Why AntPool is mining empty blocks?!

[cheze]

Some of the blocks mined by AntPool are actually empty. Others are very small < 700kb... Any idea why?

https://blockchain.info/block/0000000000000000005713c0168710b30357ceb4d43ae297aeb0cf542454fa15

[BitcoinHodler]

possibly because they are rejecting certain kind of transactions. like transactions that have fees below 300 satoshi/byte for example.

there are actually multiple topics talking about it today: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2118225.0

[cheze]

Ah, ok. Will have a look there. Thanks 

[FabulousZombie]

Wait. Whats antpool exactly..? i keep hearing it but i dont get it ..?

[BillyBobZorton]

Wait. Whats antpool exactly..? i keep hearing it but i dont get it ..?

Antpool is the biggest pool in Bitcoin controlled by the infamous Bitmain (Jihad Wu). They play around with their hashrate a lot. Mining empty pools is just another strategy that they use to annoy people with the mempool. You can read more here:

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/why-do-some-bitcoin-mining-pools-mine-empty-blocks-1468337739/