GetBlock continues to publish blockchain node guides. As a top-level node provider, we are interested in developing the Web3 infrastructure around the world, so let’s explore the types of Ethereum nodes and best practices for dealing with them!
Don’t forget to check our ETH nodes, as ordering a shared or dedicated RPC API may be much more efficient for Web3 development than running your own.
What is an Ethereum node: An overview
Ethereum, like any other blockchain, uses nodes to maintain its integrity and security.
Source: O’Reilly
To understand how to run Ethereum nodes, let’s review the primary node types first.
Full Ethereum nodes
A typical Ethereum node, which synchronizes with other nodes, maintains its Proof-of-Stake consensus, and powers dApps, is a full node. Each of them contains the full copy of Ethereum’s blocks, but they can remove some historical and unnecessary data, reducing the disk space required for them. This process is called pruning.
As every full node synchronizes with other nodes constantly, they can maintain the blockchain integrity together. Running a full node contributes to Ethereum security and development, so it’s essential for the ecosystem.
Moreover, a node owner can customize it to participate in validation, earn staking rewards, or proceed with RPC requests and power decentralized applications (dApps), realizing Ethereum methods in them.
Light Ethereum nodes
If there are hardware limitations, a lightweight version of the Ethereum node can be used to handle some tasks. They take up much less disk space and require fewer computational resources, as they don’t store Ethereum blocks locally. Instead, they request the data from full nodes or RPC servers.
They cannot participate in consensus maintenance, perform staking, or power dApps. Still, they can proceed with transactions or prove NFT ownership. It makes them useful, for example, in embedded security systems.
Archive Ethereum nodes
If a node stores all Ethereum’s blocks and blockchain states, from the genesis block, then it’s an archive node. Unlike ordinary full nodes, archive nodes cannot afford any pruning and must keep every block, from the start in 2014, to the last one. The current size of Ethereum archive nodes is about 15 TB, compared to 2–4 TB of ordinary nodes.
Key functions of Ethereum nodes and clients
A crucial element of Ethereum nodes is the client.
Node clients are the high-level software that determines how the node interacts with other nodes and blockchain users. Light nodes use their own light clients, which are often modified versions of the original clients. While the terms “nodes” and “clients” are sometimes used interchangeably, it’s essential to understand the difference.
Based on their functionalities, Ethereum distinguishes two types of clients: execution and consensus. Each of them contributes to the respective Ethereum layer, ensuring its functionality.
Execution clients proceed with transactions and smart contracts by running EVM computations and ensuring that all current protocol rules are followed. They cannot participate in validation, but are essential for dApp functionality.
Consensus clients maintain blockchain integrity by comparing the block sequences and reaching an agreement about it. When modified by a validator add-on, they can participate in transaction validation and staking.
Read more about the Ethereum clients and their functionalities here
If one needs to run an ETH node, it almost certainly will be a full node. Light nodes are very limited in functionality and are totally dependent on other full nodes. Archive nodes, on the other hand, require significantly larger disk storage and offer no added value beyond the historical data. Thus, full nodes can handle almost every task of an Ethereum developer.
So, here we’ll focus on them.
Ethereum full node requirements
Which resources would one need for this task? Here, we’ll review the hardware and software composition of a full Ethereum node.
Minimum hardware requirements
Let’s start with Ethereum node hardware requirements. They’re listed on the Ethereum Foundation’s official website and are relatively small, especially compared to more computationally intensive blockchains such as Solana and Sui.
Minimum requirements are as follows:
- Fast CPU with 2 cores
- 8 GB RAM
- 2 TB SSD
- 10+ Mbit bandwidth
However, Ethereum Foundation recommends using 16 GB RAM and a 4-core CPU for better node performance.
Step-by-step setup guide
The node setup algorithm is very easy, but it’s essential to understand how the network and its clients work.
- Gather all required hardware, depending on the client choice
- Download and install the chosen client software
- Set up the client according to the instructions, primarily the data pruning
- Let the client sync the node with the network
After that, one should wait for the blockchain synchronization, and the node is ready.
Ethereum full node clients
Let’s explore Ethereum clients more deeply.
We already wrote a lot about blockchain clients. If you’re interested in comparing the client size, read more in our specialized article. Here, we’ll limit by listing the most popular clients.
Source: Client Diversity
An essential concept of Ethereum is client diversity. While many other blockchains have only one official client, Ethereum explicitly states that having several clients is better, as it leads to healthy competition, shared responsibility, and greater resilience.
Among the execution clients, popular options are:
- Geth
- Nevermind
- Besu
- Erigon
Regarding the consensus clients, the four widely used ones are:
- Lighthouse
- Prysm
- Teku
- Nimbus
To a great extent, selecting a certain ETH client is a matter of taste and habit, such as which programming languages one usually uses. They prune nodes differently, resulting in different node sizes, but it can be adjusted for all clients. If you want to compare node clients further, check our full comparison article, and we will continue.
Best practices with Ethereum nodes
To conclude our article, let’s figure out when Web3 enthusiasts should—and shouldn’t—run their own nodes.
Reasons to run an Ethereum node
Ethereum node setup and maintenance require substantial time and money investments, while staking participation is even more demanding, as one needs 32 ETH to participate. It’s a hefty sum: about $76,750 as of late June 2025. After staking, a validator will receive rewards with 3–5% APY, as there are different staking strategies.
So, it’s a good idea to run your own node when:
- It works as a stable point that powers dApp functionality
- It allows a node owner to participate in Ethereum staking
- It contributes to the Ethereum ecosystem's stability and security
In a general case, running an ETH node is a good idea for crypto enthusiasts, for whom it’s a substantial part of their lives, or for large-scale Web3 companies who need a solid infrastructure and can support it easily. As we’ll see, a Web3 node provider (like GetBlock!) is often a better option.
When to choose a node provider
Usually, it’s unnecessary to run a node yourself to solve a problem. If you’re a Web3 enthusiast, it’s a good idea, as it powers the ecosystem and contributes to decentralization and security. However, if you’re an entrepreneur or developer who has a clear objective to solve, then a node provider is a much more efficient option.
With GetBlock, you can focus on your Ethereum development, while we’ll provide all. Our shared node subscription can be scaled and updated as your app grows, and our dedicated nodes can support large-scale projects with thousands of daily users. Sign up now, and check our plans to select the one that suits you best!
