# Node

> A computer that helps run a blockchain by storing the ledger and checking new transactions.

Canonical URL: https://fudfomo.co/glossary/node
Source: What The Block! Dictionary v1.0 (last updated 2026-04-25), browsable at https://wtb.fudfomo.co.

## Definition

A node is any computer that is plugged into a blockchain network. Full nodes keep a complete copy of the ledger and check every transaction against the rules.

The more independent nodes a blockchain has, the harder it is for any one party to bend the rules. Anyone with a regular computer and an internet connection can usually run one.

## Related terms

- [Validator](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/validator): A participant in a proof-of-stake network who proposes and confirms new blocks. Earns rewards and can be slashed.
- [Consensus](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/consensus): The way a blockchain's computers agree on which transactions are valid and which version of the ledger is correct.
- [Blockchain](https://fudfomo.co/glossary/blockchain): A shared digital record of transactions that no single person or company controls. Everyone can read it, and changes are extremely hard to fake.

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