Part 3/12:
Trust and Verification: Running your own node allows you to independently verify that transactions are valid, and that the blockchain is truthful and honest, free from manipulation or fraud. This is especially significant given recent real-world examples—such as the 2020 US election or the collapses of centralized exchanges—where trust in third parties was eroded.
Network Integrity: A large number of honest nodes verify transactions and blocks, making it exceedingly hard for malicious actors to manipulate the blockchain. When enough nodes confirm a block's validity, the network's integrity is maintained, and the blockchain can be considered secure.