Decentralization System and Blockchain Node

Decentralization is an open, flat, and equal system structure in which each Node has a high degree of autonomy. In such a system, Nodes can freely connect with each other, forming new connection units. Any Node may become a temporary center, but does not possess coercive control functions. The influence between Nodes forms a nonlinear causal relationship through the network.

Decentralization does not completely abandon the center, but allows nodes to freely choose and decide the center. Unlike centralized systems, nodes in decentralized systems do not rely on a single center; anyone can become a node or center. This center is temporary and does not have a coercive nature.

In the Blockchain network, full Nodes play an important role. Taking Bitcoin as an example, full Nodes possess a complete Blockchain ledger and are responsible for broadcasting and verifying transactions. Ordinary people only need a regular computer and Bitcoin client software to become a full Node, personally verifying transactions and viewing the ledger. Currently, the complete transaction data of the Bitcoin network is approximately 200GB. To lower the threshold for confirming transactions, newer versions of the Bitcoin client also offer pruning Node functionality.

In contrast, Ethereum's full nodes are called "archive nodes," and the system is more complex. In addition to storing the ledger and transferring value, Ethereum also includes the EVM virtual machine, which has computational and programmable capabilities. This results in Ethereum storing a large amount of "state" data, placing significant pressure on system storage. The total data volume of a complete Ethereum network is approximately 2TB, which is 10 times that of Bitcoin.

The development of decentralized systems and blockchain nodes provides us with a new way to organize and manage data, driving the advancement and application of blockchain technology.