The traditional method is referred to
as running a full node and consists of running a program on your computer that holds a record of all Bitcoin transactions that have ever occurred (the blockchain).
Not exact matches
For instance, if you
run a
full node (or want to start), which fork of the blockchain you choose to
run would help to strengthen that fork and solidify it's place
as the dominant blockchain.
Masternodes are
full blockchain
nodes that
run the Dash blockchain and provide services to the network, such
as locking transactions with InstantSend and voting on budget funding.
He hopes that the Electrum Personal Server can serve
as a framework for other lightweight Bitcoin wallets to connect to
full nodes run by users, rather than (centralized) servers.
As such, users
running full nodes must always bear some responsibility.
As the debate raged on at the time, this period of upheaval was also accompanied by a influx of articles urging users to
run their own personal
full network
nodes.
As block size increases, the size of the entire blockchain increases along with it, making it more difficult to store the entire blockchain and
run a
full node.
If you want to accept 148 BTC regardless, you need to
run a BIP 148
full node as a wallet.
As an example, Vorick pointed out that Ethereum Classic may not have ever existed if it cost too much for the original Ethereum chain's early supporters to
run full nodes.
Full nodes are particularly important for the bitcoin community since
running one is arguably the best way to use bitcoin without trusting a bank or another third party, and is what many see
as the whole point behind the digital money.
Schnelli envisions the «
full -
node - in - a-box» device
as a computerized auditor someone would
run in their home to ensure their bitcoin finances are in check.
APIs in the space allow other developers the ability to utilize blockchain features, such
as proof of existence, without the intricacies of
running a
full node.
The Classic team is more willing to increase the system resource requirements for operating a
full node, while the Core team wants to keep the barriers to
running a
full node as low
as possible.
This process is ultimately democratic,
as anyone can
run any
node implementation they want if they have a PC and an internet connection, so the consensus that gains majority is ultimately supported by the majority of the Bitcoin community (at least those
running full nodes.)