About compiling myself. I can compile mysef, but depending on compile tool type, version, libraries, setup tool version, setup dependencies... and such I can never get bit by bit same compilation.
Did anyone here tried to compile the code? Did anyone got same exe ?
Also even if exe how to be sure code is free of "unintentional" exploits or known "helpful" problems/bugs?
Have you heard term
Reproducible builds? Bitcoin Core support it.
I don't know about windows version, but i tried it once with linux version on older version of Bitcoin Core and got same executable file (using VM is strongly recommended).
Even if they decide to join forces, a 51% attack would not be profitable for them as btc price would collapse and they would at most revert one transaction and be kicked away from the network forever.
It's impossible to kick them from network (as long as they build valid block), but
1. Miners will switch to another pool
2. They could have legal trouble if they aimed to fool licensed company