Node
A computer that keeps a copy of a blockchain and checks new transactions against the rules. Validators additionally propose or attest to blocks in proof-of-stake networks.
Also called full node · validator
A computer that keeps a copy of a blockchain and checks new transactions against the rules. Validators additionally propose or attest to blocks in proof-of-stake networks.
Why it matters
The number and spread of independent nodes is a practical measure of how decentralised a network is.
Related terms
- Blockchain
- Consensus Mechanism
- Staking
Keep reading
DeFi
Financial services — lending, trading, derivatives — built from smart contracts rather than intermediaries,…
Private Key
The secret number that authorises transactions from an address. Possession of the key is…
NFT
A token representing a unique item rather than an interchangeable unit, recorded on a…
Self-Custody
Holding your own keys rather than leaving assets with an exchange or custodian.
Bitcoin
The first cryptocurrency, launched in 2009, running on a proof-of-work blockchain with a supply…
Whale
A holder large enough that their transactions can move a market on their own.