How to Run Bitcoin Node: Requirements 

Vance Wood

Vance Wood

July 11, 2025

31 分鐘閱讀

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Bitcoin is the first blockchain in history. It has the largest market capitalization and is still among the most used ones. Bitcoin nodes are used mainly for transaction processing, but with the Bitcoin Lightning layer-2 client, one can also earn commission fees. Other specialized L2s add programmability and smart contracts. It’s also possible to mine BTC using special mining equipment, although it’s quite a costly process.

So, let’s explore how to run Bitcoin nodes and what benefits one can have with them.

What is a Bitcoin node?

Before we begin, let’s quickly remind ourselves what a BTC node is and how it works.

Types of Bitcoin nodes: Full and lightweight

The primary type of Bitcoin node (similar to any other chain) is a full node. It keeps the whole copy of the Bitcoin ledger and synchronizes it with other nodes, ensuring that it remains unchanged and can only grow according to the consensus mechanism. Every full node can process transactions and serve as an RPC node for implementing Bitcoin methods in applications.

The current (July 2025) Bitcoin ledger size is about 600 GB.

In many cases, the full node can be pruned, reducing the required disk size. It’s achieved by removing unimportant historical data, so the pruned node becomes more reliant on other nodes in the network. Pruning can be adjusted according to the node operator’s goals, and the disk size can be reduced up to 100 GB.

If one needs only basic Bitcoin functionalities, such as transaction processing, one can run a Bitcoin lightweight node, which has much lower technical requirements. It doesn’t record historic blocks at all, so its size is usually limited to 10 GB. Lightweight nodes can be used, for example, in embedded systems that must process payments and have limited memory.

Bitcoin network interaction scheme

Source: River

A specific type of Bitcoin node is a mining node. These nodes are responsible for realizing the chain’s Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism. They solve cryptographic puzzles, contributing to the network’s security and ensuring that only legitimate transactions are recorded in the Bitcoin ledger. While this article isn’t dedicated to mining, we’ll explore this topic later.

Why running a Bitcoin node matters for the network

Every Bitcoin node synchronizes with others, and together they maintain a full copy of the Bitcoin ledger. Mining nodes also contribute to the consensus maintenance. One can see this scheme below.

Bitcoin node scheme

Therefore, everyone who runs a full node contributes to the overall network’s safety. Those who run mining nodes also maintain their consensus and can earn hefty rewards for that. Mining, however, is quite a costly activity, as we’ll see later.

Bitcoin node requirements

Let’s now review the requirements.

Minimum hardware requirements

Bitcoin only records transactions and doesn’t use smart contracts, so despite being the oldest blockchain, its ledger is relatively small compared to chains like Ethereum, Tron, or Solana, and other requirements are smaller, too.

Currently, the recommended hardware requirements are as follows:

  • 4 GB RAM
  • 1 TB SSD
  • 1 Mbit Internet bandwidth

Now, let’s explore the required software.

Bitcoin node software specifications

Bitcoin nodes require a blockchain client to run. It is the software that regulates node synchronization, data pruning, RPC connections, and other aspects. The most popular Bitcoin client is Bitcoin Core, which has thorough documentation and a thriving community around it. Other minor clients exist, too, but we recommend using Bitcoin Core.

Read more about blockchain clients here.

Other than that, Bitcoin is an operating system agnostic, so it can be run on Windows, Linux, and macOS alike without any trouble. In addition, one can set up and run the Bitcoin Lightning node, a layer-2 chain dedicated to efficient transaction processing, and earn BTC for each processed transaction.

Regarding mining, it requires an entirely different setup, usually with much larger initial investments, so we’ll discuss it later.

How to set up and run a Bitcoin node

Now we can focus on the core topic of our article: an algorithm for setting up the node.

1. Installing software: Bitcoin Core

Go to the Bitcoin Core official website and download the latest version. It’ll take about 600 GB of disk space.

Bitcoin Core interface and synchronization process

Source: Bitcoin Core

In case one wants to run a Bitcoin Lightning node for transaction processing, one also needs to install the Lightning client, the most popular of which is Lightning Network Daemon. It can be located on GitHub, and if one uses a pruned Bitcoin node, it requires about 160 GB of disk space.

2. Syncing the Bitcoin node with the blockchain

Once Bitcoin Core is downloaded and installed, it’ll begin the synchronization with the blockchain. This process may take several hours or even days, depending on your node settings and Internet connection.

3. Configuring the node for optimal performance

The last point is node configuration. There are various points to consider here, all of which can be found in the Bitcoin Core documentation. It can be configured via the command line interface (CLI) or a graphical user interface (GUI), depending on one’s preferences.

Examples are:

  • Updating the node
  • Managing transactions
  • Pruning the node data
  • Regulating the synchronization speed
  • Regulating connections with other nodes
  • Setting up the RPC API connection for Web3 development
  • Configuring additional services, such as a Bitcoin Lightning client.

After that, a node is fully functional and can be used for transaction processing.

Bitcoin node hardware and infrastructure

For transaction processing and Web3 development, an ordinary full node is enough, and even a lightweight or pruned node can serve well if one just needs to confirm transactions or work with NFTs. As we’ll see, a node provider such as GetBlock can make these processes even easier and more cost-efficient.

For mining, one needs a much more powerful infrastructure, as mining nodes require large computational capacities to earn a reasonable amount of BTC. We’ll explore it further in the article.

Why run a Bitcoin node?

Everyone has a distinct reason for that. Let’s explore them.

Contributing to Bitcoin’s decentralization and security

Running a Bitcoin node is essential for the network, as every new node makes the network more decentralized and resilient against potential attacks. Bitcoin started as an open-source project for enthusiasts, and while now it has great importance for business, many Web3 enthusiasts continue to run Bitcoin nodes as a part of their hobby.

However, if one wants more tangible rewards, let’s explore other purposes.

Transaction processing and potential rewards

Every Bitcoin node can proceed with transactions and, therefore, improve the speed and efficiency of financial applications that use Bitcoin. It can be useful for financial app developers and FinTech enterprises, who are interested in low latency and high transaction throughput.

While Bitcoin node operators don’t earn from transactions, one may run a Bitcoin Lightning node, which, as mentioned, specializes exclusively in transaction processing. So, let’s explore it closely.

Every Bitcoin Lightning node can be selected to proceed with an ongoing transaction. Node operators who have the lowest commissions have the advantage of being selected, so it’s recommended to monitor the network fees and keep prices according to them.

Bitcoin Lightning scheme

Source: Swytfx Learn

While the earnings will be small in most cases, this approach doesn’t require many resources and can be considered a source of low but regular passive income.

Mining and its peculiarities

Mining is the most straightforward and efficient way to earn money when running a Bitcoin node, but it’s also resource-demanding and unpredictable. To run through Bitcoin mining, we must first explore the core of Bitcoin’s PoW concept: hash.

You can read more about hash, mining, and its potential profitability in our full-scale Bitcoin node guide. Here, we’ll limit it to the basics.

A hash is a cryptographic function that transforms a string of data into an encrypted string of a given length. For example, the SHA-256 algorithm, used by Bitcoin, transforms every string into a corresponding encrypted string of 256 bits. So, miners must constantly decipher random strings, having the chance to create a new Bitcoin block and get mining rewards for that.

A hash rate is the number of solved hashes per second, which is the measure of mining activity.

One can see the total Bitcoin hash rate: it’s tremendous and is constantly growing, as new and new miners try to earn their share of BTC. Today, it’s more than 700,000,000 trillion hashes (terahashes, TH) per second or 700,000,000,000,000,000 hashes per second!

Bitcoin hashrate change

Source: blockchain.com

As a result, mining requires very large computational resources to be profitable. Theoretically, you may mine BTC with your home graphics card, but you’ll barely mine more than a fraction of a cent. To earn a reasonable amount of BTC, you need an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) that can produce several terahashes per second, compared to several billion hashes per second of an ordinary high-performing GPU.

Want to dive behind the basics? Check our hash guide!

Their typical price is several thousand dollars but can vary from $400 for low-power models to about $20.000 for ASICs with hashrates of 1,000 TH/s. Profits depend on the total hash rate of your ASIC and can be calculated, but make sure to include expenses on the Internet and electricity. Also, remember that BTC price is a subject of change, and each Bitcoin halving reduces mining rewards twofold.

Web3 development

Bitcoin isn’t a programmable blockchain. It supports NFTs after the launch of the Ordinals protocols in 2023, but it still cannot support smart contracts and, therefore, proceed with anything other than ordinary transactions.

Still, there are platforms, protocols, and the whole layer-2 chains dedicated to bringing smart contract functionality to Bitcoin. Examples are Arch Network and Stacks. They enable users to stake BTC, make automated deals similar to programmable DeFi platforms, and even develop their own smart contracts for various purposes.

Combined with Bitcoin’s high security and decentralization, the chain has become a robust tool for Web3 projects. One can run a Bitcoin RPC (remote procedure call) node to implement Bitcoin methods in their applications. An RPC node is basically a full node with a specific Bitcoin Core configuration.

Have a project idea yourself? Check Bitcoin RPC nodes at GetBlock, contact us, and let’s realize it!

As of GetBlock statistics, Bitcoin is the only non-programmable blockchain whose nodes are in the top 10 of the most used. It means that it’s nevertheless widely used in Web3 developments: mostly for transaction processing, but with additional tools, smart contracts can also be implemented.

Costs of running a Bitcoin node

Now we can explore the financial question of running a node.

How much does it cost to run a Bitcoin node?

The costs for running a BTC node depend on the node's purpose and the computational power required for it. For the basic full node, considering its hardware requirements, one needs about $150–$300 as an initial investment and a minimum of $10 per month for electricity and Internet connection. Additionally, about 6 hours per day must be spent overseeing the node activities and configuring them, although Bitcoin Core can mostly run autonomously.

For mining, prices are much higher, as one needs ASICs with already installed software and large computational capacities. Initial investments of about $1,000 are required for a reasonable profit that will pay off, while Internet and electricity costs will be much larger compared to the ordinary full node.

Comparing self-hosting vs. node providers for Bitcoin nodes

In case one needs a BTC node to proceed with transactions or develop decentralized applications, a node provider is almost certainly a better option. For example, GetBlock BTC nodes can be ordered at $39/month, and their capacities can be adjusted based on the user’s needs. It’s cheaper than running your own node and also saves a lot of time required to configure the node.

Want to know more? Contact us and let’s discuss the capacities of our Bitcoin nodes!

Of course, we’d recommend you to buy our nodes in all cases. However, running your own may be a good idea if you’re a true Web3 enthusiast or plan to earn on Bitcoin Lightning transactions.

Maintaining and troubleshooting your Bitcoin node

Let’s summarize the various purposes, costs, and rewards of running Bitcoin nodes in the table below.

Purpose Transaction validation Web3 development Mining
Requirements Bitcoin Core, optionally a Bitcoin Lightning client Bitcoin Core, with a configured RPC connection Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)
Rewards Faster transactions and transaction rewards when using Bitcoin Lightning Faster transactions, implementation of Bitcoin methods in financial apps Mining rewards, size depends on the ASIC hash rate
Cost Minimum $150 Minimum $150 Minimum $1,000

Best security practices for a Bitcoin node

Those who run a Bitcoin node may become a target for hackers or legal restrictions, and it’s highly advised to be prepared for that. Let’s explore several safety precautions.

  • Use a hardware wallet to store bitcoins, especially if you have large amounts of BTC. It significantly reduces the chance of them being stolen.
  • Use a VPN or Tor browser to secure your Internet presence. Node synchronization leads to significant Internet traffic, which can be discovered and traced.
  • Learn the legal framework of the country where you’re based. In some countries, such as China, performing operations with Bitcoin may be very limited and regulated.

Conclusion

Running your own BTC node may be both an interesting and profitable hobby, but it requires initial investments and some technical expertise. If you’re planning to run a Web3 startup or integrate Bitcoin functionalities, make sure to calculate your potential expenses and benefits.

For FinTech enterprises that want to integrate Bitcoin payment technology, GetBlock offers efficient Bitcoin RPC nodes with 99.99% uptime, low latency, and 24/7 support. We also help Web3 startups to promote themselves and grow their business, and our plans can scale along with your company. Sign up now and explore our available plans for Bitcoin APIs.

Vance Wood

Vance Wood

July 11, 2025

31 分鐘閱讀

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