Techub News reported that SpiderPool mined an empty Bitcoin block at height 954,352. The block contained only the coinbase transaction and had a size of just 1.16 kWU. Since no other transactions were included, the event led to questions about the mining pool’s block-building strategy. The report cited CryptoBriefing as the source.
According to the input, SpiderPool’s empty-block rate had previously exceeded 5%, while the pool accounted for 8% to 12% of the total Bitcoin network hashrate. The immediate context for this block was the very short interval from the preceding block: only 62 seconds. To keep its hashrate running continuously, the pool used a minimal block template.
Empty blocks reduce the amount of block space available for regular transactions in that specific block, which explains why the pool’s template choice drew scrutiny. At the same time, the block was still a valid Bitcoin block. By producing proof of work and extending consensus on the chain, SpiderPool still made an effective contribution to Bitcoin network security.