Bitcoin has been revolutionary and has grown to be one of the most influential forces behind decentralized finance after its introduction in 2009. It is a way for people to send money quickly and efficiently to one another without using banks or intermediaries. From its humble beginnings to witnessing various value spikes and crashes to getting adopted as a legal tender in sovereign nations, Bitcoin stands as the most popular and the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. A prominent part of Bitcoin’s decentralized network is its nodes. Nodes are responsible for a very significant role within the network. These nodes make sure the network functions properly. They are essentially computers that run the Bitcoin network. A diverse, distinct set of nodes run the network. These nodes are responsible for the network’s proper operation and maintenance of its integrity. It’s worth noting that Bitcoin nodes are not the same as the consensus mechanism. The nodes check to determine genuine transactions before the consensus mechanism kicks in. Types of nodes There are four different classifications of nodes on the Bitcoin blockchain: full nodes, supernodes, light nodes, and mining nodes. Full nodes store copies of the blockchain ledger. They make the network decentralized and serve as a reference point for verifying the blockchain’s history. Supernodes are a sort of full nodes that serve as a communication hub between full nodes...
