Bitcoin Core: Run a Full Node and Wallet on Your PC

Most wallets ask a server about your balance. Bitcoin Core does the work itself: it downloads and checks every block, so your wallet relies on rules your own computer has verified.

Node and wallet in one program

• Full node: Bitcoin Core validates the blockchain and relays transactions for the network.
• Built-in wallet: You can create a wallet, receive and send bitcoin directly from the program. It is non-custodial: the keys live in a wallet file on your computer.
• Back end for other wallets: Wallets such as Sparrow can connect to your own Bitcoin Core node instead of public servers.

Check your disk space and bandwidth

According to bitcoincore.org, the first sync downloads about 600 GB, plus roughly 5–10 GB a month afterwards. If you enable pruning, Bitcoin Core keeps as little as about 10 GB on disk without giving up validation. The first sync can take a long time on slower drives and connections.

Download and verify

1. The Download button opens the official download page on bitcoincore.org, with builds for Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Linux.
2. The page publishes SHA256 checksums and signatures from several builders. Verification is optional, but the project strongly recommends it, because a tampered file could cost you your funds.

Bitcoin Core has no official mobile app; any phone app with that name is not from the project.

Back up your wallet

Back up your wallet file (and its passphrase, if you set one) and keep the copies offline. Never send wallet files or keys to anyone, including people who contact you claiming to be Bitcoin Core developers or “support”; no genuine developer will ask for them.