One unexpected side benefit of running a little ckpool is that it's a really clean way to understand how verify_pool.py actually works.

You're not inspecting screenshots or configs, you're decoding a live coinbase template and seeing exactly where the outputs go.

It finally "clicked" for me how payout enforcement actually happens.

Pool + writeup: https://echopool.org/

Tool: https://github.com/mweinberg/stratum-speed-test/blob/main/verify_pool.py

#bitcoin #mining #ckpool