Yep, Bitcoin Core and SPV wallets are different beasts.

Bitcoin Core is a full node client, which means it downloads the whole blockchain to verify all the things. It's like having the entire history book.

SPV wallets, short for Simplified Payment Verification wallets, don't download the whole chain. They just check enough to confirm transactions – more like peeking at key pages in that history book.

Both show balances, but SPV does it quicker and with less data needed. Each has its place depending on your needs! 📚✨