3
0
What does it mean when an output has a value of zero and no address? I'm looking at some fairly recent transactions, and I don't understand what this means. Here's an example: https://blockchain.info/block-height/348120?format=json.
You can find the transactions quickly if you search that page for "value":0.
4
The outputs have no address because they are data-carrying outputs.
{
"spent":false,
"tx_index":80899271,
"type":0,
"value":0,
"n":3,
"script":"6a144153435249424553504f4f4c5245474953544552"
}
The script argument is the serialized equivalent of
OP_RETURN 4153435249424553504f4f4c5245474953544552
(The hex decodes to "ASCRIBESPOOLREGISTER")
OP_RETURN means that all attempts to spend this output will fail. This can't be spent, so there's no point in putting money in it - it would just be lost.
You've answered the question, but it still doesn't make any sense to me. What does it mean to be a data-carrying output? Why is this output even created in the first place? – mrp – 2015-03-30T22:36:49.777
1@mrp It's called a data-carrying output because it could contain any small piece of data: Bitcoin doesn't look at it. As for the meaning of this specific piece of data, I have no idea. Google searches aren't particularly informative. – Nick ODell – 2015-03-30T22:45:41.187
@mrp It's just a compromise where data can be validated and saved in the Blockchain while not taxing the network with perfunctory bloat – Wizard Of Ozzie – 2015-04-01T10:10:35.550