Decentralization System and Node Operation Mechanism

Decentralization is an open, flat, and equal system structure. In this system, numerous Nodes have a high degree of autonomy and can freely connect to form new units. Any Node can temporarily become a center, but does not have the ability to exert forced control. 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 determine the center. This sharply contrasts with traditional centralized systems, where nodes must rely on the center to survive. In a decentralized system, each participant is both a node and may also become the center, but this central status is temporary and not mandatory.

Full nodes in the Bitcoin network are key to maintaining the complete blockchain ledger. They are responsible for synchronizing all blockchain data, independently verifying transactions, and updating information in real-time. To become a full node, all you need is a regular computer and enough storage space (about 200GB) to run the Bitcoin client. This allows ordinary users to directly participate in transaction verification and ledger viewing without relying on intermediaries. To lower the participation threshold, certain client versions also offer a pruning node feature, which allows transaction confirmation without storing the entire blockchain.

In contrast, Ethereum's full nodes (known as "archive nodes") are more complex. In addition to storing transaction data, Ethereum also includes a virtual machine (EVM) that supports smart contracts and Decentralization applications. This results in Ethereum's data size far exceeding that of Bitcoin, currently approaching 2TB. Ethereum not only records transactions but also needs to store a large amount of "state" data, which puts tremendous storage pressure on the system.

Despite the differences in technical details, both Bitcoin and Ethereum demonstrate the core characteristics of decentralized systems: a distributed Node network, autonomous verification capabilities, and an operation method that does not rely on a single center. These features together build a more open, transparent, and censorship-resistant blockchain ecosystem.