Do I need to run a node?

No. It is worth doing for verification and privacy, not for income — most nodes earn nothing.

A node is a computer holding a full copy of the chain and checking every rule for itself. Running one means you verify your own balances instead of trusting somebody else's server, and you stop leaking your addresses to a third party every time your wallet refreshes.

What it is not is a source of income. On most networks a plain node earns nothing at all — that is validators, which is a different role with a stake at risk and penalties attached.

The cost is a machine that stays on, a few hundred gigabytes of storage, and a little attention. For most people the honest answer is that a good wallet and an exchange with a track record are sufficient, and a node is a choice made for principle rather than return.

Running a node covers what it actually involves, and validator explains the paid role.

Last checked 19 Oct 2026.