Archive Nodes
Archive nodes are a specific type of full node that stores the entire history of the blockchain, including all past states and transaction data. Unlike standard full nodes that may prune historical data, archive nodes provide a complete, searchable record of the chain's evolution.
They are essential for developers, researchers, and block explorers who need to query past data for analysis or auditing. However, running an archive node requires significant storage and computational resources, making it less accessible to the average user.
They play a vital role in the transparency and auditability of decentralized financial systems. By maintaining a full history, they enable the verification of past events and the debugging of smart contracts.
They are the backbone of the data infrastructure supporting blockchain analytics.