups, and enterprises operating in Web3, running your own node is not just a technical exercise — it is a strategic decision. Relying on third-party node providers like Infura or Alchemy means trusting their infrastructure, uptime, and data integrity. While these services are convenient, they introduce dependencies that can become liabilities.

Censorship resistance and independence. When you run your own node, no third party can block or filter your transactions. In a regulatory environment where compliance requirements vary by jurisdiction, self-operated nodes give you direct control over how you interact with the blockchain.

Privacy. Every transaction query you send to a third-party node provider reveals your addresses, balances, and activity patterns. Operating your own RPC node ensures that sensitive business data stays within your infrastructure.

Reliability. Third-party providers experience outages. In March 2023, Infura suffered a significant outage that impacted thousands of dApps. For mission-critical applications — payment processing, tokenized asset management, DeFi protocols — an in-house node eliminates this single point of failure.

Compliance and auditability. For companies operating under frameworks like the EU's MiCA regulation (Source: EUR-Lex), running your own node provides a verifiable audit trail. You can prove that your systems processed transactions according to protocol rules without relying on a third party's attestation.

RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes are the interface between decentralized applications and the blockchain. Every time a dApp reads a wallet balance, submits a transaction, or queries a smart contract, it does so through an RPC endpoint.

For development teams building Web3 products, the choice of RPC infrastructure directly affects latency, reliability, and cost. Public RPC endpoints are free but rate-limited and unreliable under load. Commercial providers offer better performance but charge per request and introduce vendor lock-in.

A growing number of fintech companies are deploying dedicated RPC nodes to support their products. This approach provides consistent performance, eliminates per-request costs at scale, and keeps sensitive operational data in-house. Combined with load balancers and redundancy, a self-managed RPC cluster can match or exceed the reliability of commercial providers.

For startups building tokenization platforms, stablecoin payment systems, or DeFi protocols, the RPC layer is foundational infrastructure. Getting it right early prevents costly migrations later.

At Beltsys, we have deployed and managed blockchain nodes across Ethereum, Polygon, and EVM-compatible networks as part of our work building Web3 infrastructure for fintechs and B2B platforms. With over 300 projects delivered since 2016, our approach to node infrastructure is shaped by real production requirements — not theoretical ideals.

We help companies determine the right node architecture based on their specific use case: whether that means running dedicated validator nodes for staking operations, deploying high-availability RPC clusters for dApp backends, or setting up archival nodes for compliance and analytics workloads.

Our experience shows that the decision to run your own node is often driven by three factors: transaction volume (at scale, self-hosting is cheaper than per-request pricing), data sensitivity (regulated fintechs need control over their data flow), and operational independence (no dependency on a single provider's uptime).

For teams exploring blockchain consulting or Web3 development, understanding node infrastructure is a critical first step toward building resilient, compliant systems.

Running a node is more accessible than ever, but it still demands dedicated resources. Here is what you need to get started:

Hardware. A modern CPU (4+ cores), 16–32 GB of RAM, and fast SSD storage. NVMe drives are strongly recommended for Ethereum nodes due to the heavy I/O demands of state synchronization.

Storage. Bitcoin full nodes require approximately 800 GB. Ethereum full nodes need around 2 TB, and this grows by roughly 1 GB per day. Archival nodes demand significantly more — plan for 15+ TB on Ethereum.

Bandwidth. A stable internet connection with at least 25 Mbps upload and download is recommended. Nodes continuously communicate with peers, and bandwidth constraints can cause synchronization delays.

Software. Each network has its own client software. Ethereum supports multiple clients — Geth, Nethermind, Besu, and Erigon — each with different performance characteristics. Running minority clients (not Geth, which powers over 60% of the network) contributes to client diversity, a critical factor in network resilience.

Operating system. Linux dominates, powering 66% of Ethereum nodes. Ubuntu and Debian are the most common distributions for node operations.

Understanding what a node is in blockchain goes beyond technical curiosity — it is essential knowledge for any business building on decentralized infrastructure. Nodes are the foundation that makes blockchain trustless, resilient, and censorship-resistant.

For fintechs and startups entering Web3, the decision of whether to run your own node, which type to deploy, and how to architect your infrastructure has direct implications for cost, compliance, privacy, and reliability. The right setup depends on your use case, but the trend is clear: companies that control their own node infrastructure gain a strategic advantage.

If you are evaluating how blockchain nodes fit into your infrastructure strategy, reach out to Beltsys — we can help you design and deploy the right architecture for your needs.

A blockchain node is a computer that connects to a blockchain network to store, validate, and relay transactions. Nodes enforce the protocol's consensus rules independently, ensuring that the ledger remains accurate and consistent across all participants. Without nodes, a blockchain network simply cannot function — they are its fundamental building blocks.

A full node downloads and verifies the entire blockchain, enforcing all consensus rules without trusting any other participant. A light node stores only block headers and relies on full nodes for transaction verification. Full nodes offer maximum security and sovereignty; light nodes trade some trust guarantees for significantly lower resource requirements.

The cost varies by network. A Bitcoin full node requires approximately 800 GB of SSD storage and modest hardware — roughly $300–500 in equipment. An Ethereum validator node requires 32 ETH in stake plus 2 TB of NVMe storage and 16–32 GB of RAM. Ongoing costs include electricity and internet bandwidth, typically $20–50 per month for home setups.

No. Most users interact with blockchains through wallets and applications that connect to third-party node providers like Infura or Alchemy. However, running your own node provides maximum privacy, independence, and censorship resistance. For businesses processing sensitive transactions or operating under regulatory frameworks, self-hosted nodes are often the better choice.

An RPC (Remote Procedure Call) node provides an API endpoint that decentralized applications use to read blockchain data and submit transactions. Every dApp needs an RPC connection. Developers can use public endpoints, commercial providers, or self-hosted nodes. For production applications, dedicated RPC infrastructure ensures reliability, lower latency, and data privacy.

Yes. Beltsys has extensive experience deploying full nodes, validator nodes, and RPC clusters on Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks for fintech and B2B clients. We help companies design node architectures that match their performance, compliance, and cost requirements — from initial setup through ongoing management.

Beltsys is a Spanish blockchain and Web3 development company with extensive experience building decentralized infrastructure for fintechs, startups, and enterprise clients. With over 300 projects delivered since 2016, Beltsys specializes in tokenization, smart contracts, stablecoin payment systems, and AI-powered solutions for the financial sector. Learn more about Beltsys.

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Originally published on beltsys.com