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🌐 Network Propagation & Latency Impact

Learn how block propagation time affects optimal block intervals

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Network Effects & Latency

Block time interacts with network latency to create various challenges. Faster blocks amplify network issues that slower blocks can absorb.

Network Latency Simulator

Adjust network latency to see how it affects orphan rates and other network issues. Real-world latency varies from 50ms (same region) to 300ms+ (intercontinental).

200ms
50ms (Fast)500ms (Slow)
Estimated Orphan Rate
2%
blocks wasted
Network Health
Fair
overall status
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Orphan Blocks

Blocks mined but not included in the main chain

Current Severity
Medium
Impact
Wasted mining effort and temporary confusion
Solution
Longer block times reduce orphan rate significantly

How Networks Handle Fast Blocks

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Better Network Infrastructure

Modern blockchains invest heavily in network optimization: dedicated backbone connections, fast peer discovery, and efficient block propagation protocols.

Example: Solana requires validators to have high-bandwidth connections to keep up with 400ms blocks
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Uncle Block Rewards

Ethereum's GHOST protocol rewards miners who produce valid blocks that arrive late, reducing wasted work and improving security.

Example: Uncle blocks receive 87.5% of the normal block reward
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Validator Selection

Some chains use a limited set of high-performance validators who can handle fast block times, trading some decentralization for speed.

Example: BSC uses 21 validators, Polygon uses ~100, enabling faster block times
💡

The Latency Bottleneck

Network latency is ultimately limited by the speed of light. With global nodes, even with perfect fiber optic cables, round-trip communication takes ~100-300ms. This physical constraint means truly global, decentralized networks cannot have sub-second block times without accepting significant orphan rates or centralization.