How to Run a Hope Network Node on Windows PC: Complete Setup Guide
Running a Hope Network node lets you participate in the network's testnet infrastructure and help support its decentralized architecture. Hope Network offers two ways to run a node: self-hosting with Docker, or managed node hardware through NerdNode. As of this writing, Hope Network describes its public environment as a testnet proof of concept — testnet activity does not involve real money.
This guide covers running a Hope Network node on Windows 10 or 11 using Docker Desktop. Node software and network parameters change as the testnet develops, so always cross-check the official Hope Network documentation before running any command.
What you'll need
- Windows 10 or 11
- Docker Desktop, installed and running
- A Hope-compatible operator wallet / recovery phrase for the current testnet setup
- A stable internet connection
- Free disk space for persistent blockchain data (this grows over time)
Step 1 — Start Docker Desktop
Launch Docker Desktop and wait until the Docker Engine shows as running. Confirm it from PowerShell:
docker --versionStep 2 — Prepare your Hope Wallet
Hope Wallet is the official mobile wallet for the Hope ecosystem — a non-custodial wallet with post-quantum ML-DSA signing, secure on-device key storage, and built-in connections to Hope Explorer and Hope DEX.
For node operation, use the wallet credentials required by the current official node setup. Again: never publish your recovery phrase anywhere.
Learn more about Hope Wallet →
Step 3 — Open PowerShell as Administrator
Open the Start menu, search for PowerShell, right-click it, and choose Run as Administrator.
Step 4 — Remove any existing container
If a container named hope-peer already exists, remove it before creating a fresh one:
docker rm -f hope-peerThis removes only the container. The persistent data volume is separate and is not deleted by this command — your synced chain data stays intact.
Step 5 — Pull the testnet image
docker pull public.ecr.aws/r8k0t0l9/hope-peer:testnetStep 6 — Start the node
Replace the mnemonic placeholder with your own recovery phrase only on your own computer, and never share it.
docker run -d --name hope-peer --restart unless-stopped `
-p 26656:26656 -p 26657:26657 `
-v hope-peer-data:/home/hope/.hope `
-e CHAIN_METADATA_URL=https://test-gateway.hopenetwork.io/chain.json `
-e STATE_SYNC=true `
-e STATE_SYNC_RPC=3.21.91.67:26657 `
-e HOPE_OPERATOR_MNEMONIC="YOUR TESTNET RECOVERY PHRASE" `
-e NODE_LABEL=my-pc `
public.ecr.aws/r8k0t0l9/hope-peer:testnetImportant: these parameters can change as the testnet evolves. If Hope Network publishes a newer official command, use that instead of an older copy — including this one.
What each option does
--restart unless-stopped— lets Docker automatically restart the container after a reboot, unless you stopped it yourself.-p 26656:26656— the P2P port.-p 26657:26657— the RPC port.-v hope-peer-data:/home/hope/.hope— keeps node data in a persistent Docker volume, so it survives container restarts.STATE_SYNC=true— enables fast state synchronization where supported, instead of syncing block-by-block from genesis.HOPE_OPERATOR_MNEMONIC— links the node to your operator wallet.NODE_LABEL— a human-readable name for your node.
Step 7 — Watch the live logs
docker logs -f hope-peerLook for normal block-processing and synchronization activity. Exact log wording can differ between node versions.
Press Ctrl + C to exit the log viewer — this does not stop the container running in the background.
Step 8 — Confirm the container is running
docker pshope-peer should appear in the list with status "Up".
Step 9 — Keep Docker and Windows available
You can close PowerShell and the node keeps running in the background, but Docker Desktop itself must stay open. On a laptop, avoid sleep mode while you want the node to stay online — put it on AC power if it'll run long-term.
Checking your node on the Hope Network Explorer
Hope Network's public Explorer shows your node's sync status, reliability score, and payout history.
Troubleshooting
"Container name already in use"
docker rm -f hope-peerThen re-run the docker run command from Step 6.
Node isn't syncing
docker logs --tail 200 hope-peerCheck that Docker has internet access and that your state-sync configuration is still valid — RPC endpoints can change. If sync is stuck at height 0 for a long time, removing the data volume and starting fresh with state sync enabled often resolves it:
docker stop hope-peer
docker rm hope-peer
docker volume rm hope-peer-dataThen repeat Step 6 to recreate the container.
Node stops after a Windows restart
Make sure Docker Desktop is set to start with Windows, and that the container was created with --restart unless-stopped.
Reward / incentive eligibility isn't showing up
Earning testnet rewards requires your node's P2P port (26656) to be reachable from the public internet, not just running locally. This means:
- Forwarding TCP port 26656 on your router to your PC's local IP address
- Allowing the port through Windows Firewall
- Confirming your ISP isn't blocking the port (some ISPs block non-standard inbound ports, in which case a VPS is the more reliable option)
You can verify whether the port is actually open from the outside using a tool like canyouseeme.org, checked from a device or browser on your PC — not your phone's mobile data, which shows a different IP.
Discord Node Operator role is missing
A running node and a Discord role are separate systems. If your wallet connects but the Node Operator role isn't assigned, the verification system may not be recognizing your node as linked to that wallet address. Double-check the operator address against the current wallet/verification flow.
About testnet rewards
Hope Network currently states that node operators can stay synced and earn rewards. However, reward eligibility, payout rules, node requirements, and incentive mechanisms can change as the testnet develops. Treat testnet rewards as experimental, not guaranteed income — and testnet tokens as not having real-money value.
Official resources
Final thoughts
Running a Hope Network node on Windows is straightforward through Docker Desktop — no dedicated Linux machine required. The key steps are installing Docker, using the current official testnet image and configuration, keeping the node synchronized, making the P2P port reachable if you want reward eligibility, and protecting your wallet credentials at every step.
Because Hope Network is still running its public environment as a testnet proof of concept, check the official documentation before any new install or upgrade.
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