Subnostr

When blocks come in super close together a miner will accept the block **header** of the latest and start mining before actually downloading the entire block and verifying all the data.

However, by only using the header, they can’t put any transactions in the block, because they don’t know which ones to remove without checking the last one. Sometimes they find a valid hash in that small period of time where they don’t yet know what they can actually put into the block… and thus, it stays empty.

Guy Swann 2y ago

You will notice that essentially every single time this happens, the blocks are within seconds of each other. The loss of those few seconds of mining cost way more than worrying about the fees. Block reward is worth a lot more. The empty blocks even existing is essentially proof that it’s not worth waiting for all the data to begin mining, because those 5 seconds of waiting could literally cost you 6.25 BTC

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Discussion

mcshane 2y ago

great breakdown

Tatum Turn Up 2y ago

Interesting. I thought it might have to do with just pure speed, but the time between 780,997 and 780,997 was 26 seconds and the time between 781,001 and 781,002 was only 2 seconds more and both those blocks were full. Even so, I’ve seen blocks mined sub-10 seconds apart both with transactions. Bitcoin is weird as shit.

Guy Swann 2y ago

If the same miner or pool mined both blocks then they know which transactions to remove. Or it’s possible that in certain circumstances they can simply do the verification fast enough.