blockchain//Besu//empty blocks

Empty blocks are the blocks Clique keeps producing at fixed intervals (`blockPeriodSeconds`, set in the Clique section of the genesis) even when there are no transactions. They maintain the chain's heartbeat: validators take turns, timestamps advance, and the block number keeps incrementing regardless of transaction activity.

Empty blocks are the blocks Clique keeps producing at fixed intervals (blockPeriodSeconds, set in the Clique section of the genesis) even when there are no transactions. They maintain the chain's heartbeat: validators take turns, timestamps advance, and the block number keeps incrementing regardless of transaction activity.

With blockPeriodSeconds=0 blocks are created at maximum CPU speed, an infinite loop that fills the disk rapidly.