<p>Everyone running a bitcoin Core node must download the entire ledger of transactions listed on the blockchain... But the vast majority of Bitcoin wallets are simply a place that stores a user's private key and allows users to interact with the network. When someone sends a transaction from their wallet, it gets broadcast to the network and eventually to Bitcoin miners. </p>

<p>Once a miner finds the next block (that includes your transaction), the solution gets broadcast to the network and those that are running the full Bitcoin Core software incorporate that block into the blockchain.</p>

<p>So although not <em>everyone</em> needs to download the full bitcoin blockchain, there are still a very large number of people who do, and by doing so, secure the network.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T11:14:49.317Z
The whole blockchain is encrypted, right? But who got the key?
watchme
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T11:19:07.923Z
The blockchain itself is not encrypted. Actually, it's the opposite... it's all public. What gets encrypted is each person's address and the key is known as your "private key."
Nicolas Lopez
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T11:23:57.547Z
And to your answer: So my bitcoin wallet doesn't store every transaction which has ever happened. But it includes my transaction right? Or does it not include any transaction because all my transactions are added to the one big blockchain there is?
watchme
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T11:34:33.997Z
It's all or nothing. Unless you're running the Bitcoin Core software on a powerful machine (you would know it if you were), your wallet doesn't store any transactions... even your own. The transaction is stored on those running the full BC node. However, your wallet may have some functionality that shows you what coins you've sent and received, but it only does this to help you as a user and isn't necessary for the network to function.
Nicolas Lopez
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T12:03:07.873Z
and those full-nodes check all transactions and do the mining?
watchme
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T12:12:31.130Z
Yes and those that run full nodes can farm out the mining into different pools.
Nicolas Lopez
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-31T13:35:32.050Z
The question is about storing the chain, not just downloading it. Perhaps you can clarify in your answer that while full nodes don't trust anyone so they have to validate all of history, they do not need to store all of it (pruning mode).
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-01T23:10:59.487Z
Before I do that, let me get it right. So with pruning mode you have to download the chain, but not store it? Instead they just merkle tree to validate the history?
Nicolas Lopez
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-30T11:06:36.173Z
2018-03-30T11:06:36.173Z
Nicolas Lopez
<p>I've read through some explanations saying that every client in the network knows every transaction because when someone wants to perform a transaction, he sends that informationen (how much, to whom and his own address) to everybody he knows and everybody they know and every.... and so on. Until it gets confirmed by everybody in the network. Then the transaction can take place. So everybody in the network knows that this transaction happens, and add the new block to their chain.</p>

<p>Does REALLY everybody have the whole history of transactions (a.k.a one HUGE chain of blocks) stored on their (lets say) computer?</p>

<p>Really all? Isn't this amount of bytes too much for normal hard disks (in my computer, smartphone, ...) considering ALL transactions which have ever happened and happen?</p>

<transactions><client>
Are really all transactions (the whole blockchain) stored on every client?
watchme
# Are really all transactions (the whole blockchain) stored on every client?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-30)

I've read through some explanations saying that every client in the network knows every transaction because when someone wants to perform a transaction, he sends that informationen (how much, to whom and his own address) to everybody he knows and everybody they know and every.... and so on. Until it gets confirmed by everybody in the network. Then the transaction can take place. So everybody in the network knows that this transaction happens, and add the new block to their chain.

Does REALLY everybody have the whole history of transactions (a.k.a one HUGE chain of blocks) stored on their (lets say) computer?

Really all? Isn't this amount of bytes too much for normal hard disks (in my computer, smartphone, ...) considering ALL transactions which have ever happened and happen?

**Tags:** transactions, client


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-03-30. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Everyone running a bitcoin Core node must download the entire ledger of transactions listed on the blockchain... But the vast majority of Bitcoin wallets are simply a place that stores a user's private key and allows users to interact with the network. When someone sends a transaction from their wallet, it gets broadcast to the network and eventually to Bitcoin miners.

Once a miner finds the next block (that includes your transaction), the solution gets broadcast to the network and those that are running the full Bitcoin Core software incorporate that block into the blockchain.

So although not *everyone* needs to download the full bitcoin blockchain, there are still a very large number of people who do, and by doing so, secure the network.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The whole blockchain is encrypted, right? But who got the key?  
> **username_1**: The blockchain itself is not encrypted. Actually, it's the opposite... it's all public. What gets encrypted is each person's address and the key is known as your "private key."  
> **username_0**: And to your answer: So my bitcoin wallet doesn't store every transaction which has ever happened. But it includes my transaction right? Or does it not include any transaction because all my transactions are added to the one big blockchain there is?  
> **username_1**: It's all or nothing. Unless you're running the Bitcoin Core software on a powerful machine (you would know it if you were), your wallet doesn't store any transactions... even your own. The transaction is stored on those running the full BC node. However, your wallet may have some functionality that shows you what coins you've sent and received, but it only does this to help you as a user and isn't necessary for the network to function.  
> **username_0**: and those full-nodes check all transactions and do the mining?  
> **username_1**: Yes and those that run full nodes can farm out the mining into different pools.  
> **username_2**: The question is about storing the chain, not just downloading it. Perhaps you can clarify in your answer that while full nodes don't trust anyone so they have to validate all of history, they do not need to store all of it (pruning mode).  
> **username_1**: Before I do that, let me get it right. So with pruning mode you have to download the chain, but not store it? Instead they just merkle tree to validate the history?  

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