Bitcoin Miners Produce Empty Block Amid Network Efficiency Gains

A recent Bitcoin block mined on July 28, 2026, at approximately 02:28 UTC has left some wondering about network demand. The block, numbered 960,017, contained zero user transactions and collected no fees.

The miner responsible for the empty block is listed as 'Unknown,' though F2Pool is a likely candidate according to some sources. This phenomenon isn't new, empty blocks have been part of Bitcoin's history since its early days.

Historical data shows that during Bitcoin's early years, over 10% of all mined blocks were empty. However, with improvements in network infrastructure and faster block propagation protocols like compact blocks, the figure has dropped to less than 1%