Running a full node is the only way you can use Bitcoin in a trustless way. You will know for sure that all the rules of Bitcoin are being followed, for example that no bitcoins are spent not belonging to the owner, that no coins were spent twice, that no inflation happens outside of the schedule and that all the rules needed to make the system work (e.g. difficulty) are followed. Full nodes are currently the most private way to use Bitcoin, with no nobody else learning which bitcoin addresses belong to you. Full nodes are the most secure way to use Bitcoin, they do not suffer from many attacks that affect lightweight wallets.
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
With the implementation of Segwit, isn't it implied that less and less people will be running full nodes as the Blockchain size increases? Only for miners would it be necessary to run the entire chain so in the long-term doesn't Segwit decrease security
mining farms seem to not care. This is a risk users take every day with their blockchain(s) unless they mine to protect their vested interest in the program.