A block is generated in the Bitcoin network every ten minutes. This design is not arbitrary, but rather a choice made by Satoshi Nakamoto after careful consideration. This time interval cleverly balances global network latency, transaction confirmation speed, and network security.

Through the difficulty adjustment mechanism, the Bitcoin network can maintain this block generation rhythm in the long term. Although the generation time of a single block may vary from a few seconds to an hour, the system automatically adjusts the mining difficulty every 2016 blocks (approximately two weeks) to ensure that the average block generation time returns to the target of 10 minutes.

Why not choose a shorter block time, such as 1 minute? This involves the issue of network propagation efficiency. Once a Block is mined, it takes time to propagate across the network. If the block interval is too short, it may lead to miners continuing to work on old Blocks, resulting in wasted hashing power and network forks. Research shows that the median propagation time for a Block in the network is 6.5 seconds, with an average of about 12.6 seconds.

With a block interval of 10 minutes, the power waste caused by propagation latency is about 1.9%. If shortened to 1 minute, this waste will increase to 18.9%. An even shorter interval of 30 seconds would lead to a power waste of up to 38%. Clearly, the shorter the interval, the more power is wasted, and the higher the risk of network forks, resulting in a decrease in overall security.

This mechanism can be likened to the scenario of a live streaming platform distributing benefits. Suppose there is a 10-second latency in the stream; if benefits are distributed every 10 minutes, the impact of this 10-second latency is negligible. However, if benefits are distributed every minute or every 30 seconds, the increased proportion of latency will significantly raise the probability of participants missing out or claiming benefits multiple times.

By setting a 10-minute block time, the Bitcoin network has found an ideal balance between efficiency and security. This carefully designed mechanism ensures the stable operation of the network while minimizing resource waste, reflecting Satoshi Nakamoto's deep insight into blockchain technology.