Light client (SPV)
A wallet that skips full checking and trusts the network's miners instead.
In plain words
A light client — also called SPV — is a wallet that downloads only tiny block summaries instead of the whole chain. To check a payment, it asks full nodes for proof that the payment sits inside a block. What it can't do is check that the rules were followed — it assumes the chain with the most mining work behind it is honest. Light and phone-friendly, but that's trust, not proof.
Why it matters
- Makes mobile wallets practical — no giant download, near-instant start.
- Fine for pocket money; weaker ground for life savings.
- The whitepaper itself describes this mode — and its limits.
Numbers that matter
- 80 bytes — one block summary (header).
Not to be confused with
- Pruned node — checks everything and deletes old data; a light client never fully checks at all.
Go deeper
Updated 2026-07-29