Stale Block Definition
A Stale Block, often referred to as an orphan or extinct block, is a block on the Bitcoin network that has been mined but is not part of the longest blockchain. They usually occur when two miners solve a block simultaneously, and one block arrives at a point in the network later than the other.
Stale Block Key Points
- Stale Blocks are valid blocks that are not part of the longest chain.
- These blocks are created when two miners release a block simultaneously and the network isn’t synced.
- Any transactions included in a stale block are returned to the memory pool to be included in the next mined block.
- Miners that produce stale blocks are not awarded any reward.
Who might encounter a Stale Block?
Any participant in the Bitcoin network, especially miners, may come across a Stale Block. However, the regular users of Bitcoin should not be directly impacted by stale blocks as the transactions in them are returned to the pool and included in a subsequent valid non-stale block.
What causes a Stale Block?
Stale Blocks usually occur when two miners solve a block at roughly the same time. Because of network latency, one of the blocks may reach parts of the network slightly later than the other one. Miners then start mining on top of the block they received first, and if the network adds more blocks on top of one of these blocks, the other block becomes stale.
When does a Stale Block occur?
A Stale Block can occur at any time when two blocks are solved simultaneously, due to the network latency. It’s more likely to happen when the network has a high hash rate or when there are network propagation issues.
Where does a Stale Block occur?
A Stale Block occurs within the Bitcoin blockchain network. Regardless of the geographic location of the miners, the occurring of a Stale Block is purely a feature of the blockchain technology.
Why are Stale Blocks important?
Stale Blocks are important to understand due to their impact on miner’s rewards. When a block becomes stale, the miner who solved it doesn’t get the block reward or transaction fees. However, from the network’s perspective, it’s a mechanism that helps maintain the consistency and agreement on one single version of transaction history among all network nodes.
How are Stale Blocks handled?
When a Stale Block is detected, it is reluctantly discarded and the transactions that are not in the non-stale blocks are returned to the memory pool, ready for inclusion in the next block mined. Every network node independently chooses which chain of blocks to accept based on block height, meaning the network then proceeds with the longest chain.
