A complete X thread by Bitcoin developer and observer 0xB10C has uncovered that a number of distinguished bitcoin mining swimming pools are utilizing an identical block templates and transaction prioritization strategies, mirroring these of Antpool. This revelation follows earlier findings that highlighted a notable focus of custodianship among the many identical swimming pools.
Evaluation Reveals Shared Mining Practices Amongst High Bitcoin Swimming pools
0xB10Cโs newest evaluation on the social media platform X reveals that mining swimming pools resembling Btc.com, Binance Pool, and Poolin share the identical mining template and customized transaction prioritization as Antpool. This uniformity may counsel a deeper collaboration or standardization in mining operations throughout these platforms, probably affecting the decentralization ethos of Bitcoin.
Based on 0xB10C, the similarity in templates extends to the best way transactions are chosen and ordered inside the blocks. As an illustration, whereas many swimming pools usually prioritize transactions with larger charges, the swimming pools in query have been noticed utilizing a set transaction paying considerably decrease charges. This observe may affect the general transaction processing dynamics of the community. Significantly when a major quantity of hashrate is working collectively.
This discovery was constructed upon earlier findings by Mononaut, a developer from mempool.house, who reported {that a} single custodian now controls the coinbase addresses for a number of swimming pools, accounting for 47% of Bitcoinโs hashrate. These swimming pools embrace main gamers like F2pool, Antpool, Binance Pool, and Braiins, including one other layer of concern relating to the centralization of mining energy.
Requires Stratum V2 Swell
The developer noticed that though F2pool makes use of the identical custody supplier, the proof means that they donโt make the most of Antpoolโs templates. โWe all know from a number of events that F2pool has been constructing their very own templates,โ said 0xB10C. As an onchain analyst, 0xB10C was the primary to determine particular bitcoin transactions linked to addresses sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury that have been absent from F2poolโs blocks again in November 2023.
The implications of such centralization are vital, prompting discussions inside the group in regards to the potential dangers to the communityโs safety and integrity. โWhen swimming pools are simply performing as proxies for different swimming pools with out being upfront about it, bitcoiners have to take notice. The time to demand Stratum V2 is now,โ Bitcoin Core contributor Matt Corallo remarked on X whereas sharing 0xB10Cโs X thread.
Stratum V2 may theoretically improve transparency and decentralization by permitting particular person miners to decide on their very own block templates slightly than counting on these dictated by pool operators. This protocol improve wouldnโt solely cut back the affect of enormous mining swimming pools over the community but additionally empower contributing miners. Nevertheless, a 2022 report from Galaxy signifies a divide between application-specific built-in circuit (ASIC) producers and builders relating to the implementation of Stratum V2.
What do you concentrate on all of the mining swimming pools utilizing the identical block template patterns? Share your ideas and opinions about this topic within the feedback part beneath.