One of the most unique and attractive things about cryptocurrencies is definitely the fact that they’re decentralized. This decentralization is fueled by blockchain nodes. Blockchain nodes make up the foundation of a blockchain network, and you can not access a blockchain’s data without one of these blockchain nodes. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that nodes are the blockchain.
Breaking the concept further to you, let’s discuss what a blockchain node is and what are the different types of nodes in blockchain.
What is Node in Blockchain?
Before we discuss ‘what are the different types of nodes in a blockchain,’ let’s have a brief overview of what a blockchain node is. Tech savvies know the term ‘node’ in computer science simply refers to a device that participates in a larger network. In the crypto world, a node is an essential and fundamental component of the blockchain network.
In layman’s terms, a node is one of the computers that collectively run the blockchain’s software. It enables the blockchain to validate transactions and keep the network secure. Blockchain nodes communicate with one another, and keep the network decentralized.
While a single node can theoretically run the entire blockchain, all of the blockchain being stored on a single device will make it extremely vulnerable to things like power outages, hackers, or systemic crashes, not to mention the fact that the blockchain will then be very much centralized. The more there are nodes on a blockchain, the better the network’s decentralized nature is.