<p>As Alin explained today the lightest version is pruned mode. However there are pull requests for an even lighter version, called full block downloading SPV mode, or full-SPV mode.<br>
Keep an eye on these two pull requests. You are also free to contribute:<br>
<a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/9483" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Complete hybrid full block SPV mode</a><br>
<a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/10794" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Add simple light-client mode (RPC only)</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-05T23:40:15.990Z
2017-10-05T23:40:15.990Z
nopara73
<p>Yes, bitcoind with pruning is similar to bitcoind, though some RPCs are disabled (naturally, because of pruning).</p>

<p>bitcoind in pruning mode does not store the whole blockchain, and can reduce your space usage to 2GB instead of 85GB.</p>

<p>See the release notes <a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/release/v0.12.0#wallet-pruning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/v0.11.0/doc/release-notes.md#block-file-pruning" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.  </p>

<p><strong>Update:</strong> There is also a <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/9483" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Full Block SPV wallet PR by Jonas Schnelli.</a> Which is even lighter than pruning mode, since it only downloads blocks from the creation of the wallet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T11:32:50.320Z
Thanks. I didn't know that bitcoind had a pruned version.
This could actually be very useful.

In the meanwhile I found a good compromise by adopting the bitcored wallet service, which provides with a full node server that can serve a number of light wallet clients.
FedFranz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-11T08:58:37.093Z
What is the good compromise that you found? Can you share it? @FedFranz
soarinblue
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-12T13:54:23.353Z
It is already in my previous comment. I used Bitcore (which is a different client)
FedFranz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-27T17:12:02.303Z
2018-04-18T15:33:22.340Z
2018-04-18T15:33:22.340Z
Alin Tomescu
<p>I'm trying to develop an SPV Bitcoin client which makes use of a library requiring bitcoin core (a running bitcoind service).
However, from what I understand, Bitcoin Core is full node, meaning that it stores the whole blockchain.</p>

<p>My question is: there exists a service which is similar to bitcoind (that is it provides a JSON-RPC server), without needing the whole blockchain?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-07T20:57:20.463Z
"full node" doesn't mean it stores the full blockchain. It means it's a fully validating and has downloaded the while thing, but it not necessarily keeps everything. You may want to look into pruning for more info on that.
Jannes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-10T15:15:11.130Z
@Jannes: Thanks for the clarification. 
However, as you say, it still needs to download the whole chain (thus requiring a certain amount of disk space).
So my question still applies: I need something lighter than a full node, that is an SPV working with headers only, which provides an RPC service, similar to that offered by bitcoind.
FedFranz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-11T17:20:10.220Z
It needs to download the whole blockchain, but it doesn't need to store it. You don't need more than a few GB of disk space. An SPV client does not provide you with the same security guarantees and trustlessness as a full node.
Jannes
<bitcoind><bitcoin-core><client><json-rpc><spv>
Is there a light (SPV) version of bitcoin core (bitcoind)?
FedFranz
# Is there a light (SPV) version of bitcoin core (bitcoind)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-07)

I'm trying to develop an SPV Bitcoin client which makes use of a library requiring bitcoin core (a running bitcoind service).
However, from what I understand, Bitcoin Core is full node, meaning that it stores the whole blockchain.

My question is: there exists a service which is similar to bitcoind (that is it provides a JSON-RPC server), without needing the whole blockchain?

**Tags:** bitcoind, bitcoin-core, client, json-rpc, spv

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "full node" doesn't mean it stores the full blockchain. It means it's a fully validating and has downloaded the while thing, but it not necessarily keeps everything. You may want to look into pruning for more info on that.  
> **username_0**: @username_1: Thanks for the clarification.  However, as you say, it still needs to download the whole chain (thus requiring a certain amount of disk space). So my question still applies: I need something lighter than a full node, that is an SPV working with headers only, which provides an RPC service, similar to that offered by bitcoind.  
> **username_1**: It needs to download the whole blockchain, but it doesn't need to store it. You don't need more than a few GB of disk space. An SPV client does not provide you with the same security guarantees and trustlessness as a full node.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-10-27. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Yes, bitcoind with pruning is similar to bitcoind, though some RPCs are disabled (naturally, because of pruning).

bitcoind in pruning mode does not store the whole blockchain, and can reduce your space usage to 2GB instead of 85GB.

See the release notes [here](https://bitcoin.org/en/release/v0.12.0#wallet-pruning) and [here](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/v0.11.0/doc/release-notes.md#block-file-pruning).

**Update:** There is also a [Full Block SPV wallet PR by Jonas Schnelli.](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/9483) Which is even lighter than pruning mode, since it only downloads blocks from the creation of the wallet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. I didn't know that bitcoind had a pruned version. This could actually be very useful.  In the meanwhile I found a good compromise by adopting the bitcored wallet service, which provides with a full node server that can serve a number of light wallet clients.  
> **username_4**: What is the good compromise that you found? Can you share it? @username_0  
> **username_0**: It is already in my previous comment. I used Bitcore (which is a different client)  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-05. Score: 4

As username_3 explained today the lightest version is pruned mode. However there are pull requests for an even lighter version, called full block downloading SPV mode, or full-SPV mode.  
Keep an eye on these two pull requests. You are also free to contribute:  
[Complete hybrid full block SPV mode](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/9483)  
[Add simple light-client mode (RPC only)](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/10794)


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