Nostr Web Client

Gday Alex, sorry mate I skim read some of that, so maybe I’m off the mark, but I think I get the gist.

Obviously you’re after technical info for setting up a node and mining. But at the same time, just in case you haven’t yet digested these, here’s some books (all also audiobooks) that can give you a whole lot of context for any tech knowledge to slot into. They’re not all essential, but will help with broader understanding and therefore your ability to make your own decisions around btc. Some authors have more biases than others, so don’t take all these books as gospel.

In no particular order.

The Price of tomorrow nostr:nprofile1qqsg86qcm7lve6jkkr64z4mt8lfe57jsu8vpty6r2qpk37sgtnxevjcpramhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0v3jhyatwdejhyuewdejhgam0wf4sz8thwden5te0dehhxarj94c82c3wwajkcmr0wfjx2u3wdejhgftrgyv

The Bitcoin Standard nostr:nprofile1qqsyx708d0a8d2qt3ku75avjz8vshvlx0v3q97ygpnz0tllzqegxrtgpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs7amnwvaz7tmwdaehgu3wd4hk6gemp4l

The Blocksize War by Jonathon Bier

The Book of Satoshi Phil Champagne

Hidden Cost of Money nostr:nprofile1qqs9a486n5w72dsn72tyentdrj08ppqk2yyq707qdmlm347lkl6jmpgprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuumwdae8gtnnda3kjctvqyf8wumn8ghj7ur4wfcxcetsv9njuetn8ykt05

Broken Money nostr:nprofile1qqsw4v882mfjhq9u63j08kzyhqzqxqc8tgf740p4nxnk9jdv02u37ncpz4mhxue69uhkummnw3ezumtpd35kutn0dekqz9thwden5te0wfjkccte9e4kzmts9eekjar9y08qv9

Check Your Financial Privilege by Alex Gladstein

In terms of the tech side. Realistically you solo mining today is a solid up front cost, that won’t decentralise network mining by much, and wont exactly be earning you much. It’s not much bang for your buck so I wouldn’t start there.

I’d start with just running a full node, playing with that. Then mining after if you’re still keen.

In terms of a node, you can kind of set it up how you like, but it’s kinda common for easy nodes to be set up on a raspberry pi and external ssd or an old lappy or desktop with external ssd. External ssd is because the blockchain is large, and growing - so it takes up a bit of space. If you use old equipment, just make sure you’ve wiped it clean before you run a node.

Then you’ve got to decide what to run. If you haven’t heard about the core version 30 v knots debate, then you should look into it - because you running a node will be you casting a vote on the debate. So do yourself a favour and run a version of Core from before Version 30 (the contentious version) until you decide to either update to the latest core, or use knots. Personally, I’d avoid getting the latest of anything until it’s had time to iron out any issues. I’d also argue that core version 30 is not aligned with the original intent or ongoing idea of btc, and actually provides an attack vector on your btc. But that’s up to you.

You can figure out how to run it as a newbie by using some setup platforms like Umbrel, Raspiblitz, MyNode, Start9.. those are the ones I know of.. they are all open source. But they’re not all the same. There’ll be more out there too. Check them out and go from there. They’ll all have instructions and different pros and cons.

Don’t forget the ways of supporting a btc ecosystem goes far beyond running a node or mining. So if you want to be more involved, but mining isn’t your thing, there’s all sorts of other ways to support. Accepting btc payments, avoiding custodial wallets, buying from btc economies, pay in btc, run or use lightning, education or discussions with people not exposed to it (respectfully!), support infrastructure and privacy tools, HODL responsibly, and participate in the culture around it.

Also, good on ya for taking steps to support everyone by running a node 💪🏼

Alex - Airbrush 2w ago

Appreciate you taking the time to lay this out — genuinely helpful. This is the kind of practical framing I was hoping for.

Running a full node first makes sense to me, especially as a way to learn by doing without jumping straight into mining or more complex setups. The Raspberry Pi / SSD route and platforms like Umbrel or Start9 are already on my radar, so this helps confirm I’m thinking in the right direction.

And yeah — the core vs knots debate is part of what prompted my original post. Not because it isn’t important, but because it shows how quickly newcomers can end up inside internal battles before they’ve even taken a first step. I’m still learning, so I’m intentionally moving slowly and trying to understand the tradeoffs before “casting a vote,” so to speak.

What I was trying to point at (probably clumsily) is the on-ramp problem, not the destination. I’m an artist, not a tech native, but I believe deeply in Bitcoin and understand why mining, nodes, and self-custody matter — even if I haven’t set up my own yet.

Where I struggle is when internal debates and purity tests become the first thing new people see. For someone already all-in, that’s fine. For someone just trying to escape fiat pressure — working two jobs, barely having time to read — it can be overwhelming fast.

I’m not questioning Bitcoin’s fundamentals. I’m questioning how approachable we make the first step. If the entry requires mastering every internal battle up front, we risk losing people who might need Bitcoin the most.

I also agree that supporting Bitcoin goes far beyond nodes or mining — accepting BTC, avoiding custodial traps, eventually running Lightning, engaging respectfully, and supporting the culture all matter. I’m moving deliberately, learning as I go, and trying to keep the door open for others who aren’t technical yet but are genuinely curious. I will have to look into accepting bitcoin again and running a lightning network might be something I take serious.

Thanks again for the solid guidance — this is the kind of signal that actually helps people move forward.

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