How important is it to be running a normal Bitcoin node or a Lightning Network node, as a user of bitcoin? Don't trust; verify. If you don't independently validate that your transactions have been confirmed, you are delegating responsibility to third parties to give you accurate information on the state of the blockchain, from infrastructure you don't control. The cost of light wallets is certainty. Decentralisation is important in every aspect of the network: chip manufacturing, mining equipment ownership, geographic distribution of mining and non-mining nodes, and variety in types of connections to the network.
This is a question from the patron-only live Q&A which took place on December 16th 2017. If you want early-access to talks and a chance to participate in the monthly live Q&As with Andreas, become a patron:
https://www.patreon.com/aantonopRELATED:
Decentralized Truth -
https://youtu.be/XCVaabu3J04Hardware, Software, Trustware -
https://youtu.be/Etyjc1JdmFUWhat is Consensus: Rules without Rulers -
https://youtu.be/2tqo7PX5PycBitcoin: Where the Laws of Mathematics Prevail -
https://youtu.be/HaJ1hvon0E0Hard Promises, Soft Promises: Promoting Autonomy instead of Authority
https://youtu.be/UJSdMFPjW8cForkology: A Study of Forks for Newbies -
https://youtu.be/rpeceXY1QBMWhat is the role of nodes? -
https://youtu.be/fNk7nYxTOyQHow do I choose a wallet? -
https://youtu.be/tN6b62sEpsYThe Lightning Network (playlist) -
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPQwGV1aLnTurL4wU_y3jOhBi9rrpsYyiRunning Lightning nodes and payment channels -
https://youtu.be/ndcfBfE_yoYLightning and onion routing -
https://youtu.be/D-nKuInDq6gLightning, full nodes, and miners -
https://youtu.be/dlJG4OHdJzsMisconceptions about the Lightning Network -
https://youtu.be/c4TjfaLgzj4The scaling rites of passage -
https://youtu.be/rZi86_ovB3YGovernance trade-offs in decentralised systems -
https://youtu.be/dtwaW79Fj7cHow to get people to care about security -
https://youtu.be/Ji1lS9NMz1EHODLing and the "get free" scheme -
https://youtu.be/MhOwmsW1YNIIs Bitcoin a democracy? -
https://youtu.be/TC3Hq76UT5gAndreas M. Antonopoulos is a technologist and serial entrepreneur who has become one of the most well-known and respected figures in bitcoin.
Follow on Twitter: @aantonop
https://twitter.com/aantonopWebsite:
https://antonopoulos.com/He is the author of two books: “Mastering Bitcoin,” published by O’Reilly Media and considered the best technical guide to bitcoin; “The Internet of Money,” a book about why bitcoin matters.
THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v1:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Money-collection-Andreas-Antonopoulos/dp/1537000454/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8[NEW] THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v2:
https://www.amazon.com/Internet-Money-Andreas-M-Antonopoulos/dp...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX0Yrv-6jVs