user52683: Does the 100+ GB blockchain database contain every transaction since the beginning, or only a digest of them?
I've read Nakamoto's paper and I see:

the spent transactions before it can be discarded to save disk space [...] Merkle Tree  [...]

thus this question: is the 100+ GB blockchain already the result of a space-saving lossy process?

user12983: Blockchain contains every confirmed transaction since the beginning. There are some tricks to save disk space of course. 

52683: <p>Does the 100+ GB blockchain database contain every transaction since the beginning, or only a digest of them?</p>

<p>I've read Nakamoto's paper and I see:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>the spent transactions before it can be discarded to save disk space [...] Merkle Tree  [...]</p>
</blockquote>

<p>thus this question: is the 100+ GB blockchain already the result of a space-saving lossy process?</p>
 12983: <p>Blockchain contains every <strong>confirmed</strong> transaction since the beginning. There are some tricks to save disk space of course. </p>
