Coinbase has issued a warning to its customers in regards to the danger of mining pool centralization on the Zcash (ZEC) community.
In keeping with Coinbase, the mining pool known as ViaBTC alone has gained greater than 51% of the community’s hashing energy, which might pose a critical menace to the safety and integrity of the blockchain.
Zcash is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that makes use of proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to confirm transactions and generate new cash. PoW requires miners to compete to unravel advanced mathematical issues utilizing their computing energy.
Nevertheless, if a single miner or mining pool controls greater than half of the community’s hashing energy, they’ll doubtlessly manipulate the blockchain in varied methods, resembling performing double-spending assaults or censoring transactions.
Coinbase Publicizes Precautions Towards Hazard in Zcash Mining Pool
Coinbase’s Blockchain Safety staff says it consistently displays the hash energy distribution of the PoW networks it helps and implements applicable measures to guard its customers from potential assaults. In response to the detection of ViaBTC’s dominance over Zcash’s hashrate, Coinbase took the next steps:
- Zcash affirmation requirement has been elevated to 110 blocks, that means customers must wait roughly 2.5 hours for his or her deposits to be confirmed. This reduces the danger of double spending or fraudulent transactions.
- The change switched Zcash trades to limit-only mode; Which means that customers can solely place restrict orders, not market orders. This may scale back the impression of any surges brought on by potential assaults.
- Coinbase has held talks with Electrical Coin Firm, the staff behind Zcash, and mining pool operator ViaBTC to handle considerations and supply suggestions to cut back the danger of a 51% assault. Coinbase has expressed hope for a extra decentralized Zcash mining and stated it helps each events’ efforts to realize that purpose.
*This isn’t funding recommendation.
