Private keys determine Bitcoin ownership, and full nodes defend Bitcoin rules.
If we must give back to Bitcoin, in addition to building ourselves into strong nodes, there is a second thing we can do - run a full node.
Bitcoin aims to be the best store of value. One of its most important characteristics is that its total supply is limited. Holding Bitcoin means you never have to pay inflation tax.
But you might ask, how can we ensure that the rules of Bitcoin cannot be changed? Is it possible for someone to modify the total amount of Bitcoin?
At this time, you have to rely on full nodes.
Full nodes are responsible for verifying transactions and blocks on the Bitcoin network. Any transactions and blocks that do not comply with the rules will be discarded by the full nodes. Since the total amount of Bitcoin is controlled by the block reward and the halving rule, the total amount of Bitcoin cannot be changed without the consent of the full nodes.
In fact, all changes to Bitcoin rules must be approved by all nodes, and everyone can run their own Bitcoin full node, which means that the rules of Bitcoin are in the hands of the users themselves.
Everyone is Satoshi Nakamoto, and we define what Bitcoin means to us.
Developers can release clients with new rules, but they need to convince all nodes to upgrade, otherwise the new rules cannot be enforced. In other words, full nodes can prevent developers from modifying the rules without authorization.
If we're concerned about the total supply of Bitcoin being altered, we should run our own full nodes and make our position known. As long as other users agree with us, even if developers change the rules, they won't be enforced. If a full node makes a mistake, it will be forked, effectively being fired. Regardless, we all remain on the blockchain we support.
This is why developers always prioritize forward compatibility—soft fork upgrades, because any upgrade that is not forward compatible essentially expands the operating rules of Bitcoin and is very likely to be rejected by all nodes, resulting in a fork.
Miners can also try to modify the rules, for example, by packaging non-compliant transactions or producing non-compliant blocks, but they will be abandoned and blocked by full nodes, causing themselves financial losses.
Therefore, a full node is the highest power granted to every Bitcoin user, a sword in the hands of every Bitcoin user. We run full nodes that adhere to the rules we recognize, and our Bitcoin will always be the Bitcoin we recognize.
On the other hand, if anyone wants to change the Bitcoin rules, he must convince all nodes. Otherwise, his new rules will only be recognized by himself, and he will fork himself out.
Some miners are trying to trick people into giving up their right to run full nodes, but this is the dumbest thing I have ever seen, because it is a paradox and will never work.
Those who can be fooled don't run full nodes at all. And those who do run full nodes are too lazy to argue and just run their full nodes on their own. You can't do anything about them.
It's like a bodyguard who wants to rebel but fears the swords in people's hands, so he tries to trick them into laying down their weapons. Those who can be tricked must have never used a sword and don't care about its use. Those who wield a sword, of course, understand its power; how could they possibly lay it down? The bodyguard is helpless, only able to curse and provoke the crowd, but those with swords can simply hold onto their weapons and ignore them.
Private keys determine Bitcoin ownership, and full nodes safeguard Bitcoin's rules. Holding private keys is a thrill, and holding full nodes is also a thrill.
Whenever I see someone trying to do evil, writing some garbled, distorted article, I quietly check my full node status and feel a sense of relief. I know very well that the louder they shout, the more powerless they are to me.
Even if we never run a full node, we should have the right to do so. There's a fundamental difference between having a sword and not using it and not having one. If we hadn't tightened our belts to develop atomic and hydrogen bombs, would we have been able to achieve the rapid and peaceful development that followed in the decades since?
From a personal perspective, even if you don’t run a full node, it won’t have much impact. But remember, at this time, we need trust, and we choose to trust other Bitcoin users who run full nodes.
It is our freedom to choose to trust others, but we also need to retain the right not to trust anyone, otherwise we will lose the freedom of choice.
Currently, the cost of running a full node is already very high, with server rentals costing several thousand yuan per year. A Core wallet running on a home computer is generally not a qualified full node, although it can be beneficial.
However, if we store huge wealth in Bitcoin and want to give back to Bitcoin, we should run full nodes and make our own contribution to the security of the entire Bitcoin network.
On the one hand, our full nodes can help other nodes synchronize block data; on the other hand, more full nodes mean a stronger Bitcoin network, making it difficult for attackers, even nation-level attackers, to take action.
Bitcoin's goals are ambitious, and it's normal for it to suffer any scale of blow in the future. Something as small as buying coffee has never been Bitcoin's goal.
So, pick up the sword in your hand, defend your wealth, and protect Bitcoin.
Becoming the best version of ourselves, turning ourselves into the strongest Bitcoin node, and maintaining a true Bitcoin node is the greatest contribution we can make to Bitcoin.
We are Bitcoin contributors. When other Bitcoin users need trust, we are their staunch backers, providing the trust they need. When other Bitcoin users don't need trust, we firmly safeguard their right to self-verify.
It is the millions of Bitcoin contributors who have made Bitcoin what it is today. Those who fail to understand the value of Bitcoin have no idea who stands behind it and how ambitious their goals are.
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