This is an overview of kyc3.life’s instructions for setting up a bitcoin node from source on an x86 computer. Since this install is similar to K3tan’s instructions for setting up a bitcoin node from source, I will compare and contrast the two guides.
In kyc3’s guide, you are given instructions for installing Ubuntu server, Bitcoin core running over Tor, setting up Fulcrum electrum server, setting up a Dojo and whirlpool, along with instructions for how to setup Tailscale. There are also instructions for setting up hardening measures to protect your node form malicious attacks.
I found the guide very easy to follow along. Kyc3 gives step by step instructions and makes it dummy-proof for newbs who may have never used command line for a project like this. The guide includes buttons to copy commands and paste them into a terminal. This makes it very fast to move along the guide. Places for copying commands are easy to spot.
The software he gives instructions for are mostly bare minimum tools needed to verify your own Bitcoin, verify and broadcast bitcoin transactions, and coinjoin using Whirlpool. The idea here is that you have a dedicated pc running at all times and probably connected to your Samourai wallet on Android. This allows you to level up your Samourai wallet use by ensuring that you are not doxing your xpub to anyone and you can continuously mix your coins using your own machine to participate in conjoin rounds, and you can do all of this while on the go with your mobile device. Very self-sovereign of you.
Kyc3’s guide is notably missing a few applications. There is no guide to setup LND or Core lightning, and there is no guide for setting up BTCPay server. I don’t think this is an oversight, it’s likely that kyc3 doesn’t think interacting with the lightning network preserves privacy.
We can compare this guide to K3tan’s excellent video series for installing the same software plus a few more applications.
- K3tans guide includes an LND node guide and Ride the Lightning for interfacing with LND. He also includes a BTCPayserver installation guide with instructions on how to make that application public facing.
- K3tan’s guide is in video format, which some people prefer over text. If you prefer watching youtube video guides over text-based instructions, then watch K3tan’s video series. You can ignore guides that include instructions for installing applications that you don’t intend to use.
- K3tan spends extra effort going over commonly used Linux commands, and this makes it easier for new command line users to understand what they are doing when entering commands.
- Ky3’s guide includes easily copied commands and links to software that you need in order to execute installations. This can be easier for people who have no command line experience.
- Kyc3’s guide includes instructions for installing Tailscale in order to be able to access your Mempool.space instance even when you aren’t on the same network as your node. Kyc3 also gives instruction for connecting to Fulcrum server while on the go. This makes your node useful when you are mobile, which is fantastic.
- Kyc3’s guide also includes instructions for how to lock down your node from external attacks using UFW commands.
- Both guides recommend using an x86 machine with a small footprint, like the Dell micro series of computers.
I think it’s fantastic that there are these types of instructional guides being put out for people interested in building their own node from scratch. In the case of these two guides, you can easily mix and match what you need between the two and setup a node with software downloaded from the source and built from scratch on a very capable x86 computer.