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The evolution of mining pools and miners’ behaviors in the Bitcoin blockchain

Author

Listed:
  • Natkamon Tovanich

    (IRT SystemX, CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - X - École polytechnique - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Nicolas Soulié

    (IMT-BS - DEFI - Département Droit, Economie et Finances - TEM - Télécom Ecole de Management - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris], LITEM - Laboratoire en Innovation, Technologies, Economie et Management (EA 7363) - UEVE - Université d'Évry-Val-d'Essonne - Université Paris-Saclay - IMT-BS - Institut Mines-Télécom Business School - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris])

  • Nicolas Heulot

    (IRT SystemX)

  • Petra Isenberg

    (AVIZ - Analysis and Visualization - Inria Saclay - Ile de France - Inria - Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique - LISN - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Sciences du Numérique - Inria - Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique - CentraleSupélec - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - IaH - Interaction avec l'Humain - LISN - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Sciences du Numérique - Inria - Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique - CentraleSupélec - Université Paris-Saclay - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

We analyzed 23 mining pools and explore the mobility of miners throughout Bitcoin's history. Mining pools have emerged as major players to ensure that the Bitcoin system stays secure, valid, and stable. Many questions remain open regarding how mining pools have evolved throughout Bitcoin's history and when and why miners join or leave the pools. We investigated the reward payout flow of mining pools and characterized them based on payout irregularity and structural complexity. Based on our proposed algorithm, we identified miners and studied their mobility in the pools over time. Our analysis shows that Bitcoin mining is an industry that is sensitive to external events (e.g., market price and government policy). Over time, competition between pools involving reward schemes and pool fees motivated miners to migrate between pools (i.e., pool hopping and cross pooling). These factors converged toward optimal scheme and values, which made mining activities more stable.

Suggested Citation

  • Natkamon Tovanich & Nicolas Soulié & Nicolas Heulot & Petra Isenberg, 2022. "The evolution of mining pools and miners’ behaviors in the Bitcoin blockchain," Post-Print hal-03610424, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03610424
    DOI: 10.1109/TNSM.2022.3159004
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03610424
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    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-03610424/document
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julien Prat & Benjamin Walter, 2021. "An Equilibrium Model of the Market for Bitcoin Mining," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(8), pages 2415-2452.
    2. Natkamon Tovanich & Nicolas Soulié & Nicolas Heulot & Petra Isenberg, 2022. "MiningVis: visual analytics of the Bitcoin mining economy," Post-Print hal-03348145, HAL.
    3. Steven Callander & Niko Matouschek, 2019. "The Risk of Failure: Trial and Error Learning and Long-Run Performance," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(1), pages 44-78, February.
    4. Natkamon Tovanich & Nicolas Soulié & Petra Isenberg, 2021. "Visual analytics of bitcoin mining pool evolution : on the road toward stability?," Post-Print hal-02902465, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Yan & Wang, Si-Xia & Yao, Jian-Ting & Tong, Rui-Peng, 2023. "The impact of behavior safety management system on coal mine work safety: A system dynamics model of quadripartite evolutionary game," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    2. Fantazzini, Dean, 2023. "Assessing the Credit Risk of Crypto-Assets Using Daily Range Volatility Models," MPRA Paper 117141, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Natkamon Tovanich & Rémy Cazabet, 2022. "Pattern Analysis of Money Flow in the Bitcoin Blockchain," Post-Print hal-03896866, HAL.
    4. Natkamon Tovanich & R'emy Cazabet, 2022. "Pattern Analysis of Money Flow in the Bitcoin Blockchain," Papers 2207.07315, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bitcoin; Bitcoin mining; Mining pools; Pool hopping; Visual analytics;
    All these keywords.

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