Create your own bitcoin node

Participating in decentralisation sounds interesting to most of us, but many have no idea where to start. Umbrel has the solution, and it is effortless.

Umbrel is an OS for running a personal server in your home. Self-host open source apps like Nextcloud, Bitcoin node, and more.

The lightweight operating system Umbrel doesn't require expensive hardware, it runs on basically any computer. In my example, we will use a Raspberry Pi 4 which I still had laying around. To operate a bitcoin node we need to synchronise the computer with the whole blockchain which needs quite a bit of space, so I ordered a 2 TB external SSD to go with it.  

Requirements

e.g. Raspberry Pi 4*
16 GB microSD*
Power Supply
Ethernet Cable
2 TB external SSD*

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Setup

1. The first step is to flash the Umbrel OS (download) onto your microSD. This can be done with various programs, but I usually use Balena Etcher for these kinds of operations. Connect your microSD to your computer, start Balena Etcher and flash the .zip file of the Umbrel OS onto the card.
2. When this step was completed successfully, remove the microSD from the computer and insert it into your Raspberry Pi.
3. Connect the external SSD to the Raspberry Pi.
   CAUTION: Existing data on the SSD will automatically be deleted when you turn on the Raspberry Pi.
4. Use the Ethernet cable to connect the Raspberry Pi to your router.
5. Now connect the power supply and your Raspberry Pi will automatically turn on.
6. Voilà, after a few minutes you should be able to access http://umbrel.local on any device that is connected to the same network.

Synchronisation

Clicking the Bitcoin Node app on the dashboard of your Umbrel should reveal the current status of your synchronisation. This might take a few hours to a few days depending on your internet speed. The current blockchain size during the end of 2022 is close to 500 GB.

Now that we set up our own node, we can start using it with our own Bitcoin wallet. The main advantage is, that you are cutting the middle man and directly interacting with the blockchain through your own bitcoin node. True to the motto: Don't trust. Verify.