<blockquote>
<p><strong>Can a full node read and understand these downloaded transactions, ...</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>or just it's just keeping a copy of encoded information?</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>You write <em>&quot;encoded&quot;</em> but the context makes it seem you may have meant <em>&quot;encrypted&quot;</em></p>
<p>The Bitcoin network does not encrypt any data. None of the data in the blockchain is encrypted. It is all publicly readable information in plain sight.</p>
<p>The answer you are reading right now is encoded. The encoding used is UTF-8.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T04:37:14.023Z
Thank you for answering my question and sorry for the typo. So if I understand correctly, a full node can see the transaction details but not the private keys, therefore it can't figure out who are the sender and recipient, is that correct?
zbbo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T20:47:37.120Z
@zbbo It can see the receiving addresses and public keys. Information about the sender and recipient can be inferred from that information.
David Schwartz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T16:47:18.170Z
2021-04-27T16:47:18.170Z
RedGrittyBrick
<p>All info on transactions and more generally on blockchain are readable and understandable by every full node. All the info you find on a blockchain explorer are basically asked to a full node, if you want you can run your own blockchain explorer querying your node.</p>
<p><strong>There is no privileged actors in Bitcoin network, all node share the same info and capabilities</strong> ... and this does not refer only to physically possessing the info but also to read and know them.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T08:31:46.167Z
Thanks a lot for your answer; could you also check my complementary question too?
So a full node can see the transaction details but not the private keys, therefore it can't figure out who are the sender and recipient; is it so?
zbbo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T10:17:33.343Z
Not exactly, private keys give you ability to spend bitcoin on its address, they are not giving more info on transactions. If you intend sender and recipient as addresses, anyone can see them, instead if you mean people there is no association between addr and person, so the only way you can know which is owner of an addr (sender or recipient make no difference) is that the owner himself tell you.
leevancleef
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-28T11:55:32.973Z
Much appreciated, got it.
zbbo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-27T14:49:56.877Z
2021-04-27T14:49:56.877Z
leevancleef
<p>I understand a full node downloads and validates the entire transaction history. Can a full node read and understand these downloaded transactions, or is it just just keeping a copy of encoded information?</p>
<p>I'd appreciate if you could mention your sources' links in this regard.</p>

<blockchain><synchronization>
Can a full node understand the transactions it downloads from the Bitcoin network?
zbbo
# Can a full node understand the transactions it downloads from the Bitcoin network?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-27)

I understand a full node downloads and validates the entire transaction history. Can a full node read and understand these downloaded transactions, or is it just just keeping a copy of encoded information?

I'd appreciate if you could mention your sources' links in this regard.

**Tags:** blockchain, synchronization


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-27. Score: 3

> **Can a full node read and understand these downloaded transactions, ...**

Yes.

> **or just it's just keeping a copy of encoded information?**

You write *"encoded"* but the context makes it seem you may have meant *"encrypted"*

The Bitcoin network does not encrypt any data. None of the data in the blockchain is encrypted. It is all publicly readable information in plain sight.

The answer you are reading right now is encoded. The encoding used is UTF-8.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for answering my question and sorry for the typo. So if I understand correctly, a full node can see the transaction details but not the private keys, therefore it can't figure out who are the sender and recipient, is that correct?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 It can see the receiving addresses and public keys. Information about the sender and recipient can be inferred from that information.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2021-04-27. Score: 2

All info on transactions and more generally on blockchain are readable and understandable by every full node. All the info you find on a blockchain explorer are basically asked to a full node, if you want you can run your own blockchain explorer querying your node.

**There is no privileged actors in Bitcoin network, all node share the same info and capabilities** ... and this does not refer only to physically possessing the info but also to read and know them.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot for your answer; could you also check my complementary question too? So a full node can see the transaction details but not the private keys, therefore it can't figure out who are the sender and recipient; is it so?  
> **username_3**: Not exactly, private keys give you ability to spend bitcoin on its address, they are not giving more info on transactions. If you intend sender and recipient as addresses, anyone can see them, instead if you mean people there is no association between addr and person, so the only way you can know which is owner of an addr (sender or recipient make no difference) is that the owner himself tell you.  
> **username_0**: Much appreciated, got it.  

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