How important is it to be running a normal Bitcoin node or a Lightning Network node, as a user of bitcoin? Don't trust; verify. If you don't independently validate that your transactions have been confirmed, you are delegating responsibility to third parties to give you accurate information on the state of the blockchain, from infrastructure you don't control. The cost of light wallets is certainty. Decentralisation is important in every aspect of the network: chip manufacturing, mining equipment ownership, geographic distribution of mining and non-mining nodes, and variety in types of connections to the network. This is a question from the patron-only live Q&A which took place on December 16th 2017. If you want early-access to talks and a chance to participate in the monthly live Q&As with Andreas, become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/aantonop RELATED: Decentralized Truth - https://youtu.be/XCVaabu3J04 Hardware, Software, Trustware - https://youtu.be/Etyjc1JdmFU What is Consensus: Rules without Rulers - https://youtu.be/2tqo7PX5Pyc Bitcoin: Where the Laws of Mathematics Prevail - https://youtu.be/HaJ1hvon0E0 Hard Promises, Soft Promises: Promoting Autonomy instead of Authority https://youtu.be/UJSdMFPjW8c Forkology: A Study of Forks for Newbies - https://youtu.be/rpeceXY1QBM What is the role of nodes? - https://youtu.be/fNk7nYxTOyQ How do I choose a wallet? - https://youtu.be/tN6b62sEpsY The Lightning Network (playlist) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPQwGV1aLnTurL4wU_y3jOhBi9rrpsYyi Running Lightning nodes and payment channels - https://youtu.be/ndcfBfE_yoY Lightning and onion routing - https://youtu.be/D-nKuInDq6g Lightning, full nodes, and miners - https://youtu.be/dlJG4OHdJzs Misconceptions about the Lightning Network - https://youtu.be/c4TjfaLgzj4 The scaling rites of passage - https://youtu.be/rZi86_ovB3Y Governance trade-offs in decentralised systems - https://youtu.be/dtwaW79Fj7c How to get people to care about security - https://youtu.be/Ji1lS9NMz1E HODLing and the "get free" scheme - https://youtu.be/MhOwmsW1YNI Is Bitcoin a democracy? - https://youtu.be/TC3Hq76UT5g Andreas M. Antonopoulos is a technologist and serial entrepreneur who has become one of the most well-known and respected figures in bitcoin. Follow on Twitter: @aantonop https://twitter.com/aantonop Website: https://antonopoulos.com/ He is the author of two books: “Mastering Bitcoin,” published by O’Reilly Media and considered the best technical guide to bitcoin; “The Internet of Money,” a book about why bitcoin matters. THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v1: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Internet-Money-collection-Andreas-Antonopoulos/dp/1537000454/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 [NEW] THE INTERNET OF MONEY, v2: https://www.amazon.com/Internet-Money-Andreas-M-Antonopoulos/dp/194791006X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 MASTERING BITCOIN: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mastering-Bitcoin-Unlocking-Digital-Cryptocurrencies/dp/1449374042 [NEW] MASTERING BITCOIN, 2nd Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Bitcoin-Programming-Open-Blockchain/dp/1491954388 Subscribe to the channel to learn more about Bitcoin & open blockchains! Music: "Unbounded" by Orfan (https://www.facebook.com/Orfan/) Outro Graphics: Phneep (http://www.phneep.com/) Outro Art: Rock Barcellos (http://www.rockincomics.com.br/)