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Bitcoin transaction fees and the decentralization of Bitcoin mining pools

Author

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  • Li, Zhicheng
  • Li, Jialong
  • Zhou, Ke

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel mechanism for decentralizing Bitcoin mining pools: the uncertain mining reward resulting from Bitcoin transaction fees. We present a simple model to demonstrate that risk-averse Bitcoin miners are more likely to allocate their computational power across multiple mining pools when transaction fees make up a large fraction of the mining reward. Our empirical study shows a negative relatinship between the proportion of transaction fees and the decentralization of Bitcoin mining pools. Our study suggests that an active Bitcoin trading market or a decreasing fixed reward from mining would lead Bitcoin mining pools to be more decentralized.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Zhicheng & Li, Jialong & Zhou, Ke, 2023. "Bitcoin transaction fees and the decentralization of Bitcoin mining pools," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pb:s1544612323007195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104347
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julien Prat & Benjamin Walter, 2021. "An Equilibrium Model of the Market for Bitcoin Mining," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(8), pages 2415-2452.
    2. Lin William Cong & Zhiguo He & Jiasun Li & Wei Jiang, 2021. "Decentralized Mining in Centralized Pools [Concentrating on the fall of the labor share]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 1191-1235.
    3. Nick Arnosti & S. Matthew Weinberg, 2022. "Bitcoin: A Natural Oligopoly," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(7), pages 4755-4771, July.
    4. Budish, Eric B., 2018. "The Economic Limits of Bitcoin and the Blockchain," Working Papers 279, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
    5. Easley, David & O'Hara, Maureen & Basu, Soumya, 2019. "From mining to markets: The evolution of bitcoin transaction fees," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(1), pages 91-109.
    6. Gur Huberman & Jacob D Leshno & Ciamac Moallemi, 2021. "Monopoly without a Monopolist: An Economic Analysis of the Bitcoin Payment System [Blockchain Economics]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(6), pages 3011-3040.
    7. Eric Budish, 2018. "The Economic Limits of Bitcoin and the Blockchain," NBER Working Papers 24717, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Tsang, Kwok Ping & Yang, Zichao, 2021. "The market for bitcoin transactions," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    9. Jia, Dun & Li, Yifan, 2023. "Bounded pool mining and the bounded Bitcoin price," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    10. Jacob D. Leshno & Philipp Strack, 2020. "Bitcoin: An Axiomatic Approach and an Impossibility Theorem," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 269-286, September.
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