Light Node Overview
The QoreChain Light Node is a lightweight client that follows the QoreChain network without running a full validator or archive node. Instead of replaying every transaction, it corroborates block headers across multiple RPC endpoints, tracks delegations and rewards, and streams live network telemetry — all from a small, self-contained binary.
Running a light node lets you participate in the network's economics and observe its state without the storage, bandwidth, and operational cost of a full node.
Its own version line
The light node ships on its own version line — currently v3.1.2 — which is distinct from the chain release version (the chain is on a separate v3.x track). Binaries are published with a SHA-256 checksum manifest — see Connecting to Mainnet for the download pattern — and v3.1.2 is the first release whose Windows and macOS binaries actually pass keygen/sign/verify (earlier builds predated a Rust-library swap and silently failed on those platforms). It's currently promoted on the testnet release channel; the mainnet channel is intentionally held back for a longer soak before promotion — if a mainnet download link 404s, that's why, not a broken link.
When you read documentation or release notes, treat the light node's version (v3.1.2) and the chain's version as two separate numbers that happen to share a major series.
Why run a light node
- Earn a share of block rewards. Active, registered light nodes are eligible for the 3% light-node reward share described below.
- Cross-check the chain state you're shown. The node fetches the latest height from its primary RPC endpoint and from every configured witness endpoint in parallel, and only stores a header when they agree on the block hash — raising the bar from trusting one endpoint to needing every configured endpoint compromised at once. This is corroboration across independent sources, not full cryptographic consensus verification (no validator-set or commit-signature checking). Your own node reports which mode it's running as an
Assurancestatus on its own dashboard (http://127.0.0.1:8420by default) — this isn't something a central QoreChain dashboard can see, since your node's RPC choices are local to your setup.trusted-single-source(no witnesses configured) is the default most operators start on, not a warning sign — an honestly-run single endpoint reports the same value a compromised one would. Add an independently-operated witness to move tocorroborated-across-sources. - Delegate and auto-compound. Manage delegated stake across multiple validators, split by weight, and compound rewards automatically.
- Watch the network live. Real-time telemetry covers validators, consensus, the bridge, and tokenomics.
- Post-quantum from day one. Keys and signatures use Dilithium-5 (ML-DSA-87).
Two editions: SX and UX
The light node comes in two editions built from the same codebase. Pick the one that matches how you want to operate the node.
| Edition | Binary | Built for | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| SX — Server eXperience | lightnode-sx | Headless server deployments | Full CLI (daemon + management commands) |
| UX — User eXperience | lightnode-ux | Desktop and operator use | Embedded web dashboard |
- The SX edition is a headless daemon with a complete management CLI. It is the right choice for servers, automation, and operators who live on the command line. See SX Edition.
- The UX edition runs the same daemon but adds an embedded web dashboard so you can watch telemetry, delegations, and rewards in a browser. See UX Edition.
Both editions read the same config.toml, store data in the same home directory (~/.qorechain-lightnode by default), and use the same Dilithium-5 keyring.
The 3% light-node reward share
QoreChain's fee distribution allocates a fixed 3% share to light nodes for serving network data. This is enforced on-chain as part of the protocol's reward split and is the same channel documented in the project's economics — see Tokenomics for the full 37% / 30% / 20% / 10% / 3% breakdown (validators, burned, treasury, stakers, light nodes).
To be eligible for this share a light node must be registered on-chain and actively proving liveness via heartbeat proofs. Registration and licensing are covered in Registration and Licensing; how the share is earned, compounded, and monitored is covered in Rewards and Monitoring.
Core features at a glance
- Multi-source header corroboration — cross-checks the latest block hash against every configured witness endpoint before trusting it, without downloading full blocks, syncing quickly even from a cold start.
- Delegated staking — stake across multiple validators with configurable split weights.
- Auto-compound rewards — claim and re-delegate rewards on a configurable interval.
- Reputation-aware rebalancing — shift delegation toward higher-reputation validators automatically.
- Real-time telemetry — validators, consensus, bridge, and tokenomics, refreshed on independent intervals.
- On-chain registration — with heartbeat liveness proofs that keep the node eligible for rewards.
- Post-quantum cryptography — Dilithium-5 (ML-DSA-87) keys and signatures throughout.
- Local-only mode — exercise the full PQC stack and run the node standalone before pointing it at a live chain.
The light node is released under the Apache 2.0 license.
Where to go next
- SX Edition — install, configure, and run the server daemon.
- UX Edition — run the web dashboard edition.
- Registration and Licensing — register on-chain and obtain a license.
- Rewards and Monitoring — earn the 3% share and keep the node healthy.
- SX Edition and UX Edition are the two ways to run a light node.
- Tokenomics — how the light-node reward share fits the wider economy.