Ways to Run a Bitcoin Full Node

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HARDWARE AND BANDWIDTH REQUIREMENTS:

Storage requirements: 1TB SSD/HDD (to download the entire Bitcoin blockchain of around 350 GB and have enough room for new blocks requiring approximately 1 GB per week)
RAM requirements: 4 GB of RAM
Bandwidth requirements: Internet connection with upload speeds of at least 50 Kbps A full node can have upload usage of over 200 GB a month and download usage of over 20 GB a month. On the initial sync of your node, you’ll also have to download the entire Bitcoin blockchain, which is around 350 GB at the moment.
Time online: Ideally, your full node should always be online but it is typically recommended that you keep it running for at least 6 hours a day.

USING YOUR OWN LAPTOP

The first idea that most people have for running a full node is to use their own laptop and download the Bitcoin Core node software. Although this may be a good idea in some situations, it comes with a number of disadvantages:
Running a Bitcoin full node can slow down the performance of your laptop, which can be inconvenient if you are using it for other purposes.
Many laptops are not designed to be running 24/7 and are not particularly energy efficient for running a node.
Since laptops contain other applications, it can be less secure and private than running a node on a separate dedicated device.

USING A RASPBERRY PI

Because of the disadvantages of using a personal laptop for running a node, many people have opted to use Raspberry Pis, which are very small, low-cost computers. Raspberry Pis can be used as a dedicated full node that can be run 24/7 in an energy efficient manner.
In addition, many developers have created software specifically for running a full node on a Raspberry Pi so you will find a long list of options and guides if you decide to go down this route.

SOFTWARE STACKS FOR BUILDING A RASPBERRY PI NODE

Although you can download the Bitcoin Core software directly onto your Raspberry Pi, non-technical users will find it difficult to integrate it with other wallet software (which is the whole point of running a full node!) or adding other features like Tor (for better privacy), running a Lightning network node and much more. A software stack can help you build your full node with the features you want in a user-friendly way. Umbrel, RaspiBlitz, myNode and RoninDojo all use the same hardware so you can try all three if you want!

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Umbrel

Simplest option for non-technical users

This option requires you to build your own Raspberry Pi node (recommended hardware shown on their website). Once you set-up the hardware, you can easily install Umbrel for free onto the Raspberry Pi and then access their user-friendly interface on any computer connected to the same network as your Raspberry Pi.

Basic apps ready to go

Straight out of the gate, you will have Bitcoin Core (for validating the blockchain), LND (for running a Lightning node), Electrum server (for connecting mobile or hardware wallets to your node) and Tor (which the other services are configured to to use by default in order to protect your privacy)

Umbrel app store

Using Umbrel’s app store, you can add other open source applications to your node including BTCPayServer (for accepting BTC payments), Specter (for multi-sig) or BTC RPC Explorer (for running your own blockchain explorer).

Cost

The price to build the Raspberry Pi set-up recommended by Umbrel is approximately $300 - $400 CAD. If you want to save on cost, you could opt for less expensive parts (e.g. 4GB RAM instead of 8GB for the Raspberry Pi or HDD instead of SSD for storage but do your research on how this might affect the performance of your node).

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RaspiBlitz

DIY experience

The RaspiBlitz project is suited towards more technical users who want to build their own Bitcoin and Lightning node on a Raspberry Pi. There are many tutorials online for building a RaspiBlitz node, along with instructions on the RaspiBlitz Github page. The RaspiBlitz code is fully open source and can be forked off into other projects and offers an unlimited amount of customization for technical users.

Wide range of services

Similar to Umbrel, there is a long list of other services that can be turned on including Tor, BTCPayServer, Specter, BTC RPC Explorer, JoinMarket and much more.

Cost

The RaspiBlitz uses the same setup as the Umbrel but also involves a touchscreen display, which costs about $30 CAD extra. If you want to purchase a pre-built RaspiBlitz, FULMOShop is a vendor that you can purchase one from.

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myNode

Great suite of Bitcoin apps

In addition to running a basic Bitcoin and Lightning node, myNode features a very wide range of Bitcoin apps, which are listed on their website. These apps can easily be accessed through their simple and user-friendly web interface once you set up your Raspberry Pi.

Cost

myNode uses the same setup as the Umbrel so it is a similar cost. Their basic software (called “Community Edition”) is free. However, premium features and one-click upgrades will cost a $99 USD one-time cost. Another option is to purchase a pre-built node from myNode (called the “myNode One”) starting at $339 USD which includes the premium features.

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RoninDojo

Best privacy features

RoninDojo is privacy-focused full node implementation built for use with the Samourai Wallet but can be used with other popular Bitcoin wallets. Its privacy tools and features include Whirlpool (for Coinjoins), a Whirlpool Stat Tool (for calculating your anonymity set), Tor for all applications, and additional disk encryption to further protect your data.

Bitcoin node but no Lightning node

Like the other node software, RoninDojo allows you to run a Bitcoin full node with Electrum Server so you can connect your wallet to your node. However, RoninDojo currently does not include software for running a Lightning node as well.

Cost

RoninDojo only requires the purchase of the Raspberry Pi hardware. The code is fully open source, meaning that it is free and fully customizable.

BUYING A PRE-BUILT NODE DEVICE

If building your a full node using a Raspberry Pi sounds too intimidating or time-consuming, another good option is to go with a pre-built node device. A bit more expensive but much easier to get set up.

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Nodl

Best pre-built device

The Nodl is a pre-built Bitcoin and Lightning node using strong hardware. The device is very much plug and play and is the simplest way to get a node up and running without building your own. However, this does come at a higher cost.

Fully customizable

Nodl’s user interface allows you to install new apps like BTCPayServer in a single click.

Cost

Nodl’s base product, the “Nodl One”, has a regular price of $529 USD.

As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of Bitcoin full nodes, I'd like to share my expertise on the concepts discussed in the article "Ways to run a Bitcoin full node." Running a full node is crucial for the health and decentralization of the Bitcoin network, and choosing the right hardware and software is essential for an optimal experience. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts and options presented in the article:

Hardware and Bandwidth Requirements:
- Storage Requirements: A Bitcoin full node requires a minimum of 1TB SSD/HDD to accommodate the entire Bitcoin blockchain, which is around 350GB, with additional space for new blocks (approximately 1GB per week).
- RAM Requirements: 4GB of RAM is recommended for running the Bitcoin Core software.
- Bandwidth Requirements: An internet connection with upload speeds of at least 50 Kbps is necessary. Full nodes can have significant upload and download usage, with initial sync requiring downloading the entire blockchain.
Using Your Own Laptop:
- While it's a common initial choice, using a personal laptop has disadvantages:
  - It can slow down the laptop's performance.
  - Laptops may not be designed for 24/7 operation and are not energy-efficient.
  - Security and privacy concerns arise due to the presence of other applications.
Using a Raspberry Pi:
- Many people opt for Raspberry Pis due to their small size and cost-effectiveness.
- Raspberry Pis can run 24/7 efficiently and have dedicated software options for full node operation.
- Various software stacks are available for building a Raspberry Pi node, including Umbrel, RaspiBlitz, myNode, and RoninDojo.
Software Stacks for Building a Raspberry Pi Node:
- Umbrel:
  - Ideal for non-technical users.
  - Provides a user-friendly interface with basic apps such as Bitcoin Core, LND, Electrum server, and Tor.
  - Umbrel's app store allows the addition of other applications.
  - Cost: Approximately $300 - $400 CAD for recommended hardware.
- RaspiBlitz:
  - Suited for more technical users.
  - Offers a DIY experience with a wide range of services.
  - Similar to Umbrel in terms of services and cost.
- myNode:
  - Features a suite of Bitcoin apps in addition to basic node functions.
  - Simple and user-friendly web interface.
  - Cost is similar to Umbrel.
- RoninDojo:
  - Privacy-focused full node implementation.
  - Built for use with the Samourai Wallet.
  - Includes privacy tools like Whirlpool and Tor.
  - Cost: Requires only the purchase of Raspberry Pi hardware.
Buying a Pre-Built Node Device:
- Nodl:
  - A pre-built Bitcoin and Lightning node with strong hardware.
  - Plug-and-play device with a user-friendly interface.
  - Fully customizable with the ability to install new apps.
  - Cost: The "Nodl One" base product is priced at $529 USD.

Choosing the right option depends on the user's technical expertise, preferences, and budget. Whether building a node from scratch using a Raspberry Pi or opting for a pre-built device like Nodl, contributing to the Bitcoin network by running a full node is a valuable endeavor.