by Ben Macintosh |
Become self-sovereign, and run your own server and Bitcoin node with Umbrel. By running a full node, you become a part of the Bitcoin network and contribute to its security and decentralization. You also gain more control over your own funds, as you no longer need to rely on third-party services to store or manage your Bitcoin.
Umbrel is a popular full node software that is easy to set up and use. By setting up an Umbrel node, you can become a part of the Bitcoin network, help validate transactions, and store a copy of the blockchain on your own device. This can help you gain more financial freedom and control over your own funds, while also contributing to the overall decentralization and security of the Bitcoin network.
Setting up an Umbrel node requires some technical knowledge, but it can be accomplished with the following steps:
Hardware Requirements
Before starting, make sure you have a Raspberry Pi 4 with at least 4GB of RAM. You will also need a 1TB external hard drive, power supply, and a microSD card (buy guide below).
Software Requirements
- Download Umbrel from the official website: umbrel.com
- BalenaEtcher, a free and open-source software used to flash the Umbrel image to the microSD card.
Steps
- Download the latest version of Umbrel from the official website and save it to your computer.
- Use BalenaEtcher to flash the Umbrel image to the microSD card. Make sure to select the correct drive and image file.
- Insert the microSD card into your Raspberry Pi 4, connect your external hard drive and plug in the power supply.
- Once the Raspberry Pi is powered on, wait a few minutes for it to boot up and connect to the internet.
- Open a web browser on your Mac and type in http://umbrel.local in the address bar. This should take you to the Umbrel setup page.
- Follow the prompts to set up your Umbrel node. This will include selecting a language, creating a wallet, and setting up your node’s name and password.
- After setting up your Umbrel node, you can use it to send and receive Bitcoin and Lightning Network transactions. You can also monitor your node’s performance, update the software, and connect to other nodes in the Bitcoin network.
- You can also do tons of other fun stuff with your Umbrel node, like self host files, photos, and much much more!
Buy Guide
- Raspberry Pi 4: $199 on Amazon
- 1TB SSD: $62 on Amazon
- SSD case: $9 on Amazon
- 32GB micro SD: $17 on Amazon
- Power supply: $8 on Amazon
- Ethernet cable: $5 on Amazon
- Case: $16 on Amazon
