Decentralization System and Blockchain Node

The concept of Decentralization refers to an open, flat, and equal system structure composed of multiple autonomous Nodes. In this system, Nodes can freely connect with each other, forming new network units. Any Node may become a temporary center, but does not have coercive control functions. The influence between Nodes forms a nonlinear causal relationship through the network.

Decentralization does not completely eliminate the center, but allows nodes to autonomously choose and decide the center. Unlike centralized systems where the center determines the nodes, in decentralized systems, each participant can be both a node and potentially a center. This center is temporary and has no coercive power over the nodes.

In the Bitcoin network, full nodes are key to maintaining the complete Blockchain ledger. They are responsible for broadcasting and verifying transactions, able to independently validate all transactions and update data in real time. The threshold for becoming a Bitcoin full node is not high; all that is needed is a regular computer and the appropriate client software. Currently, the complete transaction data of the Bitcoin network is about 200GB. This allows ordinary users to directly participate in transaction verification and ledger viewing without relying on intermediary institutions.

To further lower the threshold for confirming transactions, Bitcoin has introduced the pruning node feature. Although this type of node does not store the complete Blockchain data, it can still independently complete transfer confirmations.

In contrast, Ethereum's full nodes (referred to as "archive nodes") are more complex. In addition to storing the ledger and transferring value, Ethereum integrates the EVM virtual machine, which has computational and programmable capabilities. This results in Ethereum storing a large amount of "state" data, causing its complete network data volume to reach about 10 times that of Bitcoin, approaching 2TB.

This complexity reflects Ethereum's functional expansion, but it also places greater pressure on the system's storage. Nevertheless, both of these different Blockchain designs embody the core concept of Decentralization, providing users with opportunities to participate in and verify transactions, thus promoting the development and application of Blockchain technology.