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Replies to Msg. #1266849
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 Msg. #  Subject Posted by    Board    Date   
09996 Re: Try Again - but ask the correct question.
   [b]If the entire blockchain network is reduced to a single node[/b]... 		nacl01   GRITZ   20 Jun 2025
 12:18 AM
09952 Re: Try Again - but ask the correct question.
   You did not read the answer thoroughly. Try again, DE. The blockcha... 		monkeytrots   GRITZ   19 Jun 2025
 10:43 AM

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Re: Try Again - but ask the correct question.

By: De_Composed in GRITZ
Thu, 19 Jun 25 9:49 AM
Msg. 09950 of 12006
(This msg. is a reply to 09949 by monkeytrots)
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mt:

Re: “For practical purposes, a multi-node network is essential for meaningful transaction validation.”Your claim was, "One is NOT sufficient to provide valid transactions. At least TWO are required for validity.” The response you've just posted says "If the entire blockchain network is reduced to a single node, it can validate transactions locally by checking protocol rules (e.g., signatures, funds) and can add them to its own blockchain by mining blocks (in PoW) or proposing them (in PoS)." That's the bottom line. With just one server, it can still validate transactions.

But let's really get to the heart of the matter. "Would bitcoin fail if every node but one on the network were destroyed?"

Grok's conclusion is:

Conclusion: Bitcoin wouldn’t instantly fail with one node, as the blockchain could still function minimally. However, it would be critically vulnerable, centralized, and untrustworthy, deviating from its core principles. Recovery would depend on quickly rebuilding a distributed network, but prolonged reliance on a single node could lead to practical failure due to security risks and loss of confidence. Bitcoin’s strength lies in its thousands of nodes (over 10,000 as of recent estimates), which prevent this catastrophic scenario.

So, it's not desired, but no one ever said it was.

I think this all stemmed from my assertion that you'd have to wipe out the entire network including backups to destroy bitcoin. That's true - because the essential component is the blockchain. Not the servers. If the blockchain can be retrieved, bitcoin lives.