Plain English
A node is a computer running blockchain software and maintaining a copy of the ledger. The more nodes a network has, the more decentralized and resistant to compromise it is.
How it actually works
Nodes come in flavors. Full nodes store the entire blockchain history. Light nodes store only headers. Archive nodes store every state ever recorded. Anyone can run a node — the software is open source. Bitcoin has roughly 17,000 reachable nodes worldwide. Ethereum has 10,000+.
What it means for you
For most members, running a node is unnecessary. But understanding that the network is not controlled by any single party — that thousands of independent computers all enforce the same rules — is what makes self-custody meaningful.
We walk through when running your own node makes sense (privacy, censorship resistance, maximum verification) and when using public infrastructure is fine.
Educational content only. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.