Empty blocks

[jonnybravo0311]

Thanks for the clarification to my statement -ck.  I realize now re-reading it after your reply that I should have stated it shows how fast pools get new work out to miners, and not how fast the pool propagates the blocks it receives.  Also, as you correctly point out - it's just how fast that particular server receives the updates from the pools to which it is connected.

So, take the information provided with a grain of salt.  I do, however, find it an interesting look into things - seeing the vast discrepancies between the top and bottom.  For example, if we ditch the SPV pools, taking a look at the list shows that (for the last 100 blocks anyway) the pools getting work to their miners the fastest are slush (his node in China), ck.solo, kano, bravo with a difference of less than 0.8 seconds between them.

[philipma1957]

One good thing about the 1/2 ing is block to fee ratio may change by 2x.

Ie a 25.5 block with fees now will be 12.5 block with fees in July after the 1/2 ing.

So pools like f2pool and antpool may want to end spv mining.

Also if we do not change from 1mb blocks to 2mb blocks. The new norm may be 12.9 or 13.1 or even 13.5

This will place a lot of pressure on spv pools to stop that method of mining.

It is possible that empty block. Mining will become a bad financial play for current spv miners.

[VRobb]

Let us hope so, philipma, since money is a big motivator!

[Mikestang]

Unfortunately money is the only motivator to the spv mining pools.  I hope that it becomes financially necessary for them to stop mining empty blocks, it will be a great thing for the network once they do, and it would give a more accurate portrayal of how the network is able to handle tons of transactions (and hopefully put an end to the excessive delays waiting for tx to go through).

[coinits]

empty blocks result from bursts

Uh, what is a "burst"?  Whatever it is, it's not why empty blocks happen.  Empty blocks come from bad/lazy coders looking for a shortcut.

A empty block will propagate faster through the network and a full block would most likely get orphaned (if both are solved in similar times).

Not true at all, kano.is has about the fastest network block propagation and never mines empty blocks.

BURST is a coin and it is certainly not its fault for empty blocks 

[iMish]

Unfortunately money is the only motivator to the spv mining pools.  I hope that it becomes financially necessary for them to stop mining empty blocks, it will be a great thing for the network once they do, and it would give a more accurate portrayal of how the network is able to handle tons of transactions (and hopefully put an end to the excessive delays waiting for tx to go through).

hello,

as of today, the average fee per block is of 2 BTC so mining empty blocks is about 16% less profitable. but is still happens that some pools mine empty blocks.

can anyone explain this?

thanks

[TracerX]

Unfortunately money is the only motivator to the spv mining pools.  I hope that it becomes financially necessary for them to stop mining empty blocks, it will be a great thing for the network once they do, and it would give a more accurate portrayal of how the network is able to handle tons of transactions (and hopefully put an end to the excessive delays waiting for tx to go through).

hello,

as of today, the average fee per block is of 2 BTC so mining empty blocks is about 16% less profitable. but is still happens that some pools mine empty blocks.

can anyone explain this?

thanks

I think the accepted reason is that BITMAIN is using a covert version of the ASICBOOST system to boost their profits.  IIRC, the empty blocks are an effect of that.  I may not be up to speed, however--if someone has a differing opinion I would love to hear it.