user8684: Taking a sample block on blockexplorer, I see that the generation reward is split between lots of recipients, I figure this is the pool that solved.
But looking at other transactions, there a few with over 100 'From' addresses, and a single 'To' address. The only reason I could think of, is merging many wallets into one. Since I see this in every block I am looking at, I wonder if there's another use-case.
Thanks!

user5406: First, if there is more than one 'From' address in a transaction, all of them necessarily have to be controlled by the same entity as each private key is required to sign the transaction.
Therefore, I see a few possibilities:

Somebody is consolidating a lot of small sums from different addresses to a single address owned by himself. This could be for example an Exchange moving deposits to cold storage, or a merchant preparing to pay his wholesale dealer. Alternatively, somebody needs to prove ownership of a discussed amount and moves everything to one address in order to sign a message proofing his wealth.
Somebody wants to pay a large sum, but doesn't have a single address that contains the full amount, so they source the payment from many smaller amounts.
Somebody is withdrawing a larger sum from an Exchange, Gambling Site or Online Wallet Service that hadn't been deposited in bulk.


8684: <p>Taking <a href="http://blockexplorer.com/block/0000000000000008587994eb3ea1ded2fe797e5f0b5b8c806309055e223645fd" rel="nofollow">a sample block on blockexplorer</a>, I see that the generation reward is split between lots of recipients, I figure this is the pool that solved.</p>

<p>But looking at other transactions, there a few with over 100 'From' addresses, and a single 'To' address. The only reason I could think of, is merging many wallets into one. Since I see this in every block I am looking at, I wonder if there's another use-case.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>
 5406: <p>First, if there is more than one <em>'From'</em> address in a transaction, all of them necessarily have to be controlled by the same entity as each private key is required to sign the transaction.</p>

<p>Therefore, I see a few possibilities:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Somebody is consolidating a lot of small sums from different addresses to a single address owned by himself. This could be for example an Exchange moving deposits to cold storage, or a merchant preparing to pay his wholesale dealer. Alternatively, somebody needs to prove ownership of a discussed amount and moves everything to one address in order to sign a message proofing his wealth.</p></li>
<li><p>Somebody wants to pay a large sum, but doesn't have a single address that contains the full amount, so they source the payment from many smaller amounts.</p></li>
<li><p>Somebody is withdrawing a larger sum from an <em>Exchange</em>, <em>Gambling Site</em> or <em>Online Wallet Service</em> that hadn't been deposited in bulk.</p></li>
</ol>
