Is Your Bitcoin Node Secure? Knots Gains Traction as Core Faces Criticism

Bitcoin’s network is undergoing a transformation in how nodes are configured and operated. While Bitcoin Core, the long-standing reference client, accounts for nearly 20,000 nodes, Knots, a new client gaining popularity, has seen over 11% of active nodes utilize its software since April 2025. This change in node configuration stems from stricter transaction policies applied to both clients, which influence resource usage and priority among the network’s activity. The shift is driven by two main factors: how each client handles transaction policies and data transmissions.