<p>I understand there are advantages for the SPV client to acquire header-chain and subsequent inclusion proofs over the p2p network:</p>

<ul>
<li>Peer discovery</li>
<li>P2P node interface is public</li>
<li>Reuse of P2P messaging protocol</li>
</ul>

<p>But this must come at a cost for full-validating nodes:</p>

<ul>
<li>Reduced channel bandwidth with full-nodes</li>
<li>Therefore, increased tx/block propagation times</li>
</ul>

<p>Why are SPV nodes/clients not serviced over separate server-client interface rather than the P2P protocol? What are the justifications for this?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-20T23:06:45.420Z
How would using a different protocol between lightweight nodes and full nodes not equally reduce channel bandwidth for the latter?
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-21T08:01:16.813Z
P2P channels are generally long-lived. SPV nodes represent additional hop in data propagation without additional decentralisation (validation). I suppose a full-node could selectively drop SPV peers, but a server-client interface seems more efficient vs. P2P for those nodes which wish to act as public servers for SPV clients.
James C.
<spv><bip37-bloom-filter><compact-client-side-block-filters><p2p>
Why should SPV nodes operate on the P2P network?
James C.
# Why should SPV nodes operate on the P2P network?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-20)

I understand there are advantages for the SPV client to acquire header-chain and subsequent inclusion proofs over the p2p network:

* Peer discovery
* P2P node interface is public
* Reuse of P2P messaging protocol

But this must come at a cost for full-validating nodes:

* Reduced channel bandwidth with full-nodes
* Therefore, increased tx/block propagation times

Why are SPV nodes/clients not serviced over separate server-client interface rather than the P2P protocol? What are the justifications for this?

Thanks in advance.

**Tags:** spv, bip37-bloom-filter, compact-client-side-block-filters, p2p

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How would using a different protocol between lightweight nodes and full nodes not equally reduce channel bandwidth for the latter?  
> **username_0**: P2P channels are generally long-lived. SPV nodes represent additional hop in data propagation without additional decentralisation (validation). I suppose a full-node could selectively drop SPV peers, but a server-client interface seems more efficient vs. P2P for those nodes which wish to act as public servers for SPV clients.  

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## 0 answers

