Bitcoin Node Comparison (Umbrel, Start9, myNode, and More!)

[@danajg007]

As of October, 2024: I'm running a dedicated, fully supported Umbrel node on a (CanaKit) Pi5 with a 1Tb nVME, a dedicated UPS, WIFI-connected and dedicated IP. My only regret is not getting the 2Tb nVME. I still may. I'll also ditch the standard plastic case for a nicer aluminum case (I like the Pironman5), with 2-fan cooling. The BTC blockchain took 2.5 days at 610 Gb. Great content Ian, although a bit long. Some of your points repeated 3-4 times... maybe some editing? Thank you for your knowledge!

[@admyral1]

Last few bits arriving in post then getting on with setup Pi5 8gb with 2tb ssd using umbrel Looking forward to learning on the go and supporting the network Great content Ian

[@bluefuzecom]

I think you’ve convinced me to go with the RP5

[@rockroll3372]

Thanks very informative, can’t wait for the Raspberry Pi 5 diy tutorials

[@DigbyMaccus]

Excellent video, very informative. Start9 has brought me to this research, and as a tradesman that wants to organize a digital ecosystem thats open source and fully supporting of my life (media, finances, etc) without having the available time to dedicate to building and maintaining the hardware, i think im on the right track.

[@IanMajor]

I think you are as well! Glad you found this helpful

[@gilbycoyote]

Great overview, I built a 4GB RPi4 umbrel back in 21, and it worked great but got stuck at least half a dozen times over the years. Right now i want to switch to an 8GB RPi5, and try to evaluate if i stay with umbrel or migrate to startos.

[@IanMajor]

Yea that was generally my experience as well. You can't go wrong with either OS imo!

[@RenatoML]

Same experience here. Migrated to startos and lock ups were gone. Important to mention the startos communication uses Tor. That’s very positive.

[@tracyt4327]

Perfect. Wasabi seems to be selling out on privacy. So I will be using Samourai wallet with my Umbrel. Thank you.

[@IanMajor]

Solid choice! Sparrow wallet is also a great desktop wallet option that has Samourai’s Whirlpool integrated. So you could also connect your umbrel to Sparrow and then coinjoin there depending on how you want to set it up.

[@agilero2008]

They didn´t an update for x years on the Ronin Dojo. But I don´t no if it changed with umbrel 1.0

[@zombievac]

Love this content, thanks! Subscribed. Running my own miner and tor node but looking to add lightning node and more to my setup!

[@IanMajor]

Welcome! Great to have you and glad you found the content helpful. I have a couple videos on Lightning node setup which you can find in either my Lightning or Node playlists.

[@eygs493]

Lightning is garbage

[@danoenco9487]

Thanks, great vid! Have a ~6 year old Dell laptop that I was hoping to dual boot Windows and other OS to run a node. Unfortunately the mSATA drive is only 256gb. Think I can run the second OS (not sure which yet) for node on USB 3.0 flash drive or external drive?

[@bitcoinpoemspro1406]

Very good exploring the Why for a node and different options. I have a start9 and I have Bitcoin Core but I really don’t know how to DO anything with it such as connect a wallet.

[@IanMajor]

They have some pretty good documentation here where you can see instructions for connecting your node to other wallets: docs.start9.com/0.3.4.x/guides/service-guides/bitcoin/bitcoin-integrations I’m also always happy to connect on more in-depth questions of how to do different things with your node if you want to reach out to me on Vida: vida.page/ianmajor

[@Bruno-f4f]

Hi thabks for video. What is your top 3 you like for node?

[@IanMajor]

I would say Start9 and Umbrel are my two favorites and belong in the same tier. As for the third, maybe something that you build yourself but that would have its limitations.

[@a1droneshots]

Awesome video, thank you for the in-depth coverage!

[@IanMajor]

You’re welcome! Glad you found it useful

[@chillinkillua2421]

Hey i recently got the hardware for a Raspberry pi 5 setup for a node but now intimidated of the different options to download to run a node and curious how to securely validate the downloads before flashing them to the Pi5

[@IanMajor]

I think your best bet when it comes to the 5 might be Umbrel. If you have deeper questions on this feel free to hit me up on Vida: vida.io/ianmajor

[@amjpais]

One of my biggest concerns with this type of offer is that it doesn't come with an encrypted operating system by design. As far as Umbrel is concerned, any installation brings into view the 24 passwords that could be captured in the event of theft or external maintenance. A serious security flaw.

[@IanMajor]

Good point. I have on my list to take a closer look at StartOS as it's a proper operating system (and not merely a docker-compose scheme with a UI)

[@Mark-to4vy]

Very good overview of all the different hardware options for running a node. Thanks Ian!

[@IanMajor]

My pleasure!

[@JLN-cf6lj]

With the Umbrel now being $399, would you recommend it over the other options you mentioned? Seems very attractive at that price.

[@IamaNewCreature]

Good question. Also, is it worth getting umbrel still, if you’re already running btc core?

[@IanMajor]

I agree that’s extremely attractive. Still think Start9 is a great option as well - you can’t go wrong with either of those options

[@nielsmoller2719]

Hi Ian, thks for great content:) one question. To what degree would acquiring a start9 server one actually be just simple plug and play? would you still need to install sw, etc to make it run as your btc node?

[@IanMajor]

Hey glad you enjoyed it! For the Start9 plug & play the software comes pre-installed so all you would need to do is plug it in to your router and to an outlet. I believe for Windows there may still be a requirement to download something called Bonjour Services in order to access your node from your computer, but they have a simple how-to on doing that

[@anahata8870]

exacly ! thx 4 creating this

[@IanMajor]

You are welcome!

[@mrprfct7069]

Is there a way to setup a VPN in front of this node? I don’t see it in the App Store

[@IanMajor]

Hey there which node type exactly are you asking about?

[@mrprfct7069]

@@IanMajoreither umbrel or start9.

[@pran10000]

Awsome. Can you connect Bitcoin Core with a Trezor?

[@IanMajor]

I believe you need to run Electrum Server as part of that, but you can connect your node to the Trezor Suite app: trezor.io/learn/a/full-node-via-electrum-server?srsltid=AfmBOoqGkMUSW0RTaxwoCMWpt0_PPz-BIleD8BjrVQErH1WpzxX3CZwm

[@AlfredoC-j4g]

Which node has the capability to mine BTC solo too?

[@IanMajor]

None of these nodes are designed to solo mine. Mining requires highly specialized chips, so your best bet would be to look at some of the Bitaxe products or some of the cheaper/older ASIC models.

[@AI_MicroSolder]

How to make crypto with a stix 4090 and I tel 14900k cpu

[@1773dre]

I'm looking to run lightning node on umbrel home, is that reliable? does umbrel home able to run multiple like bitcoin node and lightning node at the same time?

[@IanMajor]

Yes Umbrel Home is a good option and will allow you to run multiple services including your main bitcoin node and a Lightning node

[@Johann-g2e]

Thank you sir - my very first video on the topic and I thank you for your efforts! I may get in touch on Vida in due course! I was keen on the Ronin Privacy, what are the options given recent US developments this past week?

[@IanMajor]

You are most welcome! Please do feel free to get in touch and stay tuned for this week’s video (likely Friday) which will be on that very topic :)

[@peblinks63]

it would be nice to load a music server on one of these devices to play music on your network..

[@АлександрАбдулов-и2н]

best- buy 1u used server (1366 socket). ~ 70-80 usd server with 2 xeon x5650 + 24-48gb ram and ~ 100 usd for hdds. Good performance, easy configure zfs raid and just run your node 24/7/365)

[@GabrielHenrique-jl2ex]

Im thinking to do the same because everytime they change the suggested hardware and you spend more money getting the new raspberry pi or whatever, better to setup a pc and run it without a problem for 10, 15 years or more

[@RexRedstone]

Cost of power depending vs NUC like low power box

[@АлександрАбдулов-и2н]

@@RexRedstone 0.037 usd/kw/h. server consuming 150 (4-core simple xeon + 8 2.5"hdd) to 500 (dual x5650 + 16 3.5" hdds)

[@marcoferreira2334]

can you recommend where to buy it in europe? thanks

[@Leeds1919LUFC]

How very timely. I've been recently looking to setup a full node recently. I would have downloaded Bitcoin Core as a starter but in the UK we're unable to download it and I don't particularly want to have to keep my laptop on 24/7 so this is great info, thank you.

[@JimmieJohn]

I’m in the states. Why can’t y’all download the blockchain?

[@bluefuzecom]

You’re not allowed to download Bitcoin Core in the UK? You’ve got to be kidding me

[@Leeds1919LUFC]

@@JimmieJohn I believe it’s to do with Craig Wright suing Peter McCormack in claiming he is/isn’t Satoshi. Peter never showed up to the trial and therefore it was an assumed win for Craig. Then he blocked the right for people to download the software. It’s something like that… may have the facts slightly wrong but it’s something like that.

[@IanMajor]

Glad to hear this was helpful. CSW is a cancer on the space. For those curious on the story: cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-org-blocks-access-to-bitcoin-software-download-in-the-uk Note that you can also grab it from GitHub if you’re more technical but if not some of these other methods covered in the video are great options! github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin

[@Caring.for.Couples]

excellent highlevel overview thank you

[@ksoonsoon]

Love the theme of this video

[@IanMajor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@patrickryan-s5x]

Love your work!

[@IanMajor]

Really appreciate the kind words!

[@jybevox]

OMG! I'm so excited to see this video :)

[@IanMajor]

It was a long time coming 😁

[@808blockchain]

LOVE your tutorial...!!! You ROCK fam Thank You 🤙

[@IanMajor]

You are most welcome 🙏

[@marvinmaali4019]

I want to run games on the LN that use sats to trade game items between players.

[@IanMajor]

Like the idea! I think Taproot Assets could also be a nice fit here re: in-game items

[@jybevox]

Thank you a lot for the video!

[@bitcoinpoemspro1406]

Thx

[@kirkD9349]

Thank you, very helpful!

[@alaaalbkr8491]

thanks for your efforts🌹

[@mrprfct7069]

Looks like umbrel home is now $400. Faster cpu as well. Only issue is FOSS. I just want to do my own transactions for privacy

[@IanMajor]

Yea big price decrease of course right after I make this video haha. Definitely very compelling. If fetching your own info from the blockchain and broadcasting your own trxns is the main use case, really any of these node implementations will do. I was informed by someone at Start9 that they are FLOSS (MIT) which was not clear from some of their documentation so that may be relevant for you as well: x.com/start9dave/status/1752357846564344282?s=46&t=FY_o4CV6fruf1w2-eEIzLQ Even at the higher price vs. Umbrel now I think it’s a fantastic option or you could try the DIY version!

[@briantheguy1]

Just get a Beelink Mini PC and flash UmbrelOS, much cheaper.

[@packo280349]

Hello man, thanks for sharing your knowledge, i want make you a request , if you can focus me i have a ecommerce but i want to leverage from the LN, i'm lose...there is a email that can i reach to you if you could consulting me(of course paying you ) for this purposes your video had opened my mind about the possibilities of implementing my solution but ther is not enogh info, well not clearly for me

[@IanMajor]

Hey sorry for missing this! Yes, feel free to reach out to me at vida.io/ianmajor and we can chat and set up a working session to help you out

[@packo280349]

@@IanMajor my browsers brave and edge blocks the site :( even if i unblock the trackers

[@michaelstreeter3125]

Mein Gott! Comparison starts at 19:05 !!!!! 😆

[@zackcovell]

Cubit is dead

[@IanMajor]

Is it? I still see their Geyser link live and a post on X about shipping product in February but maybe things have changed since then?

[@orenestrada2007]

BITCOIN NODE? more like NSA node lol Government money since 1996. Satoshi Nakamoto is the american gobvernment we all love so much lol suckers will find out.

[@IanMajor]

Lol

[@MrDayinthepark]

I'm going to stop this video. I run a Core, have for years. This video offers so few facts in the first 5 minutes, I had to punt. Sorry

[@IanMajor]

This is not an airport sir - you don’t need to announce your departure

[@pedromorfin4692]

​@@IanMajor 😂

[@jimgauth]

Please don't run nodes without mining. It's the miners' job to verify through fees. You cannot do anything to help propagate transactions. You can monitor them, but it's kinda pointless unless you operate a blockchain explorer.

[@IanMajor]

The miner’s core job is to SETTLE transactions. Miners simultaneously run a node which enables them to verify whether transactions are well-formed and valid, but that is only a means to their end of settling trxns in blocks (to receive their reward). Non-mining nodes can not only reject proposed blocks from miners but also actively contribute to the P2P gossip (trxn propagation) process, disproving your claim.

[@jimgauth]

@IanMajor Well, surely you must be an honest actor to judge and interfere with miners whilst having no investment. So much for the Byzantine Generals, when you have poor people's populist uprisings.

[@dylan6091]

​@@jimgauthrunning a node allows you to choose whether you support soft forks. If you have a large investment in BTC, you will likely want to protect your vision of what BTC means.

[@katiewallace2355]

If you have ANY Bitcoin, you want to support your version of what Bitcoin is. That’s the whole point. You don’t have to have counter party risk with your life’s energy.

[@fusion9619]

The upspeak is unbearable. Best wishes, I know you're a good Bitcoiner and content creator, but I can't listen to this.

[@IanMajor]

Sir this is not an airport - you don’t need to announce your departure

[@fusion9619]

@@IanMajor I bet you were thinking in upspeak when you wrote that