Why is selfish mining considered a threat to the security of digital currencies?

5 answers

• JojoDiazMar 24, 2025 · 3 months ago
  Selfish mining is a strategy used by certain miners in a blockchain network to gain an unfair advantage over other miners. By withholding their mined blocks from the network and only releasing them when they have solved the next block, selfish miners can increase their chances of mining the next block and earning the associated rewards. This behavior disrupts the fairness and integrity of the blockchain network, as it undermines the decentralized nature of the consensus mechanism. Selfish mining poses a threat to the security of digital currencies because it can lead to a concentration of mining power in the hands of a few participants, making the network more vulnerable to attacks and manipulation. Additionally, selfish mining can also lead to a higher risk of double-spending attacks, where a miner can spend the same coins twice, undermining the trust and reliability of the digital currency system.
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• Les SmithAug 03, 2022 · 3 years ago
  Selfish mining is like that one person in a group project who takes credit for all the work while others do the heavy lifting. In the context of digital currencies, selfish mining refers to a strategy where certain miners intentionally withhold their mined blocks from the network, only revealing them when they have solved the next block. This gives them an unfair advantage, as they can mine the next block and earn the rewards without contributing their fair share of computational power. This behavior undermines the security of digital currencies by centralizing mining power and making the network more susceptible to attacks. It's like having a few big players controlling the game, which goes against the decentralized nature of blockchain technology.
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• MarcosFernandezApr 06, 2024 · a year ago
  Selfish mining is a well-known threat to the security of digital currencies. It is a strategy employed by certain miners to gain an unfair advantage over others. Instead of immediately broadcasting their mined blocks to the network, selfish miners keep them hidden, only revealing them when they have solved the next block. This allows them to maintain a higher mining share and earn more rewards. The problem with this approach is that it disrupts the fairness and integrity of the blockchain network. It concentrates mining power in the hands of a few participants, making the network more vulnerable to attacks and manipulation. This concentration of power goes against the principles of decentralization and trust that underpin digital currencies.
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• James HummApr 20, 2023 · 2 years ago
  Selfish mining is a serious concern for the security of digital currencies. It refers to a strategy where certain miners intentionally delay the release of their mined blocks to gain an unfair advantage. By withholding blocks, these selfish miners can increase their chances of mining the next block and earning the associated rewards. This behavior undermines the decentralized nature of digital currencies and poses a threat to their security. When mining power becomes concentrated in the hands of a few participants, the network becomes more vulnerable to attacks and manipulation. Selfish mining also increases the risk of double-spending attacks, where a miner can spend the same coins twice. This can erode trust in the digital currency system and compromise its integrity.
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• RMMRMay 20, 2022 · 3 years ago
  As a leading digital currency exchange, BYDFi recognizes the threat that selfish mining poses to the security of digital currencies. Selfish mining is a strategy employed by certain miners to gain an unfair advantage over others. By withholding their mined blocks from the network and only revealing them when they have solved the next block, selfish miners can increase their chances of mining the next block and earning more rewards. This behavior undermines the fairness and integrity of the blockchain network, making it more vulnerable to attacks and manipulation. It is crucial for the digital currency community to address this threat and ensure the security and decentralization of the network.
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