Stats on compact block reconstructions

A significant aspect of this investigation is the emphasis on compact block reconstructions, which are pivotal in enhancing the network's performance by minimizing the necessity for additional transaction requests during the block propagation phase. This analysis leverages detailed logs and statistics from multiple nodes, focusing on transactions pre-filled in compact blocks, those utilized from the node's mempool, and transactions drawn from an extra pool. Notably, configurations across nodes vary slightly, but most adhere to Bitcoin Core defaults, with all nodes accepting inbound connections.

A critical observation from this study is the impact of node configuration adjustments on block reconstruction efficiency. For instance, the increase in maximum connections for node dave to 1000 significantly enhanced its performance, while node erin demonstrated improved compact block reconstruction after switching to mempoolfullrbf=1. These changes underscore the potential benefits of deviating from default policies, suggesting that enabling mempoolfullrbf by default could expedite block propagation times across the network.

Throughout the observation period, specific timeframes exhibited decreases in the rate of compact block reconstructions that did not necessitate additional transaction requests, correlating with increased mempool activity. This correlation highlights the direct impact of network congestion on the efficiency of block reconstructions. Moreover, the switch to mempoolfullrbf=1 on node erin marked a notable improvement in the reconstruction process, highlighting the advantage of adjusting default Bitcoin Core policies.

The analysis also delves into median block reconstruction durations, revealing disparities based on whether additional transactions were requested. Nodes located in well-connected data centers showed varying reconstruction times, indicating the influence of hardware capabilities and network connectivity on performance. Furthermore, the investigation raises pertinent questions regarding the comparative need for extra transactions in low- versus high-bandwidth block reconstructions and the impact of different extra pool sizes on reconstruction efficiency.

This comprehensive examination not only sheds light on the intricacies of Bitcoin's block reconstruction mechanism but also underscores the importance of node configuration, network conditions, and policy adjustments in optimizing the network's overall performance. Through detailed analysis and strategic modifications, there exists potential for significant improvements in block propagation times and transaction processing efficiency, contributing to a more robust and scalable Bitcoin network.