The explosion of the decentralized economy has created a strong wave of interest in operating nodes as a method of generating passive income. However, the gap between flashy advertising campaigns about "easy money" and the harsh reality of blockchain infrastructure is becoming a dilemma for individual investors. According to observations of the team of experts at Tan Phat Digital, running a node is essentially an activity providing in-depth technical infrastructure, requiring a combination of large investment capital, system administration knowledge and the ability to withstand market risks. This report analyzes in detail the structural layers of node operations, from hardware infrastructure, tokenomics, to operational risks and the transition to an industrialized model in the context of 2025-2026.
The technical nature of Nodes and decentralization in the infrastructure ecosystem
To understand why profits from running nodes are not as easily achieved as expected, it is first necessary to define Clearly state the role of the node in the peer-to-peer network architecture. A node is more than just a computer connected to the internet; it is an entity that maintains the existence and integrity of the digital ledger through the storage, authentication, and transmission of data. Depending on the amount of data stored and authority in the network, nodes are divided into many levels with completely different resource requirements and reward mechanisms.
Classification of Node levels in the network
Not clearly distinguishing between node types often leads to mistakes in calculating the profits of new entrants. Here are the common node types:
Full Node: Acts as a server that maintains consensus, verifying all transactions and new blocks. This type stores a complete copy of the transaction history from the first block. Operators typically receive transaction fees and block rewards.
Light Node (SPV): Only simple payment verification, suitable for mobile devices and digital wallets as it only stores block headers. The majority of these nodes do not bring direct financial profit.
Archival Node (Archival Node): Stores the entire state history of the blockchain (up to many Terabytes), serving as a comprehensive backup. Usually intended for professional data service providers rather than individuals.
Pruned Node: Maintains integrity but deletes old data to save disk space. The reward mechanism is similar to Full Node but is more limited in terms of deep historical retrieval.
Validator: The backbone of the Proof of Stake (PoS) network, directly signs blocks and participates in governance. Requires full data and must deposit significant assets (staking) to receive block rewards, gas fees and MEV.
This decentralization means that only Full Nodes acting as Validators can actually access revenue. Meanwhile, Light Nodes - which are often advertised through phone applications - are actually just data consuming entities. Tan Phat Digital notes that this is a dangerous myth that makes many people believe that it is possible to "mine" using just a smartphone.
Validator's mechanism of action and Staking barriers
In today's dominant PoS and PoA networks, the role of the node has shifted to authentication based on reputation and deposited assets. However, to become a Validator, the operator must face an economic barrier called "Staking". Depositing a large amount of tokens is not only a form of commitment but also a "hostage" for the network to implement penalties if Validator violates the rules. Profits do not come from simply "running the machine", but from effectively managing a large amount of assets in a harsh technical environment.
Analysis of investment and operating cost structure (CAPEX & OPEX)
One of the main reasons why running a node does not yield easy profits is the underestimation of initial investment costs (CAPEX) and ongoing operating costs (OPEX).
Enterprise-grade hardware requirements (Example Solana ecosystem)
For high-performance networks like Solana, the requirements Hardware is a huge obstacle. Running a node on a substandard configuration not only prevents you from receiving rewards but also increases the risk of being eliminated by the system:
Processor (CPU): Requires a minimum of 12 cores / 24 threads, clocked at 2.8GHz. However, the ideal configuration requires 24-32 cores (AMD EPYC or Ryzen 9 series) with clock speeds above 4.0GHz to parallel process transactions and calculate Hash codes.
Internal memory (RAM): Minimum 256GB ECC DDR4. For stable operation of large validators, from 512GB to 1TB of DDR5 ECC is needed to store the account table of contents for quick access.
Storage (SSD NVMe): Needs from 1.5TB to 2TB of Enterprise Grade hard drive. Professional configurations typically separate 4 drives for Operating System, Accounts, and Ledger. Consumer SSDs will fail quickly due to the extremely high read/write intensity of the blockchain.
Network bandwidth: Minimum 1 Gbps symmetrical required. Dedicated 10 Gbps with throughput over 100TB/month is recommended to ensure continuous global block synchronization.
Total initial hardware investment can range from $10,000 to $20,000. Tan Phat Digital recommends that users should not take advantage of old components because the risk of damage and downtime leading to financial penalties is very high.
See more: What is a node in Blockchain?
Operating costs in the Vietnamese market
In Vietnam, operators face challenges in electricity and internet infrastructure. The average cost for each node running at home is about 700,000 VND/month. If you run a multi-computer system, this number can jump to over 1.3 million VND/month.
If you rent a cloud server (Cloud VPS), a basic configuration (8 vCPU/8GB RAM) costs about 1,190,000 VND/month but still not enough to run heavy nodes. To rent a standard Bare Metal server, the operator must pay from 400 USD to 1,500 USD per month. In addition, voting fees (Vote Fees) on some networks like Solana can cost thousands of USD per month, requiring nodes to have a large amount of authorization tokens to offset the costs.
Tokenomics and risks from network economic fluctuations
The profit of running a node depends closely on the economic model of each project (Tokenomics).
Rate compression yield (APR Compression): As the network becomes more crowded, block rewards are split, leading to a decline in annual percentage yield (APR).
Emission schedule risk: Proposals to change monetary policy to reduce inflation to protect long-term token value often put direct pressure on small Validators due to reduced nominal staking yields strong.
Liquidity risk and opportunity cost: Running a node often comes with an asset lock-up period (Lock-up). If the token price drops significantly during the lockup period, all profits from running the node will be wiped out by the devaluation of the underlying asset.
See more: Is Validator Blockchain fraudulent?
Technical risks and Slashing punishment mechanism
Running a node requires almost absolute uptime. Any small mistake can lead to the loss of real money through the Slashing mechanism:
Double Signing: A fatal error when a Validator signs two different blocks at the same height, often due to the negligence of running a backup node incorrectly. The penalty can be the loss of all stakes.
Downtime (Offline): If a node loses connection for too long due to hardware failure or power outage, the operator will be fined and may be removed from the active list.
Client software errors: Errors in specialized software can cause thousands of nodes to crash simultaneously, causing millions of dollars in lost rewards in just a few hours.
Successful node operations require in-depth knowledge of Linux, security, and system monitoring. Tan Phat Digital with experience in the field of Web3 technology, realizes that without a solid technical foundation, running a node yourself is a highly risky action.
Professionalization trend: Node-as-a-Service
Faced with capital and technical barriers, the ecosystem is shifting to a professional outsourcing model:
In terms of initial costs First: Self-operating requires very high capital to buy hardware, while renting a service (NaaS) only costs a lower monthly rental fee.
About technical risks: Self-operators must take full responsibility, while professional services often have Slashing insurance and a service quality commitment (SLA).
About availability: Professional services commit to Uptime 99.9% - 100% thanks to data center infrastructure, far exceeding the capabilities of home infrastructure.
About administration: Large organizations apply professional SOC 2 Type II security processes, something that is difficult for individuals to do.
Identify fraudulent models of "running nodes to make money"
Lack of community knowledge is an opportunity for fraud models to develop. Signs of recognition include:
Commitment to unusually high fixed profits (over 20%/year) and absolute safety.
Request to buy exclusive "excavators" or "node running boxes" at high prices but with poor quality internal components.
The project lacks transparency, there is no open source code or clear technical documents, only a phone application to "roll call".
Multi-level model, focusing on attracting new people instead of operating infrastructure.
In Vietnam, these models are not protected by law, leading to the risk of losing all investment money when the project collapses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is running a node really a passive income? Not complete. full. Even though the machines work automatically, you still need to spend time monitoring the system, updating software, and troubleshooting technical problems to avoid penalties.
Can I run a node on my mobile phone? In theory yes (with Light Nodes/SPVs), in reality these nodes are often not financially profitable. Only Full Nodes or Validators on strong servers have revenue.
Why is the profit of running my node decreasing? Due to the "APR Compression" mechanism - as more people participate in staking, the block reward will be divided among more people.
How severe is the Slashing penalty? Depends on the project. For example, on Ethereum, you can be fined from a small part to the entire 32 ETH staked if you violate double signing.
Do I need a very powerful computer to run a Pi Network node? Currently, the home operating cost for a Pi node is about 700,000 - 1,300,000 VND/month. However, the value of Pi in 2026 is low and the project is questioned about its decentralization.
How to recognize a scam node project? Be wary if the project promises fixed profits over 15-20%/year, requires the purchase of high-priced proprietary hardware, or lacks open source code.
What is the biggest difference between Full Node and Light Node? Full Node stores the entire transaction history and participates in validation, while Light Node only stores the block header. and must rely on Full Node to operate.
What is the minimum capital to become a professional Validator? With Solana, you need to configure hardware about 10,000 - 20,000 USD and a large amount of SOL authorization to offset daily voting fees.
How does the SIMD-0411 proposal on Solana affect me? This proposal speeds up deflation, causing staking yields to decrease from ~6.4% to ~2.4% in the next 3 years, putting great pressure on small validators.
Is running a node a violation of Vietnamese law? From 2026, the Law on Digital Technology Industry officially recognizes digital assets as legal assets. However, you still have to comply with regulations on tax management and multi-level fraud prevention.
Should you run your own node at home or rent a VPS? Renting a professional VPS/Bare Metal is safer in terms of uptime and security, but the monthly cost will be much higher than running it at home.
What is MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)? Is the additional profit that a validator earns? obtained by reordering the transactions in the block. This is an important source of revenue when block rewards are cut.
Is ETH staking still attractive in 2026? Profit margins have compressed to about 3-4% APY due to the large number of participants, turning it into a stable form of "digital bond" instead of a get-rich-quick tool.
Why should I care about the Private Key when running a node? If exposed private key, an attacker can control your node and perform bad actions that cause you to be Slashed, or drain the money you are staking. Running a blockchain node has now become an infrastructure-intensive industry. Running a node does not bring in money as easily as advertised due to the burden of CAPEX/OPEX costs, strict technical requirements, Tokenomics volatility, and surrounding fraud risks.
Tan Phat Digital believes that transparency and deep understanding of technology are the keys to sustainable investment. A smart investor needs to view node operation as a true infrastructure business, requiring thorough research on both techniques and economic models before deciding to participate.
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