Mining Pool
Last Updated: October 30, 2026
Quick Answer: A mining pool is a group of cryptocurrency miners who combine their computing power, or hashrate, to find blocks more often and share the rewards in proportion to the work each one contributes. Pools turn the rare, random payout of solo mining into small, regular income. In the week to October 30, 2026, the three largest Bitcoin pools, Foundry USA, AntPool and F2Pool, found about 64.3% of all blocks, according to mempool.space.
Key Takeaways
- A pool coordinates many miners on one block template and pays each member by the shares of work they submit
- Bitcoin’s network hashrate was roughly 1,000 EH/s (about one zettahash per second) on October 30, 2026, according to mempool.space estimates, which makes solo mining impractical for almost everyone
- Pools differ by fee, payout method (PPS, FPPS, PPLNS), minimum payout, server locations and size
- The oldest active pool, Slush Pool, has operated as Braiins Pool since 2022, according to Braiins
- Pool concentration is a known concern: the top two pools found about 46.8% of blocks in the week to October 30, 2026, according to mempool.space
How a Mining Pool Works
In proof of work mining, machines repeat a hash calculation billions of times per second until one result falls below the network’s difficulty target. The miner that finds it adds the next block and collects the block reward: 3.125 BTC per block since the April 2024 Bitcoin halving, plus transaction fees.
A single machine might wait years to find a block on its own. A pool solves that by giving every member the same block template and a much easier target. Each time a machine meets the easier target, it submits a “share,” proof that it is doing real work. When anyone in the pool finds a valid block, the reward goes to the pool, which pays members according to their shares after taking a fee. Members usually connect through the Stratum mining protocol by pointing their machines at the pool’s server address.
Payout Methods Compared
| Method | How members are paid | Who carries the luck risk |
|---|---|---|
| PPS (pay per share) | Fixed amount for each valid share, based on the expected block reward | Pool |
| FPPS (full pay per share) | Like PPS, but the payment also covers expected transaction fees | Pool |
| PPLNS (pay per last N shares) | A cut of each block the pool actually finds, based on the last N shares submitted | Miner |
| Solo mining through a pool | The member who finds a block keeps most of its reward | Miner |
Exact rules differ from pool to pool, so the pool’s own terms are the final word. In general, PPS and FPPS pools take on the luck risk and price it into their fee, while PPLNS payouts vary more with the pool’s luck.
Largest Bitcoin Mining Pools in 2026
Share of blocks found in the week to October 30, 2026 (1,075 blocks), according to mempool.space:
| Pool | Blocks | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Foundry USA | 284 | 26.4% |
| AntPool | 219 | 20.4% |
| F2Pool | 188 | 17.5% |
| ViaBTC | 89 | 8.3% |
| Luxor | 62 | 5.8% |
| MARA Pool | 49 | 4.6% |
| SpiderPool | 43 | 4.0% |
| SECPOOL | 43 | 4.0% |
| OCEAN | 37 | 3.4% |
| Braiins Pool | 19 | 1.8% |
One week is a short window, so shares move from week to week with luck.
How to Choose a Bitcoin Mining Pool
- Fees: Fees vary by pool and payout method. Braiins, for example, says miners pay 0% pool fees when they mine with its Braiins OS firmware.
- Payout method: FPPS gives the most predictable income; PPLNS income moves with the pool’s luck.
- Minimum payout and payout frequency: Small miners should check how long it takes to reach the threshold.
- Server locations: A nearby server lowers latency and the number of stale shares.
- Size and decentralization: A larger pool pays more steadily, but supporting smaller pools spreads hashrate and lowers the risk of a 51% attack.
- Transparency and reputation: Look for published statistics, a track record and clear terms. Some pools also require account verification under KYC rules.
Slush Pool vs Braiins Pool
They are the same pool. According to Braiins, the pool was first known as bitcoin.cz and then Slush Pool, mined its first block in 2010, and was renamed Braiins Pool in 2022. Braiins calls it the oldest active Bitcoin mining pool in the world. Braiins says the pool pays FPPS rewards made up of the block subsidy and transaction fees. In the week to October 30, 2026, it found about 1.8% of Bitcoin blocks, according to mempool.space.
Risks and Common Misconceptions
“A pool raises my total earnings.” Over the long run, expected revenue is about the same as solo mining; a pool mainly reduces variance, and the fee is the price for that.
“Pools control miners’ coins.” A pool only holds rewards until it pays out. The real concern is that a pool operator chooses which transactions go into blocks, so a few large pools could in theory censor transactions or coordinate an attack. Miners can switch to another pool quickly, which limits that power.
Other risks include pool downtime, unpaid balances if an operator fails, and fake pools or apps that steal hashrate or login details.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mining pool in simple terms?
A mining pool is a team of miners who combine their machines to find new blocks more often. When the pool wins a block, the reward is split among members based on how much work each one contributed, minus a fee. This gives small miners a steady stream of small payments instead of waiting years for one large reward that may never come.
How do I choose the best Bitcoin mining pool for my needs?
Compare fees, payout method, minimum payout, server locations and the pool’s size. FPPS pools pay the most predictable income, while PPLNS income rises and falls with the pool’s luck. A nearby server reduces stale shares. Many miners also weigh decentralization, since sending hashrate to a smaller reputable pool helps keep any single pool from dominating the network.
Can I mine Bitcoin using multiple pools at the same time?
Yes. Miners can point different machines at different pools, or use a proxy or firmware that splits hashrate between them. Each pool pays only for the shares it receives, so splitting does not raise expected income, and smaller balances may take longer to reach each pool’s minimum payout. Larger operations sometimes split hashrate to reduce dependence on one pool.
What should I consider when joining a Bitcoin mining pool?
Check the fee and what it covers, the payout method, the minimum payout, how often payouts happen, and whether transaction fees are shared. Look at the pool’s track record, published statistics, server locations and any identity verification it requires. Also make sure your electricity cost and hardware efficiency leave a profit after fees at today’s network difficulty.
Is Slush Pool the same as Braiins Pool?
Yes. Slush Pool, which mined its first block in 2010 and was originally known as bitcoin.cz, was renamed Braiins Pool in 2022, according to Braiins. Braiins describes it as the oldest active Bitcoin mining pool. It pays members using the full pay per share method, and in the week to October 30, 2026 it found about 1.8% of Bitcoin blocks.
Data sources: mempool.space mining pool statistics (week to October 30, 2026) and hashrate estimates (October 30, 2026: about 970 EH/s on the one week average and about 1,060 EH/s on the three day estimate), Braiins Pool and Braiins Academy pages (read October 30, 2026). Payout method descriptions are general definitions; each pool’s own terms apply.