btc How is an empty block created?

[AkaCrafterCZ 1140]

Hello,

 

A few minutes ago, I noticed something very suspicious on the Bitcoin network. We all know Bitcoin is currently under big demand and there are many transactions submitted at once, resulting in a high transaction fees. Every block was capped at 1 MB of size and was filled by as many transactions as possible.

 

However, a few blocks ago something weird happened. I noticed a completely empty block, with a single transaction (Coinbase tx - newly mined coins). I've never seen this before, and every block was filled by hundreds of transactions every time.

 

Here's a link: https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/block/632348

 

This is not a visual bug, every explorer shows this. Can anybody explain to me how is this possible?

Edited June 1, 2020 by AkaCrafterCZ

[Saj555 2250]

This is totally a new thing for me. I never faced this kinds of problems actually. But I also don't know about the solution or why this happened. But i also intend to know the answer of this issue. Blocks are always necessary because for the transactions. So let's see what an expert says about this. 

[kyoukage01 3181]

After some more checking, I found out that only one block this particular miner remains that way, and the other blocks are working normally. As of this post, nothing has changed for this block.

 

https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/blocks?q=guessed_miner(SlushPool)#

 

That's weird. The answer someone ignorant like me has come up with is: It must have been inaccessible to transactions for some reason.

 

[AkaCrafterCZ 1140]

52 minutes ago, kyoukage01 said:

After some more checking, I found out that only one block this particular miner remains that way, and the other blocks are working normally. As of this post, nothing has changed for this block.

 

https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/blocks?q=guessed_miner(SlushPool)#

 

That's weird. The answer someone ignorant like me has come up with is: It must have been inaccessible to transactions for some reason.

 

Thank you for your investigation. It obviously can't change since blockchain is irreversible. 😉

I think I found some solutions here:
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/why-do-some-bitcoin-mining-pools-mine-empty-blocks-1468337739

[BTC Future 3946]

I've read of empty blocks before. I haven't given much attention to this, but still it happens. With fees as high as 5$ right now though, I don't understand why a pool would go on and build blocks without transactions.

 

https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/1964/close-to-19-of-mined-bitcoin-blocks-were-empty

[magd 5231]

A lot of times I see empty blocks and it is more likely that the reason for creating these empty blocks is either a precaution to fix any pending transactions by transferring them to the empty block or is one of the ways to defraud by controlling any transaction involved with the empty block because I did not see empty blocks in platforms and sites Famous author, please fix some of my info if something goes wrong

[kyoukage01 3181]

17 hours ago, AkaCrafterCZ said:

I think I found some solutions here:
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/why-do-some-bitcoin-mining-pools-mine-empty-blocks-1468337739

Thank you for the link as well. My ignorance in the matter has been lessened thanks to the article.

 

But since an empty block remains empty, does that mean the block is completely useless aside from its mining reward? And after the block reward has been transfered somewhere else, is the empty block going to be discarded by the miner afterwards?

 

[AkaCrafterCZ 1140]

8 hours ago, kyoukage01 said:

Thank you for the link as well. My ignorance in the matter has been lessened thanks to the article.

 

But since an empty block remains empty, does that mean the block is completely useless aside from its mining reward? And after the block reward has been transfered somewhere else, is the empty block going to be discarded by the miner afterwards?

 

Once a block is created, the miners stop creating this block and start mining a new block. Every block contains a lot of data aside from the transactions. However, in this case, the only profit is the Coinbase transaction the miner gets.

 

@BTC Future Already said his opinion as well:

On 6/1/2020 at 9:30 AM, BTC Future said:

I've read of empty blocks before. I haven't given much attention to this, but still it happens. With fees as high as 5$ right now though, I don't understand why a pool would go on and build blocks without transactions.

 

https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/1964/close-to-19-of-mined-bitcoin-blocks-were-empty

 

[Honny143 13612]

Well thanks mate to share this empty block information because I don't no why the empty blocks created, I know when any bitcoin mines then so many equation solves and mathematical codes release then bicoin mines, but this this type empty blocks I think any miner give perfect reason for this question.

[rub4ix 26]

When a mining pool receives a new block from a member, it needs to perform a number of actions: load the full block, check its transactions, and define a new block for mining. During this, albeit very short interval, it will start mining a new block, so as not to waste hashing power. In this case, only the coinbase transaction is included in the block, so that transactions in the previous block are not invalid due to their duplication.