<p>Like others have answered, you don't need to store the entire blockchain, in your bitcoin.conf file, you can just specify the number of blocks to keep and the old blocks will be pruned.</p>

<p>I was doing this last night on my <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Raspberry Pi 3 b</a> model.  I installed <a href="https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Raspbian</a> and then downloaded and installed the <a href="https://github.com/btcsuite/btcd" rel="nofollow noreferrer">btcd</a> full node implementation.  It was able to download and store with the full blockchain with no issues.  I stopped it before it could fill up my 32 GB sd card.  I already ordered an independently powered 1 TB drive that should be able to store the entire bitcoin blockchain for the next 10 years.</p>

<p>I think Raspberry pi zero may struggle with this, but I have a few of those and might give it a shot.  I don't see any obvious issues.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-09T03:54:00.560Z
Please let me know how it goes on the Pi Zero!
Patoshi パトシ
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-06T13:40:07.653Z
2018-07-06T13:40:07.653Z
ooomid
<p>You can't avoid <em>downloading</em> the block chain with Bitcoin Core  or any other full node.  That is inherent to their functioning.</p>

<p>You don't have to <em>store</em> it, however, if you enable <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/37496/how-can-i-run-bitcoind-in-pruning-mode">pruning</a>.  This would reduce your storage needs to 1 GB or less.</p>

<p>If all you want is to make transactions, and you're satisfied with having to trust other servers a bit more, you could use a wallet that uses SPV or gets transaction data from a centralized server.  See <a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet" rel="noreferrer">https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet</a> and look for those listing "simplified validation" or "centralized validation" as a feature.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-05T21:18:50.967Z
2018-07-05T21:18:50.967Z
Nate Eldredge
<p>I'm looking to run a bitcoin core 0.16.1 node on a raspberry pi zero, but I don't have a 200gb+ microsd. Would I even be able to sync up with the blockchain without downloading the entire thing? Is there a lite version mode of bitcoin core 0.16.1 just for raspberry pi zero? I want to just use it to sweep private keys and make transactions. </p>

<bitcoin-core><raspberry-pi>
Can a raspberry pi zero run bitcoin core 0.16.1 and sync up without downloading the entire blockchain?
Patoshi パトシ
# Can a raspberry pi zero run bitcoin core 0.16.1 and sync up without downloading the entire blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-05)

I'm looking to run a bitcoin core 0.16.1 node on a raspberry pi zero, but I don't have a 200gb+ microsd. Would I even be able to sync up with the blockchain without downloading the entire thing? Is there a lite version mode of bitcoin core 0.16.1 just for raspberry pi zero? I want to just use it to sweep private keys and make transactions.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, raspberry-pi


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-06. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Like others have answered, you don't need to store the entire blockchain, in your bitcoin.conf file, you can just specify the number of blocks to keep and the old blocks will be pruned.

I was doing this last night on my [Raspberry Pi 3 b](https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-b/) model. I installed [Raspbian](https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/) and then downloaded and installed the [btcd](https://github.com/btcsuite/btcd) full node implementation. It was able to download and store with the full blockchain with no issues. I stopped it before it could fill up my 32 GB sd card. I already ordered an independently powered 1 TB drive that should be able to store the entire bitcoin blockchain for the next 10 years.

I think Raspberry pi zero may struggle with this, but I have a few of those and might give it a shot. I don't see any obvious issues.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Please let me know how it goes on the Pi Zero!  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-07-05. Score: 6

You can't avoid *downloading* the block chain with Bitcoin Core or any other full node. That is inherent to their functioning.

You don't have to *store* it, however, if you enable [pruning](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/37496/how-can-i-run-bitcoind-in-pruning-mode). This would reduce your storage needs to 1 GB or less.

If all you want is to make transactions, and you're satisfied with having to trust other servers a bit more, you could use a wallet that uses SPV or gets transaction data from a centralized server. See <https://bitcoin.org/en/choose-your-wallet> and look for those listing "simplified validation" or "centralized validation" as a feature.


---

