Blockchain//Node

**Full Node**: stores the current state, prunes old intermediate states — validates everything independently.

Full Node: stores the current state, prunes old intermediate states — validates everything independently.

Archive Node: stores a state snapshot after every block — can query historical balances at any point, much larger.

Light Client: doesn't sync the full chain — trusts an RPC node (like Infura) for instant data access.

Full nodes re-execute every transaction in each received block to verify the state hash matches.

If computed state hash ≠ proposer's claimed hash → block rejected, discarded, wait for a valid one.