Orphan
Orphan Key Points
- An Orphan refers to a valid block on a blockchain that is not included in the final blockchain.
- Orphans occur when two miners produce blocks at similar times or due to an attacker attempting to reverse a transaction.
- Despite being valid, orphan blocks do not contribute to the network security.
- On Bitcoin’s network, the miners are not rewarded for orphaned blocks.
Orphan Definition
An Orphan, in the context of blockchain technology, is a block that is not included in the final blockchain despite being valid. It occurs when two blocks containing different transaction records result in a fork in the blockchain. The block that is later abandoned by the network, even though it was initially a valid part of the blockchain, is termed as an Orphan Block.
What is an Orphan?
An orphan is a valid block in the blockchain that is not included in the final, longest chain.
This situation arises when two miners solve a block nearly simultaneously, and one block gets propagated faster and is accepted by more nodes.
The block that doesn’t make it into the blockchain, despite being valid, is termed an orphan block.
Who Encounters Orphans?
Primarily, miners encounter orphan blocks.
When two miners solve a block at the same time, the network will only accept one, and the other becomes an orphan.
Miners who had worked on the orphan block will not receive any reward, leading to wasted computational resources.
When do Orphans Occur?
Orphan blocks occur when two miners produce blocks at similar times.
It can also happen during an attempt by an attacker to reverse a transaction.
However, the occurrence of orphan blocks is significantly reduced due to the implementation of advanced mining protocols.
Where does the Orphan Phenomenon Occur?
The orphan phenomenon occurs on blockchain networks, particularly those using proof-of-work consensus mechanism like Bitcoin.
Given the competitive nature of block mining, multiple valid blocks can be produced at the same time, leading to orphan blocks.
Why do Orphans Exist?
Orphans exist due to the decentralized nature of blockchain networks.
As there is no central authority to immediately validate which block was first, two valid blocks can be produced at the same time.
The block that gets the majority of nods from the network becomes a part of the blockchain, and the other becomes an orphan block.
How are Orphans Dealt With?
Orphans are dealt with through a simple rule: the longest chain wins.
When two valid blocks are produced, the one that becomes part of the longest chain is accepted, and the other becomes an orphan.
Orphan blocks do not contribute to the security of the network and are essentially discarded.
On Bitcoin’s network, miners do not receive a reward for orphaned blocks.