<p>When you sign up for a wallet or exchange site, <em>you</em> are not becoming a node on the network.  You are using a site that already runs several nodes on the network, and you are trusting them to send and receive transactions for you.</p>

<p>To actually join the network, you need to run your own node.  This can be a <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Full_node" rel="nofollow noreferrer">full node</a> or an <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Thin_Client_Security" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SPV node</a>, but the point is you are running it yourself.  Otherwise, you are using a 3rd party to connect to the bitcoin network on your behalf.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-10T17:58:38.453Z
2018-01-10T17:58:38.453Z
Jestin
<p>I am new to bitcoins and got a question raised in my mind recently. I learnt that every person doing a transaction is a node in btc p2p network and that when he/she joins the network he/she gets a full blockchain starting from the genesis block. But can anyone tell me that in reality am I becoming a node while I am registering myself on a trading site like Zebpay, Koinex or IQ Option. If so then how can I see the blockchain I have received.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-10T17:24:41.363Z
"every person doing a transaction is a node in btc p2p network". This is not true, so the premise of your question is incorrect. [Here is some information](https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#what-is-a-full-node) about running a full node using the so-called reference software implementation, Bitcoin Core.
brec
<blockchain><bitcoin-core><decentralization>
When or how does one becomes a part of Bitcoin P2P network
Suraj Jeswara
# When or how does one becomes a part of Bitcoin P2P network

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-10)

I am new to bitcoins and got a question raised in my mind recently. I learnt that every person doing a transaction is a node in btc p2p network and that when he/she joins the network he/she gets a full blockchain starting from the genesis block. But can anyone tell me that in reality am I becoming a node while I am registering myself on a trading site like Zebpay, Koinex or IQ Option. If so then how can I see the blockchain I have received.

**Tags:** blockchain, bitcoin-core, decentralization

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "every person doing a transaction is a node in btc p2p network". This is not true, so the premise of your question is incorrect. [Here is some information](https://bitcoin.org/en/full-node#what-is-a-full-node) about running a full node using the so-called reference software implementation, Bitcoin Core.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-10. Score: 1

When you sign up for a wallet or exchange site, *you* are not becoming a node on the network. You are using a site that already runs several nodes on the network, and you are trusting them to send and receive transactions for you.

To actually join the network, you need to run your own node. This can be a [full node](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Full_node) or an [SPV node](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Thin_Client_Security), but the point is you are running it yourself. Otherwise, you are using a 3rd party to connect to the bitcoin network on your behalf.


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