A Beginner's Guide to Setting Up a Bitcoin Node on Windows 11 to Support the Network

• Explains what a Bitcoin node is and how it helps validate transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain • Provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up a Bitcoin node using either Bitcoin Core software or Umbrel on a Windows 11 PC • Recommends using an external or dedicated hard drive to store the Bitcoin blockchain data due to its large size • Notes the Bitcoin Core setup synchronizes and validates the entire Bitcoin blockchain since 2009, which can take days • Suggests Umbrel as an alternative with more applications, but Bitcoin Core as simpler; both strengthen the Bitcoin network