DeFI News by Thebittimes.Com

Antpool, the second-largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining pool, mined seven blocks in a row on May 17, raising security concerns. The seven-block sequence confirmed 20,686 transactions, rendering over 23 BTC, worth around $1.54 million, in revenue. In particular, the event happened between block heights 843,898 and 843,904 and lasted one hour and 38 minutes. According to mempool. space data, Antpool collected 1.283 BTC in fees, plus 21.875 BTC from the block subsidy. Block heights 843,898 to 843,904. Source: mempool.space / Finbold Interestingly, Foundry USA, the largest Bitcoin mining pool, mined the previous block of this sequence and the two next blocks. This makes a sequence of 10 blocks mined by two companies, challenging the decentralization and security of the leading cryptocurrency. Picks for you Is Silver set to outperform Gold by 2024? 22 mins ago Here are Bitcoin's new levels to watch as bulls prepare to break resistance 31 mins ago U.S. banking giant...

A concerning percentage of Ethereum’s blockchain censors participation according to US sanctions. Data compiled by Labrys and Rated Network suggests that approximately 42% of blocks since Ethereum’s September 15, 2022 Merge from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake have sanctioned the wallets on the Specially Designated Nationals List. Earlier this week, the figure reached nearly 50%. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an enforcement agency of the US Treasury Department, maintains this list. Unlike permissionless crypto networks like Bitcoin which allow any user to broadcast any transaction for inclusion in an upcoming block, OFAC-compliant relays on Ethereum censor wallet addresses that appear on US sanctions lists.  The widely popular software Maximum Extractable Value Boost (‘MEV-Boost’) censor s these wallets by default and many relays US e its default settings. Mev-Boost also outsources validators’ block production to a third-party marketplace operated by itself , ma...