Multiple output addresses in coinbase transaction

[crazyideas21]

Hello, I'm an academic researcher on Bitcoin. I have observed that sometimes the coinbase transaction of a block contains more than one output addresses (i.e. more than one recipient in the coin generation transaction).

Can I assume that either one of the following is true?

Either: The block was mined by p2pool (or other non-centralized pools).
Or: All the output addresses belong to the same person (who holds the private keys to all the output addresses).

Thanks!

[cr1776]

Hi,
I don't believe you can assume that.  It is often the case, but given that the person or pool that generates the block can list as many (within block size limits etc) outputs as they want to, assuming that either of your propositions is not necessarily true.

It depends on what you are attempting to research and how strict you need to be.  So, again, if "often" is enough, then your assumptions are okay, if it is a 100% requirement, then I do not believe you can do so.

:-)

[JayCoin]

The Eligius mining pool pays all its miners with the coinbase transaction.

[yakuza699]

The Eligius mining pool pays all its miners with the coinbase transaction.

Unless the block is orphan in that case they send the coins to their cold storage wallet.Can anyone explain why?

Thanks for your response!
For an LTC-based altcoin, I observe that many coingen transactions pay to 2 or 3 recipient addresses. The coins stay in these recipients for more than 3 days.

Well not sure about LTC but in Bitcoin you have to wait 101(I think but I might be mistaken) confirms on the coinbase transaction in order to be able to spend those funds.

[DannyHamilton]

Thanks for your response!

For an LTC-based altcoin, I observe that many coingen transactions pay to 2 or 3 recipient addresses. The coins stay in these recipients for more than 3 days.

I can assume that this is not a pool, because:
 
(1) a pool like Eligius or p2pool usually has a large number of direct payout addresses; and
(2) a pool pays out usually within a day.

I'm left with the option that this is likely to be a direct mining set-up, and that the recipients are the same person.

What do you think? Thanks!

It could easily be a small pool of friends or a club or hobbyist.

If it is a pool, then each of the addresses belongs to a different participant, and the "payout" happens immediately since the address is the participant's address.  The participant may not be able to spend any of the outputs until the transaction matures after a few days.

[swapcoiner]

There may be options that the recipients are the same.