Ethereum remains one of the most influential blockchain networks in the world, powering decentralized applications, smart contracts, and a vast ecosystem of digital assets. Every block added to the Ethereum chain contains critical data that reveals insights into network activity, miner rewards, transaction volume, and more. This article explores Ethereum Block 15,656,597, mined on October 1, 2022, offering a comprehensive analysis of its structure, economic value, and technical specifications.
Whether you're a developer, investor, or blockchain enthusiast, understanding block data helps demystify how Ethereum operates under the hood.
Overview of Ethereum Block 15,656,597
This block was successfully mined on October 1, 2022, at 11:32:59 PM UTC. It contains 136 transactions, with a total value of 33.68 ETH (approximately $44,126 at the time). The average transaction size was 0.2476 ETH, reflecting typical user activity during that period.
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Key Metrics at a Glance
- Block Number: 15,656,597
- Timestamp: October 1, 2022, 23:32:59 UTC
- Miner Address:
0x4675c7e5baafbffbca748158becba61ef3b0a263 - Total Transactions: 136
- Internal Transactions: 77
- Gas Used: 11,492,532 (38.31% of the 30 million gas limit)
- Block Size: 56,293 bytes
- Block Reward: 2.00 ETH ($2,620.34 at the time)
- Fee Reward: +0.05673 ETH ($74.33)
The block’s hash is 0x602...9bbd3, and it built upon the previous block with parent hash 0x487...90a4b. There were no uncles included in this block, meaning no additional uncle rewards were distributed.
Transaction and Economic Insights
A total of 33.68 ETH was transferred across all transactions in this block. While the average transaction value was 0.2476 ETH, the median value was 0.0000 ETH, suggesting that many transactions involved very small amounts—likely automated contract interactions or token transfers.
The presence of 77 internal transactions indicates significant smart contract activity. Internal transactions are not top-level user-initiated transfers but are triggered by contract logic—such as withdrawals from DeFi protocols or token swaps.
Despite being relatively old data (from 2022), tracking historical blocks like this one allows analysts to observe trends in gas usage, transaction frequency, and network congestion over time.
Miner Rewards and Incentives
The successful miner received a total reward of 2.05673 ETH, broken down as:
- Base Block Reward: 2.00 ETH
- Transaction Fees Collected: 0.05673 ETH
At the time of mining, Ethereum was still operating under the Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism. This changed in September 2022 with The Merge, after which block rewards transitioned to Proof-of-Stake validators.
Even though this block was mined just after The Merge, it reflects the final era of Ethereum mining—a pivotal moment in blockchain history.
Technical Specifications Breakdown
Understanding Ethereum block headers and metadata is essential for developers and auditors. Here's a detailed look at key technical fields:
Hash & Chain Linkage
- Block Hash:
0x602...9bbd3– uniquely identifies this block. - Parent Hash:
0x487...90a4b– links to the previous block, ensuring chain integrity. - Sha3Uncles:
0x1dc...49347– root of uncle headers included (none in this case).
State and Execution
- State Root:
0x003...f5077– represents the state of all accounts after this block is applied. - Nonce:
0– part of PoW validation (though not applicable post-Merge). - Difficulty: Not applicable (PoW transitioned out).
- Total Difficulty:
5.875e+22– cumulative difficulty up to this point in the chain.
Gas Usage and Network Load
Gas is Ethereum’s unit of computational effort. This block consumed 11.49 million gas, operating at 38.31% capacity relative to the 30 million gas limit.
High gas usage often correlates with DeFi activity, NFT mints, or network congestion. In this case, moderate utilization suggests normal operations without spikes in demand.
Value Analysis: Then vs Now
At the time of mining, the total transaction value in this block was worth $44,126.32**. However, due to price fluctuations in ETH, the same amount (**33.68 ETH**) would be worth significantly more today—approximately **$85,833.08, assuming current market conditions.
This appreciation highlights both the volatility and long-term growth potential of Ethereum as a digital asset and platform.
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These terms align with common search queries from users seeking technical insights into Ethereum’s operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an Ethereum block?
An Ethereum block is a collection of transactions bundled together and added to the blockchain by miners (pre-Merge) or validators (post-Merge). Each block contains metadata like timestamps, hashes, gas usage, and reward information.
How are block rewards calculated?
Before The Merge, miners received a base reward of 2 ETH per block plus all transaction fees from included transactions. After transitioning to Proof-of-Stake, validators now earn staking rewards based on network participation and inflation rates.
Why is there a difference between average and median transaction value?
The average value considers all transactions equally, while the median identifies the middle point when values are sorted. A low median (like 0.0000 ETH) suggests many micro-transactions or contract calls with negligible value—common in DeFi and token ecosystems.
What are internal transactions?
Internal transactions occur when a smart contract triggers a transfer of funds or data during execution. They aren’t recorded as top-level transactions but can be viewed through explorers.
Can I track old Ethereum blocks?
Yes. Blockchain explorers allow you to view any historical block on Ethereum. You can analyze transaction history, gas usage, miner addresses, and more—even years later.
Was Ethereum still using mining when this block was created?
Technically, yes—but just barely. Block 15,656,597 was mined shortly after The Merge (completed September 15, 2022). While some residual PoW blocks may appear in data feeds due to chain reorganizations or delayed reporting, Ethereum officially ended mining with The Merge.
Final Thoughts
Analyzing individual blocks like Ethereum Block 15,656,597 provides valuable insight into network health, user behavior, and economic dynamics. From transaction patterns to miner incentives and gas efficiency, each data point tells part of a larger story about how decentralized systems function in real time.
As Ethereum continues to evolve through upgrades like EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding) and future scalability enhancements, understanding foundational concepts such as block structure becomes even more crucial for developers and investors alike.
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