Bitcoin Node Hardware & Software
A Bitcoin node downloads and verifies the entire blockchain so your wallet does not have to trust a third party. Plug-and-play options include Start9 (~$899 for a Server Pure), Umbrel Home (~$549), RaspiBlitz, myNode, and Nodl. Bitcoin Core is the reference software and runs on any computer with about 700 GB free. Electrs or Fulcrum add a wallet server, and a self-hosted mempool.space gives you a private block explorer. Last verified September 2026. Listings are neutral and unranked; not financial advice.
Nodes: 8 listings
- Start9 (StartOS) — Sovereign personal server OS with one-click Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and Electrs. self-custody, open source. Pricing: Server Pure ~$899; free OS for your own hardware.
- Umbrel — Home server OS with an app store; Umbrel Home hardware. self-custody, open source. Pricing: Umbrel Home ~$549; free OS.
- RaspiBlitz — DIY Raspberry Pi node with LND or Core Lightning. self-custody, open source. Pricing: ~$250 in parts.
- myNode — Raspberry Pi and x86 node distribution with a premium tier. self-custody, open source. Pricing: Free community edition; premium ~$100.
- Nodl — Prebuilt node hardware with a focus on privacy. self-custody, open source. Pricing: ~$400–$600.
- Bitcoin Core — The reference implementation. Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. self-custody, Bitcoin-only, open source. Pricing: Free.
- mempool.space — Open-source block explorer and fee estimator; self-hostable. Bitcoin-only, open source. Pricing: Free.
- Electrs / Fulcrum — Electrum servers that let Sparrow, BlueWallet, and Electrum use your node. Bitcoin-only, open source. Pricing: Free.
Frequently asked questions
Why run a Bitcoin node?
Your wallet checks balances and broadcasts transactions through some node. If it is not yours, that party sees your addresses and could feed you bad data. A node also strengthens the network and lets you run Lightning, a private explorer, and a wallet server.
What hardware do I need?
Any machine with a 2 TB SSD and 8 GB of RAM is comfortable. Plug-and-play devices from Start9 or Umbrel remove setup work; a Raspberry Pi 5 with an SSD is the budget route.
Links
Interactive directory: enable JavaScript or open trybitstack.com.