涉嫌比特幣挖礦壟斷引發權力下放擔憂

匿名比特幣開發人員 0xb10c 的新研究發現了證據，表明比特大陸的 AntPool（所謂的最大礦池）正在以獨立礦池的名義秘密掩蓋其大規模運作。透過分析區塊模板和交易優先級，0xb10c 檢測到 BTC.com Pool、Binance Pool、Poolin、EMCD 和 Rawpool 表現出與 AntPool 相同的模式，表明它們使用共享模板和自訂交易優先級。這項研究引發了人們對比特幣挖礦業務潛在集中化的擔憂，因為 AntPool 的影響力可能超過公開報告的四分之一的哈希率。

Allegations of Bitcoin Mining Centralization Raise Concerns

比特幣挖礦中心化指控引發擔憂

For years, whispers have permeated the Bitcoin community, alleging that Bitmain, the dominant manufacturer of Bitcoin mining machines, has been surreptitiously amassing a majority of the network's hash power. This suspicion stems beyond mere observation of the Bitmain logo adorning most mining rigs.

多年來，比特幣社群一直流傳著謠言，稱比特大陸作為比特幣礦機的主要製造商，一直在秘密累積網路的大部分算力。這種懷疑不僅源於對大多數採礦設備上裝飾的比特大陸標誌的觀察。

Skeptics posit that Bitmain's own mining pool, Antpool, operates in secret, generating a substantial majority of the blocks added to Bitcoin's blockchain, dwarfing its purported share of the hashrate.

懷疑論者認為，比特大陸自己的礦池 Antpool 秘密運營，產生了添加到比特幣區塊鏈中的絕大多數區塊，使其所聲稱的算力份額相形見絀。

A recent breakthrough by pseudonymous Bitcoin developer 0xb10c appears to corroborate these long-held suspicions, revealing practices employed by Antpool to conceal its extensive operations under the guise of seemingly independent mining pools.

匿名比特幣開發人員 0xb10c 最近的突破似乎證實了這些長期以來的懷疑，揭示了 Antpool 在看似獨立的礦池的幌子下隱藏其廣泛業務的做法。

Essentially, the research suggests that despite the presence of tens of thousands of decentralized nodes, Bitcoin's mining landscape may be far more centralized than previously believed.

本質上，該研究表明，儘管存在數以萬計的去中心化節點，但比特幣的挖礦模式可能比先前認為的更中心化。

Shared Template and Custodian for Putative Independent Pools

假定獨立池的共享範本和託管人

0xb10c's investigation uncovered telltale signs within Antpool's block template, specifically a manually prioritized transaction immediately following the block reward transaction, known as the coinbase transaction.

0xb10c 的調查在 Antpool 的區塊模板中發現了明顯的跡象，特別是在區塊獎勵交易之後立即進行的手動優先交易，稱為 coinbase 交易。

This unique pattern was detected in several other mining pools, including BTC.com Pool, Binance Pool, Poolin, EMCD, and Rawpool, raising suspicions that these pools were utilizing Antpool's method for selecting and prioritizing transactions.

在其他幾個礦池中也檢測到了這種獨特的模式，包括BTC.com Pool、Binance Pool、Poolin、EMCD 和Rawpool，這讓人懷疑這些礦池正在利用Antpool 的方法來選擇交易並確定交易的優先級。

Furthermore, analysis revealed near-identical merkle branches in these pools, indicating that they employ the same template as Antpool for selecting transactions to include in a block.

此外，分析顯示這些池中的 Merkle 分支幾乎相同，表明它們採用與 Antpool 相同的模板來選擇要包含在區塊中的交易。

Nearly Identical Merkle Branches Hint at Hidden Coordination

幾乎相同的 Merkle 分支暗示隱藏的協調

Merkle branches, integral components of block headers, are used to verify the integrity of transactions within a block. Nearly identical merkle branches across multiple pools suggest that they are often using the exact same template as Antpool, potentially indicating a high level of coordination.

Merkle 分支是區塊頭的組成部分，用於驗證區塊內交易的完整性。多個礦池中幾乎相同的梅克爾分支表明它們經常使用與 Antpool 完全相同的模板，這可能表明了高度的協調。

In summary, these independent pools reportedly share the following characteristics:

總而言之，據報導這些獨立池具有以下共同特徵：

• Predominant use of Bitmain mining machines
• Template-based transaction assembly akin to Bitmain's
• Prioritization of the same post-coinbase transaction as Bitmain
• Transmission of coinbase and transaction fees to the same custodian as Bitmain

Antpool's Dominance Overshadows Decentralization

主要使用比特大陸礦機基於模板的交易組裝，類似於比特大陸與比特大陸相同的後幣庫交易的優先級將幣庫和交易費用傳輸給與比特大陸相同的託管人蟻池的主導地位掩蓋了去中心化

These findings have raised concerns within the Bitcoin community, casting a shadow over the network's decentralized nature. If confirmed, this centralization would contradict the ideals of a permissionless and equitable blockchain.

這些發現引起了比特幣社群的擔憂，給該網路的去中心化性質蒙上了陰影。如果得到證實，這種中心化將與無許可且公平的區塊鏈的理想相矛盾。

Bitmain's History and Market Presence

比特大陸的歷史與市場影響力

Bitmain, founded in 2013, has established itself as a cornerstone of the Bitcoin ecosystem. Its dominance in manufacturing ASIC miners, specialized hardware designed for Bitcoin mining, has granted it an unparalleled position in the industry.

比特大陸成立於 2013 年，已成為比特幣生態系統的基石。它在製造 ASIC 礦機（專為比特幣挖礦而設計的專用硬體）方面佔據主導地位，這使其在行業中擁有無與倫比的地位。

However, the company's reported hash rate, as indicated by Antpool, is significantly lower than the market share held by Bitmain's mining machines. This discrepancy has fueled speculation that Antpool may be concealing a much larger share of the hashrate.

然而，根據螞蟻礦池的數據，該公司報告的算力明顯低於比特大陸礦機所佔的市場份額。這種差異引發了人們的猜測，即蟻池可能隱藏了更大份額的算力。

Corroborating Evidence from Independent Research

獨立研究證實的證據

Supporting 0xb10c's findings, Mononaut conducted an independent investigation, tracing coinbase rewards from several major mining pools. His analysis revealed suspicious patterns of cooperation in allocating rewards to a shared custodian, possibly controlled by Antpool.

為了支持 0xb10c 的發現，Mononaut 進行了一項獨立調查，追蹤了幾個主要礦池的 coinbase 獎勵。他的分析揭示了向可能由蟻池控制的共享託管人分配獎勵的可疑合作模式。

Unanswered Inquiries and Industry Response

未答覆的詢問和行業回應

Antpool has remained largely silent on the allegations, offering only a cryptic tweet about maximizing hash efficiency.

Antpool 對這些指控基本上保持沉默，只提供了一條關於最大化哈希效率的神秘推文。

Meanwhile, prominent figures within the Bitcoin community have weighed in on the matter. During a recent podcast discussion, Marty Bent, Matt Odell, and Matt Corallo echoed concerns raised by 0xb10c and Mononaut, acknowledging the potential for a single pool to control close to 50% of the hashrate.

同時，比特幣社群的知名人士也對此事發表了看法。在最近的一次播客討論中，Marty Bent、Matt Odell 和 Matt Corallo 回應了 0xb10c 和 Mononaut 提出的擔憂，承認單一礦池有可能控制近 50% 的算力。

Implications for Bitcoin's Future

對比特幣未來的影響

The implications of these alleged practices are far-reaching. Centralization of mining power could undermine Bitcoin's security, resilience, and fundamental ethos of decentralization.

這些所謂的做法的影響是深遠的。採礦權的集中化可能會破壞比特幣的安全性、彈性和去中心化的基本精神。

As the Bitcoin community continues to investigate and debate these claims, the potential consequences of unchecked concentration of hashrate remain a cause for concern. The outcome of this inquiry will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of Bitcoin's mining ecosystem.

隨著比特幣社群繼續調查和辯論這些說法，不受控制的算力集中的潛在後果仍然令人擔憂。此次調查的結果無疑將塑造比特幣挖礦生態系統的未來軌跡。