What is a stale block?
A stale block is a valid block that lost the race: another block at the same height was accepted by the network first. It is often called an orphan.
How it works
Two miners occasionally find blocks seconds apart. Nodes build on the one they saw first, and when the next block arrives one branch wins and the other is discarded.
Why it matters
The losing miner earns nothing for it, which is why fast block propagation and good connectivity are worth money.
Related terms
All terms: the Bitcoin mining glossary.
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March 22–24, 2027 · Irving Convention Center · Dallas
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