either you run a node, or someone else does it for you
Discussion
Nice informative exchange!
We also see running a node as a way to cast a vote on the consensus (as in the most recent filter "war"), not just for transactional/routing purposes, however the more the marrier!
Do all nodes connect can talk to each other regardless if they run a whole version of the block chain or not?
The definition of 'node' is a little vague. I also consider bip158 ('neutrino') clients to be nodes, since they can independently verify their own transactions. But they don't really engage in stuff like forwarding unconfirmed transactions.
You can also run bitcoin core in pruned mode. In that case you drop block data that is irrelevant to you after verifying it, but other than that, you interact with the network in the same way that a full node would.
Thank you for the explanation.
I think I might do that (pruned version).
My node (knots on umbrel/ rasp. Pi) literally shit the bed over a power shortage (San Disk SSD apperently the real culprit) 2 weeks ago or I would send some zaps your way. Once it is fixed.