Mining Empty Block Rate
Network share of empty blocks (mined with only the coinbase transaction) - elevated rates indicate template latency or spy-mining behaviour.
What is it?
Percentage of network blocks that contain only the coinbase transaction, with no user transactions. An empty block occurs when a pool starts mining on a new header before receiving or building the full template (propagation latency), or in certain spy-mining strategies. It is a perfectly valid block, but one that processes no transactions.
How to read
A low rate reflects efficient mining using full templates. Spikes reflect increased latency or spy-mining behaviour. Read it as an underlying trend; the metric accumulates its points over time.
Key zones
Historically, the empty-block rate is very low (often below 1%) on a healthy, optimised network. A sustainably higher rate draws attention to template propagation or speculative mining practices.
What to observe
Watch for sustained spikes. Compare them with mempool congestion phases: a high rate during strong blockspace demand represents an opportunity cost (uncaptured fees). Cross-reference with the custom-template hash power share.
Historical context
Empty blocks were common in the network's early years, when block propagation was slower. Propagation optimisations (compact blocks, dedicated relays) made them rare. The metric tracks the phenomenon as it unfolds.
Expert notes
The metric aggregates empty blocks across all network pools. It accumulates its points over time. A per-pool rate would reveal different propagation practices between operators, but this network view already gives the overall efficiency trend.
Common mistakes to avoid
An empty block is not an error nor a "lost" block: it is valid and rewards the miner via the coinbase. It is not an isolated block that matters but the sustained rate. A zero rate is not a goal in itself either - a residual share is normal.
Programmatic access
REST API
curl -sS \
'https://api.trinityinsights.io/api/v1/onchain/mining-empty-block-rate/history?days=90' \
-H 'X-API-Key: $TRINITY_API_KEY'MCP server
{
"tool": "get_chart_value",
"metric_id": "mining-empty-block-rate",
"timeframe": "1y"
}Required tier: pro. See the pricing grid for the tier list and the MCP documentation for multi-client configuration.
Related metrics
Institutional disclaimer
Trinity Insights is an educational and analytical tool. The metric above does not constitute investment advice. Trinity Insights is not a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) registered under MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. See the full disclaimer.