According to data compiled by tradingplatforms.com, there are currently about 15,193 public nodes on the Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin Core nodes take up the largest share, accounting for more than 98% of the network’s public nodes. Other nodes that make up the total number include Bitcoin Knots, Bitcore, and other lesser known options.
Further research shows that more than 50% of the reachable bitcoin nodes are on the TOR network. Similarly, about 54% of the reachable nodes are in an unknown country.
While giving their remarks on the research findings, Edith Reads from tradingplatforms.com said this, “Bitcoin nodes play a crucial role in verifying and broadcasting transactions on the network. It explains a lot why they are increasing with a global increase in Bitcoin usage.”
Number of total nodes even higher
The number of nodes on the Bitcoin network has been growing steadily over the past five years. In early August 2015, the nodes were slightly above 6000. Bitcoin core nodes were the only available options at the time. A little over six years later, more nodes have joined the network, although Bitcoin Core is still at the lead.
Other than the unknown country that accounts for more than half of the reachable nodes, the US is the country with the second-highest number of reachable nodes, amounting to 1882, which is about 12.15% of the total.
An estimated total of the nodes places the number at 46990. However, getting to the actual number of total nodes on the network isn’t quite as easy. Some nodes operate privately and verify network transactions without exposing their existence to the entire network.
Further, node churns make it even more challenging to have an accurate total. Nodes on the Bitcoin network can leave and rejoin whenever they wish, and the continuous traffic presents an obstacle in getting the actual count.
Role of Bitcoin nodes on the network
Bitcoin nodes help with the addition of new blocks to the network by verifying transactions. They form a peer-to-peer network that checks the legitimacy of network transactions and helps avoid issues such as double-spending.
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