Quote from: stdset on April 07, 2017, 01:39:08 PM

Quote from: achow101 on April 07, 2017, 01:06:25 PM

Possibly, but given that empty blocks still happen without asicboost, it isn't really an indicator of much.

So, in my opinion, increased rate of empty blocks does increase our suspicions. Although it isn't a proof of course.

Indeed, we have no direct proof that Bitmain were using their ASIC Boost mining, despite all the implications. I guess that's why this technique is labelled covert.

The closest to actual proof we can attain is more correlation without causation type of evidence: will Antpool empty & near-empty blocks suddenly stop happening once the flag day for the ASIC boost BIP becomes activated? That would increase the suspicion, and nothing more. Antpool's hashrate may drop by the vaunted 20-30%, but they could easily mask that by carefully staging future hashrate rollout that was already planned to make their hashrate appear unchanged. If that were the case, I hope they work hard on this camouflaging job