I'd like to just express my opinions today, if I may.
I watched Simply Bitcoin's Sophie on episode "Bitcoin is Under Attack, Not The Price" today 6th of November 2025, with the topic being about Core vs. Knots.
If I had a choice, I would pick the alternative option she mentioned, which was staying at 28 version. However, in my position I am not able to make that choice, maybe. Not sure.
I've only began my Sat Stacking journey a year ago Sept. '24. Goal was acquire some Sats and learn more about the system and technology. I learned about crypto first, when I only knew the word Bitcoin and that it was high. The OG, as they put it. When I applied their most basic lesson I learned, DYOR, I drifted from what the crypto classes were teaching and studied more about Bitcoin. My conviction, "why chase all these coins of uncertainty to later be able to purchase the better asset, which was Bitcoin. Especially if it is the only one with a fixed amount." They had their reasons, but I had my conviction after doing my own research. This was when they were still saying, "if you study Bitcoin for 100 hours you are a trader, investor, 1000 hours plus, a Bitcoiner."
The Core vs. Knots situation seems to be a topic the OG's are debating on. I'd like to offer my input as a fairly new pleb that came from learning crypto first, before beginning my Bitcoin journey. My goal, as I mentioned, was to start with getting some Sats as I learned more. I tried mining with an old PC I had, that burnt out a few months ago.
I've had the desire to run a node and a miner or some miners. But I am not a tech guy. I'm an airbrush artist and a student pilot. It took me a while to understand Bitcoin and why I am convicted on it, freedom money. I hear you when you say the tech is important. Running your own node is important. Keeping the system for the people is important. All of us having say on the network by running a node and mining is important. Transacting peer to peer is important. I agree, but don't know how to proceed.
My issue is, in order to run your own miners, you need to purchase them. Most likely with fiat money because my clients still use dollars. I do not know which are a good investment. There are many choices and I am so naive, if anyone offered to help and said that is the one I want to buy, I would say thank you. I would want to just go with it. Then there is this sentiment that mining is becoming very centralized. Even if you are mining yourself, it is servicing a central hub / company? Instead of saving fiat money to make investments in things I do not know about, I think it was a better choice for me to buy $5 to $10 worth of sats instead. I need to be more informed, but I cannot commit to learning about mining at the moment. Plus, I tried the concept of mining once already.
I believe I was in a hash contribution type of mining account. The company emailed me that I still have 1000 sats that I need to claim. They need my verified wallet or something. I was sure I set all that info up correctly. If it was changed or reset, and needed new verification, I am not doing that for 1000 sats. Especially when I hear Ocean is the best source at the moment. I haven't looked into Sazmining yet. Or really know what I would want to choose if I was going to do mining. Or when I want to do mining again, I should say. Also, I earned twice as much sats with the sMiles app by walking. Once reached 1000, you unlock ability to send it to a different wallet. I did it successfully once and just reached 1000 again. I guess this is one of my participations towards being monitored and "rewarded" for walking, LOL..
Instead of mining, I had the idea that this year I would like to invest in a node. I am not a tech guy. So what's a raspberry pi and what do you mean you are no longer going to be able to run your own nodes anymore with one of those? When I learned about nodes in the past year, I mostly heard good things about Core. As mentioned, I am fairly new to all this. I am not claiming to have suggestions. I am giving my point of view from a one year old pleb. I only read about the blocksize wars and am compelled to agree in the outcome. Before I can decide on where to buy the materials I need to become a node, I start hearing about this current topic. As mentioned, I would choose to have v28 before the changes, if that is possible. I believe in Bitcoin and think "it will be figured out by the market," as Robert Breedlove might say. Until then, I would rather have the older version. Now, where would I get that accomplished?
It is still easier to buy $5 or $10 of Sats whenever possible. Flying classes are not cheap! I am glad I can pay as I go, instead of still being required to pay a lump sum of $25K - $50k for pilot training. However, it is not my interest to just keep taking the easy route with Bitcoin. If the system keeps building and growing stronger, it is from all of our efforts. "Come for the money, stay for the revolution!" Therefore, I have a desire to run a node and miner(s). Where do I go from here?
Jeff Park makes a good point about the loss of interests or no interests from the Gen Zs and Gen Alphas, on Anthony Pompliano's podcast episode "Bitcoin's Big Risk Exposed." Personally, most of what I set aside is for the Gen Zs and Alphas in my life. The Gen Alpha here at home is 4 years old. She has no need for money. I believe in Bitcoin, and do not think the alternative is any better. I can't believe Eric Trump talks about this, but yes I get his point about being "de-banked."
It would be great if I could get paid in Bitcoin. I tried to run away from it, but the skill / trade I am best at is being an Airbrush Artist. I made experimental music with poetry in the past and currently have been making music with ai tools related to Airbrush Artwork and my journey as a student pilot with Aviation Music.
https://audius.co/AlexAirbrushLuna/fly-high-luna-sky
My point is that currently I am still having to get paid in fiat, pay bills and cleverly convert savings into Sats. I joined a platform to accept electronic payments (crypto) and convert it into Sats if it ever gets valuable enough to trade. Other distribution companies pay less, and there are always those fees when it is electronic payments (fiat), but I have account there too. I don't see a big deal with prices being where they are. Most of my family will not listen to me about Bitcoin till it is too late. So the price being higher won't make much of a difference, except making sats more expensive than they already are now. I am creating small wallets for a few members in my family, so when they ask they won't have to start at zero. So these small wallets are gifts and I set aside small amounts when I can. My niece is too young to care about it. My sister or brother might ask one day. If not, it can still be an xmas gift later or something. I do not know. All I know is that at $150k and at $200k and above, I will get less Sats per dollar.
I clearly recall, however, Jeff Booth saying the moment we look at Bitcoin through fiat lens, we are getting back into the system that is corrupting. If tomorrow we price everything in Sats, I am as ready as I will ever be. It will be rough at first, but possible. However, at the moment, I have to meet my clients on their terms of what they choose to pay in. I do my best to follow the simplicity of Simon Dixon's advice, "Stack more Bitcoin this month, than last month. Hold it is self-custody." I do have generational wealth in mind, but I would like the whole generation to thrive. We are all still figuring it out. "Stay humble, stack sats."
When I figure out what is the best system for me to run a node, miners and how to acquire the finance needed to purchase the best products to make that possible, I will make that investment. Also, I skipped Twitter and went to Nostr, which I heard was the decentralized, own your own identity way to go. But everyone is still championing X, and talking about what was said on X. Either way, it is great to be a part of this Bitcoin journey. And if anyone has some great suggestions, I would love to hear them. I am sure there are new and fairly new plebs who might also want to contribute more to the system by running our own nodes and miners. But right now there is the Core, Knots and have nots. And a little direction would be very helpful.
From one pleb to another, thank you for reading.
#AlexAirbrushLuna 
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
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 💪🏼
