diff --git a/beacon_chain/conf.nim b/beacon_chain/conf.nim
index ffce99c6e..b3c14fc19 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/conf.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/conf.nim
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ type
 
       historyMode* {.
         desc: "Retention strategy for historical data (archive/prune)"
-        defaultValue: HistoryMode.Archive
+        defaultValue: HistoryMode.Prune
         name: "history".}: HistoryMode
 
       # https://notes.ethereum.org/@bbusa/dencun-devnet-6