What running a node gives you
When you connect your wallet to your own node, you stop trusting someone else’s server to tell you your balance or to feed you the correct chain. That’s sovereignty in practice, not just a slogan.
Disk and bandwidth (2026-ish expectations)
Full archival nodes can require hundreds of GB and growing; pruned nodes reduce disk at a trade-off. You don’t need a datacenter, but you do need a stable connection and patience for initial sync.
Do you need to mine?
No. Mining is industrial: ASICs, power contracts, cooling. Most users who care about Bitcoin’s health can contribute by validating and holding with good key hygiene — see cold storage guide.
If someone says “run a node to earn BTC,” they’re confusing mining with validation.