May 15, 2024

As validation/confirmation is costly when not bypassed, the node tracks a configurable number of blocks above the top milestone/checkpoint as an additional snapshot interval. An 840k milestoned Electrum sync takes 1:35-2:00 with no steps, 1:45 (high predictability) with 50k block steps, and 1:55 with that and four snapshots (with 1/4 size memory map file preallocations and 10% subsequent growth).