Proxy Pool Suspicions: Braiins and ViaBTC Potentially Boosting Antpool

Developer Luke Dashjr has suggested that certain pools, including Braiins and ViaBTC, might be operating as proxies for Antpool. If confirmed, Antpool’s actual hash rate share could exceed the officially stated 16.67%. Such redistribution could affect transparency in the mining market.

Though analytics firms have yet to validate this hypothesis, they do note that any concealed consolidation of pools under a single umbrella heightens monopoly risks. Current data indicates the global Bitcoin hash rate stands at roughly 918 EH/s; if one entity surpasses 25%, concerns about network resilience inevitably arise.

Numerous miners claim that such consolidation conflicts with the spirit of decentralization. Critics propose adding new protocol mechanisms to better identify pools and their operators. However, no definitive solution has been set forth, prompting calls for public debate.