Stablecoin Infrastructure Glossary
Node
A node is a computer or software process that participates in a blockchain or distributed ledger network by performing one or more functions such as receiving, verifying, storing, or relaying transactions and ledger data.
Explanation
Nodes can have different roles. A full node verifies protocol rules and maintains enough ledger state or history to independently validate the chain under the network's design. Lightweight clients can verify a smaller set of information. Validator nodes or mining nodes can also participate in consensus and block production. The term node therefore does not imply that every participant stores a complete copy of all historical data.
Why it matters
Nodes distribute transaction data and enforce network rules, making them part of the infrastructure through which stablecoin transactions propagate and are verified.
Example
A full node can verify a stablecoin transaction against the blockchain's protocol rules and relay the transaction to peers.
Related terms
Last reviewed: September 2026