Why does bitcoin confirmation time takes hours or even longer?

[Pervy Sage]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

[OmegaStarScream]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

the average time usually is like 10-20 minute to get the first transaction (when It gets included into a new block) and It's pretty much depends on the fees , the higher you set them , the faster your transaction will be confirmed , of course there is other factors and I'd advice you to check this blog article : https://blog.btc.com/why-do-we-need-to-pay-transaction-fees-and-what-is-the-right-fee-fcf6ee17c072#.6tx8auwus (we could help more If you post the TXID)

[Sanshipo]

Maybe cause you have a low mining fee?

[NorrisK]

You can check the number of unconfirmed transactions here:

https://blockchain.info/unconfirmed-transactions

If the number is rising, it will take longer to get your transactions included, even if you use sufficient fees.

Also check here to see when the last blocks were mined:

https://blockchain.info/

If the last blocks were long ago, this means blocks are not being found at normal expected speed and it will take longer to get your transactions included.

[Wandering Soul~]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

After you pressed "Send" , your wallet sends the btc's to the bitcoin network and then the miners will verify the transaction.

Miner's fee is like a reward for the miner who mines the block along with your transaction.

Transactions with a higher miner fee usually picks  first so the higher the miners fee the fastest a transaction will be confirmed.

[BitcoinBarrel]

There is some randomness to it. I pay the same fee pretty much all the time between 0.0001 and 0.0002 and sometimes it confirms under 10 minutes and other times it can take half a day. Most of the time it's about 30 minutes to an hour.

[Wind_FURY]

You can check the number of unconfirmed transactions here:

https://blockchain.info/unconfirmed-transactions

If the number is rising, it will take longer to get your transactions included, even if you use sufficient fees.

Also check here to see when the last blocks were mined:

https://blockchain.info/

If the last blocks were long ago, this means blocks are not being found at normal expected speed and it will take longer to get your transactions included.

This makes sense. I send a higher than the usual BTC.0001 to send to an exchange or to cold storage. But I noticed that when I send from an exchange it tells me that the fee is BTC.0001 to send back to my wallet. This made me think that it is still ok sending Bitcoin using the flat fee of BTC.0001? Or is everyone paying higher fees now?

[panju1]

At some point, the demand will get high that confirmation times will be hours for most users.
The fees will increase to a point where users will rather drop out rather than try and send bitcoins.
Hopefully, we see some steps to increase capacity before that happens.

[JeffBrad12]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

The confirmation will take more time if your transaction will get more delay caused by block for taking your transaction to get a confirmation over 3 blocks scale.
http://www.ibtimes.com/bitcoins-big-problem-transaction-delays-renew-blockchain-debate-2330143

[Wind_FURY]

At some point, the demand will get high that confirmation times will be hours for most users.
The fees will increase to a point where users will rather drop out rather than try and send bitcoins.
Hopefully, we see some steps to increase capacity before that happens.

There is, it is called Segregated Witness. If you are running a node go for it and upgrade and hope that it will get implemented in 2 months time. The upgrade will also pave way for the Lightning Network which will make off chain transactions possible making it increase capacity even more.

[franky1]

full answer
blocks occur on average 2016 blocks over 2 weeks.. meaning 1000 blocks in 2days and 1000blocks over 12 days is just as acceptable as the 2016 blocks evenly spread.
evenly spread it would work out as a block every 10 minutes. but bitcoin block confirmation are not that predictable/evenly spread.
its not coded as 10 minutes, but instead a human perception of average expectation

so even with a large fee, it does not magically get a block confirmed in 10 minutes because as i said blocks are not strict about the 10 minute rule.
its only an average human mind expectation.

however by not having an adequate fee, it probably wont get accepted into the next block, which adds more time waiting
in short
it could be a combination of both inadequate fee and also a longer than expected block confirmation.

al you can do is add an adequate fee to be acceptable in the next block.. and then hope the network doesnt take too long with the next block.
you may be lucky. some blocks happen in just 2 minutes.

[noictib]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

actually it is totally depends upon the transaction charge that has been released by you during transaction .
We mean higher the transaction charge speeder will be confirmation .

[coynedterm]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

Since confirmation time depends upon the transaction charge but still some times may be a block of problem may be a reason for slower confirmation .
so i will suggest you to contact blockchain ( blockchain user ) if You get very slow confirmation even you are paying more transaction charge .

[mobnepal]

To find out recommended transaction fee this https://bitcoinfees.21.co/ can be helpful, currently

The fastest and cheapest transaction fee is currently 50 satoshis/byte, shown in green at the top.
For the median transaction size of 226 bytes, this results in a fee of 11,300 satoshis (0.07$).

But size depends on number of inputs if the address from which you are sending those bitcoin have received multiple small amount of bitcoin than number of input will be higher which will increase transaction size so even including 10,000 satoshi make you to wait few hours to get confirmation. Most of the wallet have fee recommendation feature before sending bitcoin, if you don't alter those fee your transaction can get confirmed within first block, but sometime time between two blocks is higher than normal 10 minute and there was also more than hour delay between two blocks in several occasions before.

[bitcoinmasterlord]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

actually it is totally depends upon the transaction charge that has been released by you during transaction .
We mean higher the transaction charge speeder will be confirmation .

I feel that is not the way it should work because many new people may not be knowing the charges and they may go with a minimum amount to save money and may need to wait for how long don't know. Instead, they should make some minimum amount per transaction and if people want can pay more, but all transaction should be treated with same priority.

[Techie5879]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

I depends on various factors, like sometimes, the transaction charge, and the wallet you are using. Usually, according to my experience, I have received bitcoins with a confirmation of few minutes. It will vary.

[kiklo]

Hmm,

Because BTC sucks,

it is outdated code with performance problems that will not be fixed,
because it's masters in China refuse to update their code, so they can keep their greater than 51% domination of BTC.  

 

FYI:
Try almost any altcoin , and you will soon agree BTC sucks.

[shyich03]

You can check the number of unconfirmed transactions here:

https://blockchain.info/unconfirmed-transactions

If the number is rising, it will take longer to get your transactions included, even if you use sufficient fees.

Also check here to see when the last blocks were mined:

https://blockchain.info/

If the last blocks were long ago, this means blocks are not being found at normal expected speed and it will take longer to get your transactions included.

This makes sense. I send a higher than the usual BTC.0001 to send to an exchange or to cold storage. But I noticed that when I send from an exchange it tells me that the fee is BTC.0001 to send back to my wallet. This made me think that it is still ok sending Bitcoin using the flat fee of BTC.0001? Or is everyone paying higher fees now?

I am assuming the fees are paid to the wallet we are using? or is the money going back to the pool and need to be mined out again?

[arcanaaerobics]

To find out recommended transaction fee this https://bitcoinfees.21.co/ can be helpful, currently

The fastest and cheapest transaction fee is currently 50 satoshis/byte, shown in green at the top.
For the median transaction size of 226 bytes, this results in a fee of 11,300 satoshis (0.07$).

But size depends on number of inputs if the address from which you are sending those bitcoin have received multiple small amount of bitcoin than number of input will be higher which will increase transaction size so even including 10,000 satoshi make you to wait few hours to get confirmation. Most of the wallet have fee recommendation feature before sending bitcoin, if you don't alter those fee your transaction can get confirmed within first block, but sometime time between two blocks is higher than normal 10 minute and there was also more than hour delay between two blocks in several occasions before.

I'll sugest the same site (https://bitcoinfees.21.co/)

I just use the recomended by the wallet or if I don't have rush, I put a little less... Btw few cents don't will let me more poor.

[MingLee]

Exactly as the title says, I have received some 0.02 btc today and it
takes longer than expected before it is confimed.

Can someone explain how the bitcoin transaction works and why the
confirmation time takes longer than usual?

Thnx

Should only take something like 10 minutes per confirmation usually, it's roughly the same amount of time as the block target time. If it is taking hours then chances are your fees are too low or you're just getting unlucky with the blocks.

Should be fairly quick otherwise.