Not everyone is capable of running a full network node at all times. The device running the node needs to be connected to the internet at all times and will require more storage space as the blockchain grows. However, there is an alternative solution available in the form of a pruning node, which reduces storage requirements. If pruning was not implemented, it will get increasingly difficult in the future to run a node where you have to download the whole data set for a fast-growing network like Avalanche®.
What is Pruning?
Pruning node reduces the number of transactions that need to be stored rather than storing entire network blocks full of data. After pruning, the node can still validate
transactions and relay them to the rest of the network. It is quite a cost-effective solution for people who want to support the network but can’t run a full node at all times.
Why is it so important for Avalanche to implement pruning?
Pruning for Avalanche for achieving decentralization and preparing the technical ground for decentralization and a massive daily use by normal customers.
Avalanche can handle around 4.5k transactions per second, while Bitcoin only processes 10 transactions per second. If pruning wasn’t implemented, it would get difficult very soon to run a node (where you have to download the whole data set) for a platform growing to numbers of magnitudes higher than Bitcoin.
For any additional questions, please view our other knowledge base articles or contact a support team member via the chat button. Examples are for illustrative purposes only.