Practical overview
When it fits
Use dcrd when a project needs direct participation in the Decred network or a locally operated source of fully validated blockchain data.
Who it is for
- People running a self-hosted Decred network node
- Developers building tools or applications that connect to a dcrd instance
- Businesses and services requiring accurate Decred transaction data
- Operators contributing validation and relay capacity to the Decred network
Documented uses
- Run a Decred full node
- Validate Decred blocks and transactions locally
- Relay transactions and blocks through the peer-to-peer network
- Provide node data for monitoring or Decred-compatible applications
Requirements & limits
The repository is public, active and open source under the ISC license. Documented platforms include Linux, Windows and macOS; recommended operation requires an internet-connected machine with high uptime.
- Dcrd is a daemon and full node, not a wallet.
- Running it requires an initial blockchain download and ongoing disk, memory, bandwidth and uptime resources.
- Inbound firewall access on port 9108 is documented for node setup.
- Source builds require Git and a supported Go installation.
- Wallet-based use requires a separate component such as dcrwallet or Decrediton.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Set up a self-hosted dcrd node
Install dcrd on a suitable internet-connected machine and prepare it for Decred peer-to-peer participation.
Before you start
- Windows 10, macOS or Linux
- At least 30 GB of disk space and 2 GB of memory
- Git and a supported Go installation if building from source
- An internet connection with high uptime
Steps
Install dcrd using a documented binary release, or prepare Git and Go to build it from source.
Place the installation on a machine that meets the recommended resource requirements.
Launch dcrd on the internet-connected machine.
Configure the firewall to allow inbound connections on port 9108.
Expected outcome
A dcrd full-node daemon is prepared to participate in the Decred peer-to-peer network.
Guide limitations
- The initial blockchain download is required.
- Resource needs increase over time; the documentation lists approximately 2.5 GB of additional disk use per year as of January 2026.
- Dcrd does not provide wallet functionality.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 1 October 2026
- Original website title
- decred/dcrd · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

