Blockchain congestion and transaction queues actually deter ‘nefarious actors’ — Study

Researchers from Florida Atlantic College and the College of Mississippi not too long ago printed analysis indicating that blockchains with “full” blocks — particularly when there’s a transaction queue — seem to have an added layer of safety towards nefarious actors, cash launderers, and would-be fraudsters. 

Dubbed, “Bitcoin Blocksize, Custodial Safety, and Value,” the staff’s paper takes a deep dive into the Mt.Gox crash and different cases the place cryptocurrency has been stolen from crypto exchanges.

The examine’s premise lies within the notion that the perpetrators of illicit exercise want to full laundering transactions as quickly as attainable.

Per the paper:

“This investigation is pushed by the next instinct: the nearer the blocksize is to the restrict, the extra seemingly the subsequent transaction shall be printed on a later block and never essentially the most present one. When these cybercriminals breach a crypto alternate, or ‘shut’ a fraudulently operated one, they wish to launder the stolen bitcoin shortly.”

The researchers examined their speculation by exploiting historic Bitcoin blockchain information and a crypto alternate “rip-off report.” Utilizing a pattern interval of 2010 by 2021, they created a “fullness” rating for blocks by which to guage the info.

After making a benchmark, the staff was analyzed historic information for 2 particular metrics: how a lot block fullness contributed to the worth of bitcoin, and the way a lot block fullness acted as a deterrent for unhealthy actors.

Their analysis, in accordance with the paper, confirmed the staff’s speculation that “full Bitcoin blocks act as a deterrent to hackers and scammers as a result of they sign congestion.” Additionally they concluded that full blocks “additionally sign an increase in community safety that’s captured in value,” thus realizing their second speculation that block fullness affected bitcoin value.

Per the staff’s findings, block fullness is cited as 20% decrease on the “common day” that has an incidence of a cryptocurrency breach or fraud.