Blockstack Core Wallet & Other Random Questions

I setup my own Blockstack Core node last night (or is it this morning?) and I created a new wallet. I’m really new to this space, so please pardon my questions. But is there any correlation between my Blockstack browser wallet and my Blockstack core wallet? I’m assuming this is a BIG no, but I just want to make sure. Also, what’s the difference between the owner and payment address? I know the latter is used to receive BTC, but what’s the former used for?

If so, what’s the benefit of having a Blockstack Core wallet versus having a Blockstack Browser wallet? I’m thinking that it just allows me to store my BTC offline easier. Are there any other benefits/cons?

Lastly, I’m taking it that as I’m running a “full node” now that my laptop is maintaining an entire directory of BNS directory, correct? If this is so, it means that I’m contributing to the overall health of the network, I believe. Pretty cool stuff if I’m actually doing this and making a difference on the network.

I’d really appreciate any of you smart people to just provide a brief explanation or how running a Blockstack Core node works or if you could point me to any other resources so I could read a little more.

Thanks!

Nice Job Kitsana - our quick and dirty if we are on the same page as you (if not, sorry) and from an outsider’s view: “Full node” - would have to say that you are very much “contributing to the overall health of the network” as you are part of the backbone, increasing decentralization, speed, … and helps strengthen the network and in doing so helps lessen the targeted node attacks… See https://github.com/blockstack/blockstack-core (sure you have seen this but just in case) and https://blockstack.org/whitepaper.pdf (see Atlas para. 5, pg. 14 and BNS). The more nodes, peer-peer, decentralized parts the better the overall (strength in numbers so to speak)

From Blockstack’s perspective - “Blockstack Core implements BNS and Atlas, the storage routing system for Gaia. Blockstack Core nodes form the backbone of the Blockstack network. Each node indexes the Bitcoin blockchain and maintains a full replica of all names, public keys, and storage routing information. This makes the Blockstack network particularly resilient to node failure—applications only need to talk to a single Blockstack Core node to work, and a new or recovering node can quickly reconstruct all of its missing state from its peers.”

For more on Atlas - https://github.com/blockstack/blockstack-core/blob/master/docs/atlas_network.md
For more on BNS - https://github.com/blockstack/blockstack-core/blob/master/docs/blockstack_naming_service.md

I am sure some of the core developers can provide more insight and if we are off-base they can correct (not gone to deep into this but plan on it - and if can provide more on the “wallet” we will supplement)… Hope that was what you were looking for.

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