涉嫌比特币挖矿垄断引发权力下放担忧

匿名比特币开发商 0xb10c 的新研究发现了证据，表明比特大陆的 AntPool（所谓的最大矿池）正在以独立矿池的名义秘密掩盖其大规模运营。通过分析区块模板和交易优先级，0xb10c 检测到 BTC.com Pool、Binance Pool、Poolin、EMCD 和 Rawpool 表现出与 AntPool 相同的模式，表明它们使用共享模板和自定义交易优先级。这项研究引发了人们对比特币挖矿业务潜在集中化的担忧，因为 AntPool 的影响力可能超过公开报道的四分之一的哈希率。

Allegations of Bitcoin Mining Centralization Raise Concerns

比特币挖矿中心化指控引发担忧

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.

多年来，比特币社区一直流传着谣言，称比特大陆作为比特币矿机的主要制造商，一直在秘密积累网络的大部分算力。这种怀疑不仅仅源于对大多数采矿设备上装饰的比特大陆标志的观察。

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.

怀疑论者认为，比特大陆自己的矿池 Antpool 秘密运营，生成了添加到比特币区块链中的绝大多数区块，使其所声称的算力份额相形见绌。

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.

匿名比特币开发商 0xb10c 最近的突破似乎证实了这些长期以来的怀疑，揭示了 Antpool 在看似独立的矿池的幌子下隐藏其广泛业务的做法。

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.

本质上，该研究表明，尽管存在数以万计的去中心化节点，但比特币的挖矿格局可能比之前认为的更加中心化。

Shared Template and Custodian for Putative Independent Pools

假定独立池的共享模板和托管人

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 的调查在 Antpool 的区块模板中发现了明显的迹象，特别是在区块奖励交易之后立即进行的手动优先交易，称为 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.

在其他几个矿池中也检测到了这种独特的模式，包括 BTC.com Pool、Binance Pool、Poolin、EMCD 和 Rawpool，这让人怀疑这些矿池正在利用 Antpool 的方法来选择交易并确定交易的优先级。

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，分析显示这些池中的 Merkle 分支几乎相同，表明它们采用与 Antpool 相同的模板来选择要包含在区块中的交易。

Nearly Identical Merkle Branches Hint at Hidden Coordination

几乎相同的 Merkle 分支暗示隐藏的协调

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 分支是区块头的组成部分，用于验证区块内交易的完整性。多个矿池中几乎相同的默克尔分支表明它们经常使用与 Antpool 完全相同的模板，这可能表明了高度的协调。

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

总而言之，据报道这些独立池具有以下共同特征：

• 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

主要使用比特大陆矿机基于模板的交易组装，类似于比特大陆与比特大陆相同的后币库交易的优先级将币库和交易费用传输给与比特大陆相同的托管人蚁池的主导地位掩盖了去中心化

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.

这些发现引起了比特币社区的担忧，给该网络的去中心化性质蒙上了阴影。如果得到证实，这种中心化将与无许可且公平的区块链的理想相矛盾。

Bitmain's History and Market Presence

比特大陆的历史和市场影响力

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.

比特大陆成立于 2013 年，已成为比特币生态系统的基石。它在制造 ASIC 矿机（专为比特币挖矿而设计的专用硬件）方面占据主导地位，这使其在行业中拥有无与伦比的地位。

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，根据蚂蚁矿池的数据，该公司报告的算力明显低于比特大陆矿机所占的市场份额。这种差异引发了人们的猜测，即蚁池可能隐藏了更大份额的算力。

Corroborating Evidence from Independent Research

独立研究证实的证据

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.

为了支持 0xb10c 的发现，Mononaut 进行了一项独立调查，追踪了几个主要矿池的 coinbase 奖励。他的分析揭示了向可能由蚁池控制的共享托管人分配奖励的可疑合作模式。

Unanswered Inquiries and Industry Response

未答复的询问和行业回应

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

Antpool 对这些指控基本上保持沉默，只提供了一条关于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.

与此同时，比特币社区的知名人士也对此事发表了看法。在最近的一次播客讨论中，Marty Bent、Matt Odell 和 Matt Corallo 回应了 0xb10c 和 Mononaut 提出的担忧，承认单个矿池有可能控制近 50% 的算力。

Implications for Bitcoin's Future

对比特币未来的影响

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

这些所谓的做法的影响是深远的。采矿权的集中化可能会破坏比特币的安全性、弹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.

随着比特币社区继续调查和辩论这些说法，不受控制的算力集中的潜在后果仍然令人担忧。此次调查的结果无疑将塑造比特币挖矿生态系统的未来轨迹。