Concerns Over Centralization in Bitcoin Mining Pools

Recent data indicates that Foundry USA and Antpool now collectively control close to 60% of the Bitcoin mining pool market, marking a significant development in the cryptocurrency mining industry. This growing concentration of power has triggered discussions regarding potential centralization risks within the Bitcoin network.

In the last 24 hours, both Foundry USA and Antpool have mined 41 blocks each, capturing roughly 30% market share individually. This combined dominance has marginalized ViaBTC, the third-largest pool, to just around 11% of the blocks mined during the same period.

Compared to previous years, the current scenario showcases a substantial increase in control. Foundry USA held a 29% share a year ago, with Antpool at 25%. Three years back, their shares stood at 24% and 20% respectively, indicating a clear trend towards consolidation.

Foundry USA leads with a formidable hashrate of 181 EH/s, closely followed by Antpool with approximately 140 EH/s. This consolidation of computing power has raised concerns within the crypto community, with experts expressing worries about the potential impact on Bitcoin's decentralized nature.

The concerns were highlighted by Bob Burnett, the Founder and CEO of Barefoot Mining, who pointed out an instance where Antpool mined five out of six consecutive blocks between blocks 850448 and 850453.

The dominance of these two pools is amplified by their client base. Several publicly traded Bitcoin miners, including Cipher Mining, Bitfarms, and Hut 8, rely on Foundry USA's services. On the other hand, Antpool, based in Beijing and owned by Bitmain, the largest ASIC producer, signifies a substantial hash rate concentration in China and the USA.

While a 51% share held by a single mining pool may not pose an immediate threat, experts caution that the real risk lies in the potential centralization within the pools themselves. As weaker miners exit the network and stronger ones consolidate their positions, the trend towards centralization could pose challenges for the future of Bitcoin mining.

It's essential to consider historical occurrences that have demonstrated the resilience of these major pools. For instance, during the China mining ban in the summer of 2021, Antpool's hash rate dominance surged from 10% to 18%, despite an overall decrease in their absolute hash rate.