Network
Launch Date
Consensus
Note
Sepolia
Oct 2021
PoW
Like-for-like representation of Ethereum
Görli
Jan 2019
PoA
Proof-of-Authority
Kiln
Mar 2022
PoS
Post-Merge (for ETH2), shadow fork of the mainnet
Kintsugi
Dec 2021
PoS
DEPRECATED, use Kiln; post-Merge (for ETH2)
Ropsten
Nov 2016
PoW
DEPRECATED, use Sepolia; the Merge to happen on Jun 8, 2022
Rinkeby
Apr 2017
PoA
DEPRECATED, use Görli and Görli Faucet
Kovan
Mar 2017
PoA
DEPRECATED, use Sepolia or Görli
List of active and deprecated Ethereum testnets, including Kintsugi.
Features
Optimistic rollup 
ZK-rollup 
Proof
Uses fraud proofs to prove transaction validity. 
Uses validity (zero-knowledge) proofs to prove transaction validity. 
Capital efficiency
Requires waiting through a 1-week delay (dispute period) before withdrawing funds. 
Users can withdraw funds immediately because validity proofs provide incontrovertible evidence of the authenticity of off-chain transactions. 
Data compression
Publishes full transaction data as calldata to Ethereum Mainnet, which increases rollup costs. 
Doesn't need to publish transaction data on Ethereum because ZK-SNARKs and ZK-STARKs already guarantee the accuracy of the rollup state. 
EVM compatibility
Uses a simulation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which allows it to run arbitrary logic and support smart contracts. 
Doesn't widely support EVM computation, although a few EVM-compatible ZK-rollups have appeared. 
Rollup costs
Reduces costs since it publishes minimal data on Ethereum and doesn't have to post proofs for transactions, except in special circumstances. 
Faces higher overhead from costs involved in generating and verifying proofs for every transaction block. ZK proofs require specialized, expensive hardware to create and have high on-chain verification costs. 
Trust assumptions
Doesn't require a trusted setup. 
Requires a trusted setup to work. 
Liveness requirements
Verifiers are needed to keep tabs on the actual rollup state and the one referenced in the state root to detect fraud. 
Users don't need someone to watch the L2 chain to detect fraud. 
Security properties 
Relies on cryptoeconomic incentives to assure users of rollup security. 
Relies on cryptographic guarantees for security. 
Start building
on Alchemy.
Sign up for free
Start building on Optimism.
Sign up for free
Start building on Arbitrum.
Sign up for free
Start building on Ethereum.
Sign up for free
Start building on Polygon.
Sign up for free
Start building on Starknet.
Sign up for free
Start building on Flow.
Sign up for free
kiln faucet
Get free Kiln ETH.
Start building today
Goerli faucet
Get free Goerli ETH.
Start building today
SEPOLIA FAUCET
Get free Sepolia ETH.
Start Building Today
mumbai faucet
Get free Mumbai Matic.
Start building today
rinkeby faucet
Get free Rinkeby
ETH.
Start building today
Start building on Ethereum.
Get started for free
Start building on Ethereum.
Get started for free
Start building on Flow.
Get started for free
Start building on Polygon.
Get started for free
Start building on Starknet.
Get started for free
Start building on Optimism.
Get started for free
Start building on Solana.
Get started for free
Start building on Solana.
Sign up for beta access
Start building on Solana.
Join the waitlist
Arbitrum logo
Start building on Arbitrum.
Get started for free
Build with Alchemy's
Gas Manager & Bundler APIs
Learn
Solidity at
Alchemy
University
Get started today
Build with Alchemy's
Gas Manager & Bundler APIs
curl 
https://release.solana.com/v1.10.32/solana-install-init-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.exe 
--output 
C:\solana-install-tmp\solana-install-init.exe 
--create-dirs
Infra
LIGHT NODE OVERVIEW

Light Nodes: Everything You Need to Know

What is a Light Node And How To Run Light Nodes on Geth
Last Updated:
September 27, 2022
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents

{{building-on-ethereum}}

Ethereum nodes are computers running the software needed to connect to the Ethereum network. However, running a full node is a big time and financial commitment since it requires specialized hardware, maintenance overhead, and a large setup time. Light nodes are the perfect alternative due to their low bandwidth and storage requirements — enabling users to access the blockchain via laptops and smartphones.

In this article, we’ll dive into what are light nodes, how to run a light node and the main benefits of using them.

What is a light node?

A light node is a cost-effective Ethereum node, which only downloads Ethereum block headers, the minimum data needed to transact on the Ethereum network. Unlike the other classes of Ethereum nodes, full nodes and archive nodes, a light node is the most basic type of node you need to get started. 

Light nodes use the minimum amount of data possible to interact with the Ethereum blockchain, and outsource all of the other information from full nodes, while full nodes store full blockchain data and participate in verification and validation of the blocks.

How do light nodes work?

Light nodes interact with the Ethereum blockchain on a need-to-use basis with block headers that contain summary information about the contents of the blocks. Any additional information required by the light node is requested from a full node. This process allows light nodes to efficiently interact with the network and save megabytes of bandwidth and gigabytes of storage.

What are the benefits of light nodes?

The biggest benefit of running light nodes is the low barrier to entry due to minimal bandwidth and storage thresholds, and the cost-effectiveness of running a light-weight version of the Ethereum blockchain.

Users can run light nodes on devices such as laptops and smartphones, which allows much greater access to data on the blockchain whereas full nodes and archival nodes use a lot of hardware, storage, and maintenance time to operate. In contrast to full nodes, light nodes are fast, efficient, and relatively easy to use.

What are the downsides of light nodes?

Because light nodes do not have full functionality and rely on full nodes for their data, they cannot participate in consensus, meaning they can’t be validators. The data retrieval process is messy, time consuming, often fails, and is much slower than just running a full node and retrieving the information oneself. Thus, if one anticipates frequent data retrieval needs, light nodes are not the optimal node to use.

Who should run a light node?

Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can run a light node, provided they have a basic understanding of the Web3 ecosystem.

Light nodes are easier to run than full nodes, but the process is still time consuming, requires technical experience to install the client software to run the light node, configure variables, download block headers, and monitor the node to make sure nothing goes wrong.  Therefore, only those who have technical expertise and are familiar with the web3 ecosystem should run a light node.

Most users who end up choosing to run light nodes do so because they want to support the Ethereum network. With each new light node, there is greater censorship resistance, corruption resistance, and prevention of centralization of the Ethereum network. However, users must note that, unlike running a full node, running a light node doesn’t allow users to reap the same financial benefits. So, most users who run light nodes do so for altruistic reasons. 

What node clients can run light nodes?

The most common client software developers use to run light nodes is Go Ethereum, widely known as Geth. Geth is a software that connects to other computers running the software in a peer-to-peer manner and an original implementation of the Ethereum protocol.

How to Run a Light Node with Geth

Using the Geth node client software, users who want to run a light node can start one up in a few minutes.

Light Node Requirements

To run a light node with Geth, you have to meet the following requirements:

  • A device with around 400MB of storage
  • Familiarity with terminal commands
  • Internet Access

Step 1. Install Geth

The first step is to head to https://geth.Ethereum.org/downloads/ and download Geth. This website offers downloads for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Any option will do, so choose the installation that is most practical.

Step 2. Start Running a Light Node

After installing Geth, you can run a light node by running the following command in a new terminal window:

geth --syncmode light

It’s as easy as that. Now that you have your light Ethereum node running, there are a million things you can do.

Ready To Run Your Own Light Node?

This article has explained how to setup your own node and the benefits and downsides of using a light node. If you’re someone who just wants to get started with the world of nodes, light nodes are a cost-effective and efficient way for you to explore Ethereum with your existing computing resources.

If you want to interact with Ethereum on a deeper level, and don't want to run your own node, you can work with a blockchain node provider like Alchemy to create, maintain and manage your nodes for you. This shifts the responsibility of running nodes from individual developer to a reputable web3 infrastructure provider.

ALCHEMY SUPERNODE - ETHEREUM NODE API

Scale to any size, without any errors

Alchemy Supernode finally makes it possible to scale blockchain applications without all the headaches. Plus, our legendary support will guide you every step of the way.

Get started for free
Supernode footer
Infra
LIGHT NODE OVERVIEW

What is a light node? Everything You Need to Know

What is a Light Node And How To Run Light Nodes on Geth
Last Updated:
September 27, 2022
Last Updated:
March 14, 2023
Don't miss an update
Sign up for our newsletter to get alpha, key insights, and killer resources.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Table of Contents

Talk to an Expert

Learn how Alchemy's blockchain developer tools can help your business succeed in web3!
Valid number
Thank you! An Alchemy expert will be in touch with you shortly!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

{{building-on-ethereum}}

Ethereum nodes are computers running the software needed to connect to the Ethereum network. However, running a full node is a big time and financial commitment since it requires specialized hardware, maintenance overhead, and a large setup time. Light nodes are the perfect alternative due to their low bandwidth and storage requirements — enabling users to access the blockchain via laptops and smartphones.

In this article, we’ll dive into what are light nodes, how to run a light node and the main benefits of using them.

What is a light node?

A light node is a cost-effective Ethereum node, which only downloads Ethereum block headers, the minimum data needed to transact on the Ethereum network. Unlike the other classes of Ethereum nodes, full nodes and archive nodes, a light node is the most basic type of node you need to get started. 

Light nodes use the minimum amount of data possible to interact with the Ethereum blockchain, and outsource all of the other information from full nodes, while full nodes store full blockchain data and participate in verification and validation of the blocks.

How do light nodes work?

Light nodes interact with the Ethereum blockchain on a need-to-use basis with block headers that contain summary information about the contents of the blocks. Any additional information required by the light node is requested from a full node. This process allows light nodes to efficiently interact with the network and save megabytes of bandwidth and gigabytes of storage.

What are the benefits of light nodes?

The biggest benefit of running light nodes is the low barrier to entry due to minimal bandwidth and storage thresholds, and the cost-effectiveness of running a light-weight version of the Ethereum blockchain.

Users can run light nodes on devices such as laptops and smartphones, which allows much greater access to data on the blockchain whereas full nodes and archival nodes use a lot of hardware, storage, and maintenance time to operate. In contrast to full nodes, light nodes are fast, efficient, and relatively easy to use.

What are the downsides of light nodes?

Because light nodes do not have full functionality and rely on full nodes for their data, they cannot participate in consensus, meaning they can’t be validators. The data retrieval process is messy, time consuming, often fails, and is much slower than just running a full node and retrieving the information oneself. Thus, if one anticipates frequent data retrieval needs, light nodes are not the optimal node to use.

Who should run a light node?

Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can run a light node, provided they have a basic understanding of the Web3 ecosystem.

Light nodes are easier to run than full nodes, but the process is still time consuming, requires technical experience to install the client software to run the light node, configure variables, download block headers, and monitor the node to make sure nothing goes wrong.  Therefore, only those who have technical expertise and are familiar with the web3 ecosystem should run a light node.

Most users who end up choosing to run light nodes do so because they want to support the Ethereum network. With each new light node, there is greater censorship resistance, corruption resistance, and prevention of centralization of the Ethereum network. However, users must note that, unlike running a full node, running a light node doesn’t allow users to reap the same financial benefits. So, most users who run light nodes do so for altruistic reasons. 

What node clients can run light nodes?

The most common client software developers use to run light nodes is Go Ethereum, widely known as Geth. Geth is a software that connects to other computers running the software in a peer-to-peer manner and an original implementation of the Ethereum protocol.

How to Run a Light Node with Geth

Using the Geth node client software, users who want to run a light node can start one up in a few minutes.

Light Node Requirements

To run a light node with Geth, you have to meet the following requirements:

  • A device with around 400MB of storage
  • Familiarity with terminal commands
  • Internet Access

Step 1. Install Geth

The first step is to head to https://geth.Ethereum.org/downloads/ and download Geth. This website offers downloads for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Any option will do, so choose the installation that is most practical.

Step 2. Start Running a Light Node

After installing Geth, you can run a light node by running the following command in a new terminal window:

geth --syncmode light

It’s as easy as that. Now that you have your light Ethereum node running, there are a million things you can do.

Ready To Run Your Own Light Node?

This article has explained how to setup your own node and the benefits and downsides of using a light node. If you’re someone who just wants to get started with the world of nodes, light nodes are a cost-effective and efficient way for you to explore Ethereum with your existing computing resources.

If you want to interact with Ethereum on a deeper level, and don't want to run your own node, you can work with a blockchain node provider like Alchemy to create, maintain and manage your nodes for you. This shifts the responsibility of running nodes from individual developer to a reputable web3 infrastructure provider.

Ethereum nodes are computers running the software needed to connect to the Ethereum network. However, running a full node is a big time and financial commitment since it requires specialized hardware, maintenance overhead, and a large setup time. Light nodes are the perfect alternative due to their low bandwidth and storage requirements — enabling users to access the blockchain via laptops and smartphones.

In this article, we’ll dive into what are light nodes, how to run a light node and the main benefits of using them.

What is a light node?

A light node is a cost-effective Ethereum node, which only downloads Ethereum block headers, the minimum data needed to transact on the Ethereum network. Unlike the other classes of Ethereum nodes, full nodes and archive nodes, a light node is the most basic type of node you need to get started. 

Light nodes use the minimum amount of data possible to interact with the Ethereum blockchain, and outsource all of the other information from full nodes, while full nodes store full blockchain data and participate in verification and validation of the blocks.

How do light nodes work?

Light nodes interact with the Ethereum blockchain on a need-to-use basis with block headers that contain summary information about the contents of the blocks. Any additional information required by the light node is requested from a full node. This process allows light nodes to efficiently interact with the network and save megabytes of bandwidth and gigabytes of storage.

What are the benefits of light nodes?

The biggest benefit of running light nodes is the low barrier to entry due to minimal bandwidth and storage thresholds, and the cost-effectiveness of running a light-weight version of the Ethereum blockchain.

Users can run light nodes on devices such as laptops and smartphones, which allows much greater access to data on the blockchain whereas full nodes and archival nodes use a lot of hardware, storage, and maintenance time to operate. In contrast to full nodes, light nodes are fast, efficient, and relatively easy to use.

What are the downsides of light nodes?

Because light nodes do not have full functionality and rely on full nodes for their data, they cannot participate in consensus, meaning they can’t be validators. The data retrieval process is messy, time consuming, often fails, and is much slower than just running a full node and retrieving the information oneself. Thus, if one anticipates frequent data retrieval needs, light nodes are not the optimal node to use.

Who should run a light node?

Anyone with a computer and an internet connection can run a light node, provided they have a basic understanding of the Web3 ecosystem.

Light nodes are easier to run than full nodes, but the process is still time consuming, requires technical experience to install the client software to run the light node, configure variables, download block headers, and monitor the node to make sure nothing goes wrong.  Therefore, only those who have technical expertise and are familiar with the web3 ecosystem should run a light node.

Most users who end up choosing to run light nodes do so because they want to support the Ethereum network. With each new light node, there is greater censorship resistance, corruption resistance, and prevention of centralization of the Ethereum network. However, users must note that, unlike running a full node, running a light node doesn’t allow users to reap the same financial benefits. So, most users who run light nodes do so for altruistic reasons. 

What node clients can run light nodes?

The most common client software developers use to run light nodes is Go Ethereum, widely known as Geth. Geth is a software that connects to other computers running the software in a peer-to-peer manner and an original implementation of the Ethereum protocol.

How to Run a Light Node with Geth

Using the Geth node client software, users who want to run a light node can start one up in a few minutes.

Light Node Requirements

To run a light node with Geth, you have to meet the following requirements:

  • A device with around 400MB of storage
  • Familiarity with terminal commands
  • Internet Access

Step 1. Install Geth

The first step is to head to https://geth.Ethereum.org/downloads/ and download Geth. This website offers downloads for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Any option will do, so choose the installation that is most practical.

Step 2. Start Running a Light Node

After installing Geth, you can run a light node by running the following command in a new terminal window:

geth --syncmode light

It’s as easy as that. Now that you have your light Ethereum node running, there are a million things you can do.

Ready To Run Your Own Light Node?

This article has explained how to setup your own node and the benefits and downsides of using a light node. If you’re someone who just wants to get started with the world of nodes, light nodes are a cost-effective and efficient way for you to explore Ethereum with your existing computing resources.

If you want to interact with Ethereum on a deeper level, and don't want to run your own node, you can work with a blockchain node provider like Alchemy to create, maintain and manage your nodes for you. This shifts the responsibility of running nodes from individual developer to a reputable web3 infrastructure provider.

{{building-on-ethereum}}

Contact Us

Talk to an expert at Alchemy to answer all of your product questions.
Valid number
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Build blockchain magic with Alchemy

Alchemy combines the most powerful web3 developer products and tools with resources, community and legendary support.

Get started for free