Often people run a node somewhere, then connect to it with the remote node feature from other machines. Or use a light wallet.
Cpu use will go down when block chain is synced. Also just a tip - check the prune blockchain feature to save a lot of space.

@stigatle@yarn.stigatle.no I realy wish this whole thing (cryptocurrency) was actually truly more decentralised. But it’s not 🤦‍♂️

@shreyan@twtxt.net That’s a really good question. I would love it if I could say have a mutual exchange with another person in exchange for some goods or services, and have that recorded, signed and attested by each other in our own “books”. No stupid blockchain or mining or centralised bank ledger. Just an agreement between two or more persons.

@prologic@twtxt.net Check out GNU Taler. It meets at least some of those goals :)