<p>Full nodes don't even need to store the entire blockchain (bitcoin core has a pruning mode). They must process each block at least once to ensure they have the correct UTXO set, then the raw block data can be discarded.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-21T02:25:49.750Z
2021-02-21T02:25:49.750Z
pinhead
<p>Why doesn't Bitcoin store its blockchain in a DHT, but instead makes each (full) node store the entire blockchain?</p>
<p><sup>related questions: &quot;<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/37366/4334">Why doesn't Bitcoin use a DHT for choosing peers?</a>&quot; and &quot;<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/49138/4334">Why doesn't each node store only a portion of the blockchain?</a>&quot;</sup></p>

<blockchain><client><full-node>
Why doesn't Bitcoin use a DHT to store its blockchain?
Geremia
# Why doesn't Bitcoin use a DHT to store its blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-20)

Why doesn't Bitcoin store its blockchain in a DHT, but instead makes each (full) node store the entire blockchain?

related questions: "[Why doesn't Bitcoin use a DHT for choosing peers?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/37366/4334)" and "[Why doesn't each node store only a portion of the blockchain?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/49138/4334)"

**Tags:** blockchain, client, full-node


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-02-21. Score: 3

Full nodes don't even need to store the entire blockchain (bitcoin core has a pruning mode). They must process each block at least once to ensure they have the correct UTXO set, then the raw block data can be discarded.


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