So I posted this same question on the bitcoin.com forums, but have yet to get a reply. Thought maybe someone here could shed some light...
`On the "Blocks" page, I notice 4 recent blocks that appear to have been found in pairs (i.e. the latter block has the exact same timestamp as the previous block.) The second block in the pair shows exactly 100.0% difficulty for both instances. The two blocks found at 20 Mar 2017 07:19:26 have consecutive heights. The blocks found at 22 Mar 2017 00:22:27 (most recent blocks found as I write this,) have heights which are 21 blocks apart, which would be impossible unless mining was occurring on two separate block-chains simultaneously, or mining was occurring on one and PoW was being submitted to the second as well. Is this the case? I'm trying to wrap my head around what's going on. Can you please fully explain this anomaly? Also can you please re-clarify exactly how the mining structure of this pool differs from a "standard" pool?'
For those that don't know, this is Roger Ver's personal pool and a co-venture with John McAfee.
It pays 110% of the block reward with no fees. They keep the TX fee, but doing the math, the pool barely breaks even. I asked and had confirmed on the official thread that the purpose of the pool was in fact not a money making venture, but instead to use the computing power culminated in the pool to help Ver influence the blockchain towards BU.
But anyway, they recently mined 2 "pairs" of blocks. The timestamps they show are close but don't exactly match the official time on the blockchain explorers I've checked. On their "found blocks" page it shows 2 sets of blocks with the same time stamps, as if the pool found 2 blocks at once. It seems impossible.
For reference to anyone without an account on the pool to see for yourself, the blocks are 458103 & 458104 (pair 1) and 458328 & 458349.
Something seems fishy. I don't know for sure. Maybe someone who knows more may be able to clarify. Thanks.
Blocktrail.com has them at different times.
458349 Tuesday, March 21st 2017, 21:12:23
458328 Tuesday, March 21st 2017, 17:27:09
458103 Monday, March 20th 2017, 4:19:03
458102 Monday, March 20th 2017, 4:18:42
Blockchain.info... I think there's a timezone difference, but doesn't explain the discrepancy in the pool info, also the time difference is larger than usual. Something's wrong. And the pool stats don't match anything, it's like it's just made up.
POOL STATS
#458349 - 2017-03-22 04:12:23-| 22 Mar 2017 00:22:27
#458328 - 2017-03-22 00:27:09-| 22 Mar 2017 00:22:27
#458104 - 2017-03-20 11:19:03-| 20 Mar 2017 07:19:26
#458103 - 2017-03-20 11:18:42-| 20 Mar 2017 07:19:26
#458102 - 2017-03-20 11:18:28*Not one of the "pairs". It was the above pair, but 14 seconds between blocks is also quite strange. It wasn't mined by bitcoin.com pool, but still, that's the shortest block gap I've ever personally seen.
There's always been something off to me about that pool. At the least they're cooking stats to attract more miners. But I feel like something bigger is afoot.