Homework on Stale Blocks

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#3030

  1. When two miners solve a block at the same time, both blocks begin to propagate through the network. But at some point, another block will be added to one of those chains and it will become the longest chain and therefore accepted by the network.

  2. A stale block is one that was ultimately not accepted because a longer chain showed up.

  3. A stale block occurs when a longer chain propagates through the network.

  4. It is important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed because it is possible that the block becomes stale.

1 Like
#3031

  1. There are now 2 valid versions of the blockchain being propagated through the network.

  2. Block that even though was valid got dropped because it existed on the shorter version of the blockchain.

  3. When we have the situation with 2 different but valid version of blockchain at the same time and the fork gets resolved.

  4. To be 100% sure the transaction is not going to be in a stale block.

1 Like
#3032

What happens in the bitcoin network when two miners solve a block at the same time?

When two miners solve a block at the same time we have two versions of the truth begin to spread across the network.

What is a stale block?

A stale block is a block that has been dropped from the blockchain.

How do stale blocks occur?

Stale blocks occur when a new miner has created a block on one of the versions of truth that currently exist. This makes one of the chains ā€˜longer and strongerā€™ and this becomes the truth. The block in the shorter part of the chain get dropped and becomes a stale block and its transactions return to mempool.

Why is it important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed when sending or receiving a transaction?

To ensure that your transaction is spread across the network and it doesnt get dropped/returned to mempool. (always wait for 6 confirmations)

1 Like
#3033

  1. The block that is added to the longest chain will win, the loosing block will become stale and the transactions in it will be returned to the Mempool

  2. A Stale block is is a block that has been dropped because another version of the blockchain has basically won and is valid.

  3. If a third miner goes with a particular version it will become a longer chain which will push the other block out making it stale.

  4. To make sure the block with your transaction in it hasnā€™t been dropped and your transaction returned to the mempool.

1 Like
#3034
  1. What happens in the bitcoin network when two miners solve a block at the same time?
    The block who is added to the longest part of the blockchain will ā€œsurviveā€. The blocks of the shorter part of the blockchain will go back to the mempool.
  2. What is a stale block?
    A stale block is a block which is dropped to the meempool because it is part of the shorter part of the blockchain.
  3. How do stale blocks occur?
    If there is the situation with 2 different but valid version of blockchain at the same time and the blocks of the shorter part gets back to the mempool.
  4. Why is it important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed when sending or receiving a transaction?
    To make sure the the transaction in not in a block which gets ā€œstaleā€ (back to the mempool
1 Like
#3035

1- The protocol will pick the one with the most PoW as this will be the more reliable and stable network to add to the protocol by the end of the 10 min timeframe.

2- It is also called Orphaned block, it is the block that after competing with other block get disqualified from the protocol selection and is sent back to the mempool.

3- After been validated and nonces is ok the block goes trough a selection when it has to compete with other blocks to get selected but the block get dropped because it is not long enough as it has less PoW and new miners are getting added to other competing blockchain

4- The standard rule is to wait at least for 6 blocks to get confirmed which means 60min long so it helps to avoid any block getting stale in between.

1 Like
#3036
  1. When two miners solve a block at the same time, both blocks start to be propogated across the network
  2. A stale block is the ā€˜losingā€™ Block that was competing with another block to be accepted into the network
  3. Stale blocks occur when 2 valid blocks are competing to be accepted into the network. One of them (typcially the longest) will be accepted by all Nodes and one wonā€™t. The ā€˜losingā€™ block is described as being ā€˜staleā€™
  4. You need to wait for more than one block to be confirmed when sending or receiving a transaction, because you need to wait for another +6 blocks before you can be certain that ā€˜yourā€™ block wonā€™t become stale
2 Likes
#3037

  1. When two miners solve a block at the same time, the miner with the longest block wins. The other block will be sent back to the mempool as a stale block.

  2. A stale block is a block that is sent back to the mempool due to another block being accepted .

  3. Stale blocks occur when a certain block was valid for a couple blocks when dropped due to another block being accepted on the blockchain.

  4. It is important to wait for then one block to be confirmed to make sure it was actually accepted into the blockchain. To make sure that a stale block isnā€™t occurring.

1 Like
#3038
  1. What happens in the bitcoin network when two miners solve a block at the same time? - two identical copies are formed. One will be accepted into the longer chain and the other is removed and returned to the mempool
  2. What is a stale block? - a duplicated block that is rejected by the network.
  3. How do stale blocks occur? - when two miners have produced their block on the same time.
  4. Why is it important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed when sending or receiving a transaction? - to ensure this new confirmed block is connected to the longest chain and not override by a potential block mined after it.
1 Like
#3039
  1. Blockchain for short period splits into two valid chains, only one will become part of chain eventually - one with most prove of work (PoW)
  2. Stale or Orphaned block is block that is dropped out of blockchain due to not being part of blockchain with most PoW
  3. This block occurs when two different miners mine next block in blockchain at approximately the same time.
  4. To make sure that block with your transaction is not dropped as stale/orphaned block.
1 Like
#3040

Answers to ā€œStale Blocksā€ questions:

  1. Both blocks will be added to the last block (having like two open end nodes now).
    Miners can choose which node they will use to keep on mining. But depending on the next accepted block, the longest chain will win.

  2. Stale block is a dropped block (or orphan block)

  3. See answer 1. When the longest chain wins, the other blocks will become stale.

  4. To be sure that the block is not a stale block.

1 Like
#3041
  1. What happens in the bitcoin network when two miners solve a block at the same time?
  • both blocks are added to the chain, but one block will always be dropped (the txs added back to the mempool) once other miners use the blockchain. The network will always use the longest chain
  1. What is a stale block?
  • a stale block is a block that was correct, but had to be discarded because subsequent miners used another block that had been added simultaneously
  1. How do stale blocks occur?
  • blocks added by miners at the exact same time
  1. Why is it important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed when sending or receiving a transaction?
  • because blocks have the chance of being dropped if other blocks containing some of the same TXS are added at the same time
1 Like
#3042
  1. Only one can win. The longest one is usually the winner.
  2. A block that was integrated into the bock ten later removed.
    3.After the fork the block that is the smallest chain is removed.
  3. To ensure the integrity of the block chain.
1 Like
#3043
  1. Both blocks will be added to the blockchain, to the same previous block. Only one will stay in blockchain, as another block will be added to it and together they will create longer chain. The second block will be dropped from blockchain to Mempool, even if this transaction was valid, as there cannot be two blocks added to the previous block at the same time.
    2.Stale block is also called an orphaned block and itā€™s simply block kicked out from the blockchain.
  2. Stale blocks occur when 2 miners are adding their blocks to the blockchain at the same time. One of the transaction must be rejected and this is how we get stale block.
  3. Itā€™s important to wait for more than one block to be confirmed to avoid situation when 2 miners or even 3 will be adding their blocks to the blockchain at the same time and our transaction might be rejected if we will be unfortunate enough to be in staled block.
1 Like
#3044

  1. When 2 miners solve a block at the same time they add it onto the block chain which will create a fork. 2 versions of the truth, if you will.

  2. A stale block is the block that loses the proof of work competition which claims block legitimacy. It basically does not exist any more.

  3. This happens because the stale block is unable to attain consensus from the network. Itā€™s illegitimate.

  4. Itā€™s important to wait for more than 1 block because forks always happen and are unpredictable sometimes. Better safe than sorry.

1 Like
#3045
  1. The miners on the network with the highest % decide who is accepted.
  2. A block that is not carried into the network by the miners in the chain.
  3. It was not i the longest chain and carried forward by the miners.
  4. To avoid the block becoming stale and discarded.
1 Like
#3046

1.) You end up with 2 versions of truth. Some miners have one copy. Others have the second copy. the longest block chain wins. The losing block gets put back in the mem pool.

2.) A block that was accepted into the block chain at the same time as another one. But the other one got added to. So this block must be discarded. It is part of the shorter blockchain.

3.) Two blocks get mined at the same time but you can only keep one.

4.) Because you could still be on a stale block and get dumped back into the mem pool.

1 Like
#3047

1.For a ten minute period the two blocks exist simultaneously, the block which is built upon the most (by other miners)of the two wins, the longest chain wins.
2. A block becomes stale, when two blocks are propogated at the same time, after a ten minute period, the block in with smallest chain, becomes redundant , stale.
3. They occur when despite being a valid block, the block is not accepted on to the blockchain, due too having the smallest chain in the 10 minute time lag.
4. In case a stale block should occur which in turn would invalidate any transaction you would have made after which?

1 Like
#3048

  1. Both of the blocks are accepted in the blockchain. The two blockchains are propagated through the entire system. After 10 minutes, when another miner will add a new block to the network, he will add it to the blockchain that the nodes close to him tell is the longest.

  2. A stale block is a block that is part of a smaller blockchain.

3.Even though the block was valid at the time it was solved, if another miner solved the block at the same time and the next blocks are added to their blockchain, then he will have the longer one.

  1. Because when you wait for at least 6 blocks to be added, then you have confirmation that the block where your transaction is written is not stale.
1 Like
#3049

  1. Both blocks append to the blockchain

  2. A block that is dropped from the blockchain.

  3. If two blocks append to the blockchain at the same time, the next block that is nonced is added to the blockchain, whichever block it appends to continues the blockchain and the other block is orphaned and considered stale.

  4. Several blocks may append to the blockchain and keep blockchain splits active, but this typically resolves by the sixth once in the split.

1 Like