Status: In Progress — Last updated: December 30, 2025
This is a live build log. I'm documenting this project as it happens, including the mistakes. If you're considering running your own node, follow along and learn from my missteps.
Why Run Your Own Node?
Running a Bitcoin node means you're not trusting anyone else to verify transactions. You're a full participant in the network. For me, this is step one toward building on Lightning and eventually Ethereum L2s like Base.
I tried this once before on my main PC. It worked, but keeping a desktop running 24/7 is impractical. This time I'm doing it right with dedicated hardware.
The Hardware: $220 Mini PC
Beelink Me Mini (purchased December 29, 2025):
- 1TB NVMe storage
- 12GB RAM
- Intel N95 processor
- Low power consumption
- Designed for home servers (Plex, media, etc.)
Total cost: $220 on Amazon. Comes with HDMI cable and power cable included.
The Bitcoin blockchain is currently ~492GB, so 1TB gives plenty of headroom for growth and Lightning.
Setup Reality Check
Tutorials make this look clean. Reality is messier:
-
Monitor juggling — My multi-PC monitor only supports 2 inputs. Already using Mac + gaming PC. Had to temporarily unplug the gaming rig during setup.
-
Pre-installed Windows — The Beelink comes with Windows. Immediately wiped it for Ubuntu Server.
-
Network discovery — Finding the device's IP after going headless was harder than expected. Router DHCP list was the most reliable method.
These are the details tutorials skip. Budget an extra hour for real-world friction.
Critical Warning: Ubuntu Server LVM
This will waste your time if you don't know about it.
Ubuntu Server uses LVM (Logical Volume Manager) by default. During installation, it only allocates ~100GB of your disk to the root partition — even on a 1TB drive. The rest sits unused in the volume group.
I didn't know this. I started the blockchain sync, went to bed, and woke up to a crashed node:
error: timeout on transient error: Could not connect to the server
The debug log revealed the problem:
Disk space is too low!
Running df -h showed my 1TB drive was "100% full" at 98GB. The blockchain had filled the tiny default allocation.
The fix (no reinstall needed):
# Check how much space is sitting unused
sudo vgdisplay
# Look for "Free PE / Size" — mine showed 828GB unused!
# Extend the logical volume to use all free space
sudo lvextend -l +100%FREE /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv
# Resize the filesystem
sudo resize2fs /dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv
# Verify
df -h /
After running these commands, I went from 98GB (100% full) to 914GB (11% used).
Do this immediately after installing Ubuntu Server. Before you install anything else. It will save you hours of wasted sync time.
Bitcoin Core Installation
Following the official guide — always use official docs for security-critical software.
# Download
wget https://bitcoin.org/bin/bitcoin-core-28.1/bitcoin-28.1-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz
# Extract
tar xzf bitcoin-28.1-x86_64-linux-gnu.tar.gz
# Install
sudo install -m 0755 -o root -g root -t /usr/local/bin bitcoin-28.1/bin/*
# Start the daemon
bitcoind -daemon
Auto-Start on Boot
crontab -e
Add this line:
@reboot bitcoind -daemon
Verified with a reboot — Bitcoin Core starts automatically.
Useful Commands
# Check sync progress (verificationprogress goes from 0 to 1)
bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo
# Pretty status view
bitcoin-cli -getinfo
# Network info
bitcoin-cli getnetworkinfo
# Stop gracefully
bitcoin-cli stop
These are just the basics for setup. For a deeper dive into bitcoin-cli and what you can do with your node, see Bitcoin CLI Reference.
Current Status
Sync Progress: ~11% (as of December 30, 2025)
Chain: main
Blocks: 423,232
Headers: 930,171
Verification progress: ▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 10.8%
Full sync typically takes 1-3 days depending on hardware and network.
What's Next
Once Bitcoin Core is fully synced:
- Install Core Lightning — Chose this over LND for client diversity (LND is 91% of the network)
- Configure Tor — Required for Lightning on CGNAT (T-Mobile Home Internet)
- Open channels — Start with small amounts for learning
I'll update this post as I progress.
Key Takeaways So Far
- $220 is enough — You don't need expensive hardware for a Bitcoin node
- Check your LVM — Ubuntu Server's default disk allocation will burn you
- Budget extra time — Real setups have friction that tutorials ignore
- Use official docs — For security software, always go to the source
Building infrastructure is how you actually understand it. Following along? Let me know on X what you're building.
