Re:Show HN: Live Bitcoin Transactions from around the globe ...
by Terk on Tuesday November 26, 2013 @09:43AM
(#6801516)
> Thank you for your feedback but it is my understanding that the nearest nodes will generally be the ones with the least latency
The latency you mention is actually [my latency to relay node] + [relay node latency to blockchain.info]. I have 20 ms to node A and it has 100 ms to blockchain.info for a total latency of 120 ms. I have 100 ms to node B and it has 10 ms to blockchain.info for a total latency of 110 ms. Node B will most likely relay my transaction to blockchain.info before node A, even if it's five times “farther” from me (100 ms) than node A (20 ms). The combination of latencies makes the relaying IP reported by blockchain.info semi-random.
I don't mean to bring you down or criticize. This is a really cool visualization! It simply visualizes different thing that most people think it does.
The latency you mention is actually [my latency to relay node] + [relay node latency to blockchain.info]. I have 20 ms to node A and it has 100 ms to blockchain.info for a total latency of 120 ms. I have 100 ms to node B and it has 10 ms to blockchain.info for a total latency of 110 ms. Node B will most likely relay my transaction to blockchain.info before node A, even if it's five times “farther” from me (100 ms) than node A (20 ms). The combination of latencies makes the relaying IP reported by blockchain.info semi-random.
I don't mean to bring you down or criticize. This is a really cool visualization! It simply visualizes different thing that most people think it does.