Chapter · Master Bitcoin
Nodes and decentralization
A node is a computer running Bitcoin software that keeps its own full copy of the blockchain and checks every new block against the rules. Thousands of nodes run all over the world, and any block that breaks the rules is simply rejected. Because no single node is in charge, there is no central switch to flip and no head office to pressure. This spread-out design is what people mean by decentralization.
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What you get asked
What is a Bitcoin node?
A node holds a full copy of the blockchain and independently verifies every block and transaction against the rules.
Because control is spread across many independent nodes, Bitcoin is described as ___.
Decentralization means power is spread out rather than held by one party. Thousands of nodes each enforce the rules, so no one controls the network alone.
What happens if a miner publishes a block that breaks the rules?
Nodes check every block. An invalid block is rejected by honest nodes, so cheating simply does not get accepted.
Why does running many nodes matter for everyday users?
With many independent nodes enforcing the rules, no company or government can secretly rewrite them. That is the point of decentralization.
Match each design choice to what it protects against
Each design choice removes a way a central party could seize control, which is how Bitcoin stays hard to capture or censor.
The rest of this chapter
Learn what Bitcoin is, how it works, and how ordinary people buy, hold, and secure it safely.