The market is currently moving sideways, testnets are getting stricter, and nodes require time and resources. But there is a point in running them — if you approach it correctly. Not everyone makes a profit — only those who do everything themselves and follow the project requirements.

Advantages of running nodes in 2025

• Running nodes has become much easier: a VPS from $10/month is enough.
• Lots of automation — less routine.

Disadvantages

• Many testnets are “dry” — rewards don’t come immediately, and sometimes don’t come at all.
• Uptime, electricity, and maintenance can eat up 20–50% of potential profit (if you use your own hardware).
• Most promising projects reward node operators who are active in the ecosystem and create content — not just passive participants.

Why running nodes yourself is especially profitable right now

As of December 2025:

• 80–90% of all major airdrops of 2025–2026 (L1/L2, DePIN, AI computing, privacy projects) take into account:

  • a self-hosted node
  • XP / credits
  • Discord roles
  • whitelist / OG

• Testnets strictly filter Sybil activity:

  • purchased nodes
  • proxies
  • multi-accounts

• Teams explicitly state:

  "Self-hosted node = maximum eligibility"

  Meaning the highest chance of getting an airdrop is only when the node is yours and runs on your own server.

Why buying a “ready-made” node is a bad idea in 2025

• Sellers charge $15–50 for something you can set up yourself for $8–20/month and 30 minutes of work.