A blockchain consists of different types of nodes, which are its backbone. Each node is essentially a cloud server, containing the blockchain’s operating software that proceeds with its methods and consensus and stores all the transactions recorded in the blockchain. They are connected in the network, ensuring the synchronization between them and maintaining the chain’s integrity and security.
Some of these node types maintain the network itself, while others ensure a seamless connection between the blockchain and its users. Let’s start with the node definition, and then overview their different types.
What is a blockchain node?
As mentioned, a node is a cloud computer that runs the blockchain software and stores its transactions. That’s why they are called nodes: each such computer is really a node in the network, connected via the Internet, and together they maintain the integrity of all data recorded in the blockchain, as well as the decentralized consensus between these data.
Different types of nodes solve different tasks in the network, ensuring its integrity. Some of them help in creating new blocks and validating transactions, while others create an interface to connect with the network. For example, let’s see what are the two types of nodes in Hyperledger fabric in blockchain, according to its experts. It includes endorsing peers and committing peers: while the first ones validate transactions, the second ones write them into the chain, and together they ensure data integrity and seamless user interaction.
All benefits of this technology, from transparency to security, follow from such a structure, while a specific software of each blockchain determines its methods. They can be used for different purposes, from simple transactions to smart contract signing.
Let’s look closer.
Why are there different types of nodes in the blockchain?
As one can see, the most fundamental difference between blockchain nodes is those that participate in its consensus mechanism and those that just write transactions in the blockchain.
The first ones maintain the blockchain’s structure, ensuring that all transactions and smart contracts proceed as intended, without misbehavior or bugs. Other nodes are necessary to maintain integrity and write new data, but they don’t participate in creating new blocks or validating the network consensus.
If looking closer, there are many more types, given the differences between different blockchains and the additional node functionalities.
Types of blockchain nodes
The list below is universal for most blockchains, despite there are differences between different consensus mechanisms. For some, there are exotic types, such as Bor and Heimdall nodes for Polygon, but their only difference is using specific software provided by the network.
So, let’s overview the types of nodes in blockchain.
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) nodes
RPC nodes serve as crucial intermediaries in blockchain networks, facilitating communication between applications and the blockchain itself.
They have an API that allows developers to interact with the blockchain, enabling them to read data and submit transactions. The RPC protocol serves as the language for communication between clients and the blockchain. Thus, they act as gateways, processing requests from clients and sending them to the blockchain network.
By using a blockchain node provider, such as GetBlock, developers can focus on their dApps without the need to run a node themselves and manage its complexities.
Full nodes
Full nodes are the backbone of blockchain networks, maintaining a complete, lifetime copy of the blockchain and updating regularly as new transactions occur. These nodes play a critical role in ensuring the network's integrity and decentralization by verifying every transaction independently.
They serve as a source of truth for the blockchain's state, allowing other nodes and servers to synchronize and verify information. As we’ll see further, full nodes can participate in the propagation of new blocks and transactions by running specific certified software, either as validator, authority, or mining nodes.
Running a full node requires significant storage and computational resources, as it must store and process the entire blockchain history.
Pruned full nodes
Pruned full nodes are a variation of full nodes that aim to reduce hardware requirements while maintaining most of the functionality of a full node.
These nodes initially download and validate the entire blockchain, but then discard older block data, earlier than a specified pruning point. They still participate in network integrity maintenance, but they cannot serve historical blockchain data beyond their pruning point.
Archival nodes
On the contrary, archival nodes store the complete lifetime history of the blockchain from its genesis block. They maintain every transaction and state change that has ever occurred on the network, while updating regularly.
This makes them invaluable for applications that require access to historical data, such as blockchain explorers and analytics platforms, while they require substantial storage capacity.
Light nodes
Light nodes are designed to provide basic blockchain functionality with minimal resource requirements.
They don’t store the entire blockchain. Instead, they rely on full nodes to provide them with necessary information via the network connection. They only download block headers and a small subset of transactions relevant to the user's wallet.
Source: ResearchGate
Light nodes are particularly useful for personal devices and other resource-constrained environments. They allow users to verify transactions and interact with the blockchain without the storage and computational demands of running a full node.
However, light nodes must trust the full nodes they connect to for accurate information, which potentially creates security and decentralization concerns.
Lightning Nodes
Lightning nodes are specialized nodes that operate on Layer 2 Bitcoin scaling solutions, such as the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Their primary difference is that they only verify the transaction coming directly to it, relying on the mainnet to verify the network as a whole.
Thus, they facilitate off-chain transactions, allowing for faster and cheaper transactions compared to slow and costly Bitcoin on-chain operations. Lightning nodes create payment channels with other nodes, enabling multiple transactions to occur without immediately recording them on the main blockchain.
Supernodes
Supernodes are high-performance nodes that take on additional responsibilities within some blockchain networks, including the modification of the network consensus when needed and agreed.
They typically have robust hardware, higher bandwidth, and greater uptime compared to regular nodes. Supernodes often serve as hubs in the network, relaying information between other nodes and providing additional services. The exact role of super nodes can vary depending on the specific blockchain implementation.
While super nodes can enhance network performance and provide valuable services, these blockchain node types also introduce elements of centralization, which should be carefully balanced.
Masternodes
Similarly, masternodes are nodes with a specific certified status that perform critical functions in certain blockchain networks, often in exchange for rewards. They were first introduced and mostly used in the Dash blockchain, a Bitcoin fork aimed at improving its bandwidth.
These nodes require a significant collateral stake in the network's native cryptocurrency, which ensures the network’s reliability. As a reward, stakeholders obtain large rewards in the native cryptocurrency and have the opportunity to vote in the network.
Also, masternodes can perform various tasks depending on the specific blockchain implementation, such as facilitating instant transactions, enabling private transactions, participating in governance decisions, or managing specific network features.
Validator nodes
Validator nodes play a crucial role in Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and other consensus mechanisms that don't rely on mining, as they validate transactions and maintain blockchain security. When answering what are the three different types of nodes in blockchain, this type is among the most basic ones, along with full and light nodes.
They are responsible for proposing and validating new blocks in blockchains like the modern Ethereum or Aptos, thereby securing the network and maintaining its integrity. So, they must be powerful enough to store the whole history of blockchain’s transactions, like full nodes. In addition, they run the software that calculates blocks and maintains the consensus between all other nodes, securing the blockchain from attacks.
As one can see below, each transaction initiated by the RPC node request is then validated before being accepted and written in the blockchain.
Source: Aptos
Validators typically need to stake a certain amount of the network's native cryptocurrency as collateral. They obtain rewards for validating, but for malicious activity, such as the attempt to manipulate the network against consensus, they are penalized by losing their funds.
The number and selection of validator nodes to propose blocks is unique for each blockchain and involves a combination of factors, including the amount staked, the length of time the stake has been locked, and sometimes random selection.
Staking nodes
Staking nodes are an integral part of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks. They are similar to validators, as they enable staking tokens to get rewards, but don’t necessarily participate in validation, simply providing liquidity for the network.
In other words, all validator nodes are staking, but not all staking nodes are validators.
These nodes participate in block validation and creation by "staking" or locking up a certain amount of the network's cryptocurrency. The amount staked typically determines the node's chances of being selected to validate blocks and earn rewards.
Staking nodes contribute to the network's security and consensus mechanism. In some networks, users can delegate their stake to these nodes, allowing for participation in the consensus process without running a full node themselves. This model aims to balance decentralization with efficiency and accessibility.
Authority nodes
Authority nodes, also known as permissioned nodes, are basically validators in the networks with the Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus mechanism.
It’s typically found in private or consortium blockchain networks, where only a limited number of users can participate. These nodes are certified for special privileges and responsibilities within the network, usually including the ability to validate transactions and create new blocks.
In contrast to public blockchain networks where anyone can potentially run a node, authority nodes are usually operated by pre-approved entities. This structure allows for greater control over the network's operation and increases transaction speed and scalability.
However, it also introduces a degree of centralization, which is suitable for businesses and closed organizations, but not for the global communities.
Mining nodes
Mining nodes, similarly, are basically validators for Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin, but these types of nodes in blockchain are very different from others.
They compete to solve complex mathematical problems to create new blocks and earn mining rewards. Mining nodes create new blocks, validate transactions, and secure the network against attacks.
The computational power of mining nodes is often measured in hash rate, which represents the number of calculations they can perform per second. As the network's total hash rate increases, so does its security, making it almost impossible to hack the blockchain.
Source: AMINA Group
Such nodes are extremely computation-demanding, as earning decent rewards for large PoW networks like Bitcoin requires immense computing power and is usually proceeded with specific devices called ASICs. Therefore, they consume large amounts of electric power, leading to concerns about their environmental impact and sustainability, especially compared to the PoS approach.
What is the reason to use blockchain nodes?
While most blockchain users don’t run nodes and even don’t interact with them explicitly, they are always called when interacting with the blockchain. Now we can see what are the three different types of nodes in blockchain: validator, full, and light nodes, some of which can also be equipped with the RPC API, so developers can send and receive requests via them.
When working with the blockchain closely, be it automated trading, staking, or dApp development, you need a node that ensures your seamless connection with the network. Running even a light node by yourself requires extensive hardware investment and active software management, which can be both time- and money-consuming, even if you’re an expert. That’s where we can help.
At GetBlock, we work for Web3 developers to create an environment where they can build new. We offer both free and paid shared nodes, and you can scale along with your enterprise, paying only for requests you use. As your customer number grows, you can switch to our dedicated nodes and enterprise solutions that are only yours and, therefore, have no limits in requests or bandwidth. Sign up now and choose the plan that suits you best, paying only for blockchain requests!
