10 Best Mining Pools in 2023

    The difficulty of mining Bitcoin is rising and a lot of miners deciding to join mining pools. This increases the chances of pool members to find a new block before others and receive a part of the reward. There is also no need to spend money on additional power to mine profitably. More than this mining pools help to reduce competition between miners and increase the chances of getting profit per block.

    Mining is the process of confirming new blocks and adding them to the blockchain. Mining pool is a group of miners who combine their computing resources to find a new block and get rewarded for it.

    Tgdratings.com experts have presented the ranking of the best mining pools in 2023 year.

    TOP 10 mining pools

    The pools listed below give out high hashrate and have good reputation among users.

    1. Binance Pool

    Address: https://pool.binance.com/

    Best Mining Pools
    Binance Pool homepage


    Binance Pool is a fast-growing pool owned by Binance – the largest crypto exchange in terms of trading volume. This is a high-tech and secure platform that is actively expanding its presence in the field of mining.

    The pool has 700+ thousand active miners. The coins available for mining are: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Zcash and others.

    The main supported algorithm for mining BTC and BCH is SHA256. To work with the pool identity verification is required. Rewards are distributed every 24 hours. High hashrate users can apply for VIP status to enjoy special privileges.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 51.55 Eh/s;
    • Payout threshold: none;
    • Remuneration distribution method: FPPS;
    • Commissions: 2.5%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Hashrate is displayed in real time;
    Earnings are calculated daily;
    Additional benefits for VIP users;
    Many mining algorithms and currencies supported;
    Technical support is available 24/7.
    Identity verification is mandatory.

    2. OKX Pool

    Address: https://www.okx.com/pool

    OKX Pool Home
    OKX Pool homepage


    OKX Pool is the mining pool of the OKX exchange. The pool can mine Bitcoin, Ethereum Classic, Litecoin and others. SHA256 algorithm is supported for BTC mining.

    To join the mining pool, in addition to registration on the exchange, you need to pass photo verification. With unique architecture and advanced technology, OKX mining pool effectively prevents various attacks and maintains stable operation. OKX guarantees a reliable 24/7 mining service thanks to the deployment of multiple nodes around the world and a professional technical team. After the block is confirmed, the reward is distributed among the pool participants in accordance with their share of the contributed power. Payments are made daily.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 156.68 TH/s;
    • Payout threshold: none;
    • >Remuneration distribution method: PPLNS;
    • Commissions: 4%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Automatically generate income and check income data in real time;
    Professional technical team;
    No minimum payout threshold.
    High fees;
    Required photo verification.

    3. Kucoin Pool

    Address: https://www.kucoin.com/mining-pool

    KuCoin Pool Home
    KuCoin Pool homepage

    Read also: Kucoin review

    KuCoin Pool is a high-performance mining pool of the KuCoin crypto exchange. KuCoin officially launched its mining platform on August 25, 2021. The pool supports Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) mining. KuCoin Pool provides users with optimized algorithms to improve mining efficiency. Mining profits are credited the next day to the main KuCoin account.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC/BCH pool:

    • Hashrate: 2.96 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: no data;
    • Remuneration distribution method: FPPS;
    • Commissions: 2%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    User-friendly interface combined with the simplicity and efficiency of the pool itself;
    Individual support for resolving requests.
    Only 2 coins can be mined: BTC and BCH.

    4. F2Pool

    Address: https://www.f2pool.com/

    F2Pool Home
    F2Pool homepage

    F2Pool is one of the best bitcoin mining pools. F2Pool was launched in China in 2013 and was known as Discus Fish. Today, the service operates in 100+ countries. The platform is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Ukrainian.

    The pool has 2+ million miners worldwide. BTC mining uses the SHA256d algorithm. You can also mine ETH, LTC, ETC, BCH, CKB, RVN, ZEC, ZEN, KDA, DCR, DASH and more. Some of the coins can be mined through merged mining. This mining method allows you to apply previously done calculating work to other blocks. This means that users can earn extra coins without increasing the hashrate.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 42.62 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.005/0.01/0.05/1/5 BTC;
    • Remuneration distribution method: PPS+;
    • Commissions: 2.5%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    One of the largest mining pools;
    Simple and user-friendly interface;
    20+ coins for mining;
    Availability in 100+ countries;
    High security;
    Prompt support in the chat.
    If you do not withdraw money for 90 days, then they are automatically regarded as a donation for the development of the pool;
    The account will be deactivated if it remains inactive for a long time.

    5. AntPool

    Address: https://v3.antpool.com/home

    AntPool Home Page
    AntPool homepage

    The AntPool mining pool was launched in 2014 with the aim to become one of the best mining pools on the market. In the past, the pool has successfully held the first place in bitcoin hash rate and today remains one of the leaders in block mining. AntPool is operated by Bitmain Technology, which also produces the famous Antminer ASICs.

    The company hosts bitcoin mining servers around the world, and miners can connect to the nearest server. AntPool offers three types of mining: Stratum (used for traditional pool mining), P2Pool (to create a single group of miners), Solo (for mining farms and individuals capable of generate high hashrates).
    Bitcoin is mined using the SHA-256 cryptographic algorithm. The pool provides daily payouts. As soon as earnings reach the minimum amount, payments will be sent to the wallet automatically.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 64.9 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.005 BTC;
    • Remuneration distribution method: PPLNS, FPPS;
    • Commissions: PPLNS -0%, FPPS – 4%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    User-friendly interface;
    Quick registration by e-mail address;
    Automatic calculations and every day payments;
    Real-time data updates;
    Notifications hash rate based on user settings;
    Available 24/7.
    High FPPS fees - 4%.

    6. ViaBTC

    Address: https://www.viabtc.com/

    ViaBTC Home
    ViaBTC Homepage

    ViaBTC is a mining pool that was launched in China in 2016. It serves 600+ thousand miners located in 130+ countries. Has a good reputation among users. Supports mining BTC, BCH, BSV, FCH, ETH, ETC and more.

    The platform offers a mining pool, a ViaBTC wallet, access to the CoinEx and Smart Chain exchanges, as well as access to the OneSwap decentralized exchange. In addition to a vast ecosystem, unique features are available to increase mining efficiency. These include smart mining and one click switch. The bitcoin mining algorithm is SHA256d.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 25.10 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.001 BTC;
    • Remuneration distribution method: PPLNS, PPS+, Solo;
    • Commissions: 4% for PPS+, 2% for PPLNS, 1% for Solo.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    User-friendly interface;
    Access to the control panel from iOS and Android devices;
    Total mining income is $1+ billion;
    High security standards, multi-level control;
    Extensive server network around the world, low ping;
    24/7 availability.
    High fees for PPS+.

    7. Poolin

    Address: https://www.poolin.com/

    Poolin Home
    Poolin homepage

    Poolin is one of the youngest mining pools. The platform was launched in 2018 and quickly became one of the top hashrate leaders. The number of active miners is 56+ thousand. Payouts calculate daily.

    Similar to F2Pool, Poolin offers a merged mining feature that allows users to mine multiple cryptocurrencies using the same computing power. Poolin also offers an auto-switch feature that switches the hashrate between BTC and BCH depending on which coin can provide the most mining profitability at the moment.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 5.07 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.005 BTC;
    • Remuneration distribution method: FPPS;
    • Commissions: 2.5%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Easy registration by e-mail or phone number;
    Anonymous mining of ETC and ETH;
    Since BTC and BCH use the same SHA256 algorithm, you can easily switch between coins when one of them is more profitable;
    Alerts on hashrate change;
    Income calculator;
    Rating of miners based on hashrate collected and power consumption provided by users;
    Good customer support through individual requests and Telegram community.
    Low quality translation in some languages.

    8. BTC.com

    Address: https://pool.btc.com/

    BTC.com Home
    BTC.com homepage

    The BTC.com team has focused on providing users with an easy-to-manage multi-currency mining platform. In addition to BTC, users can mine BCH, LTC, ETH, DCR, CKR. The company was established in 2015 as a blockchain explorer and launched a bitcoin mining pool a year later. Like AntPool, BTC.com is run by Bitmain Technologies.

    The pool is available in 10+ languages, including Spanish, Russian, French, Japanese and more. The platform has open source code.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 9.358 EH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.005 BTC;
    • Remuneration distribution method: FPPS;
    • Commissions: 4%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Easy registration with email or phone number;
    Easy management via mobile app and website;
    Updated interface for better quality and speed;
    Cloudflare for protection users from DDoS attacks;
    Professional support.
    High fees.

    9. Braiins Pool (Slush Pool)

    Address: https://slushpool.com/home/

    Braiins Pool Home
    Braiins Pool homepage

    Braiins Pool is the first bitcoin mining pool. Launched in 2010 under the name Slush Pool. The pool was originally run by members of Satoshi Labs (creators of the Trezor wallet), and is now run by Braiins. The number of active miners is 95+ thousand.

    The platform publishes mining data through statistical evidence, which is why Braiins Pool is known for its stability and accuracy. It is often considered one of the most transparent mining platforms. The user interface is friendly for beginner miners. The service has a demo access to platform for new users. The pool supports multiple languages, including English, Russian, Spanish, Persian, and Chinese. Has its own mobile application.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the BTC pool:

    • Hashrate: 6.99 EH/S;
    • Payout threshold: 0.001 BTC;
    • Reward allocation method: Score;
    • Commissions: 2%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    Easy registration with email address;
    Statistics with real-time pool data;
    Easy to set up;
    Works without crashes and connection problems;
    VIP mining solutions;
    Customer support available 24/7;
    Demo version.
    Only BTC is available for mining.

    10. 2miners

    Address: https://2miners.com/

    2miners homepage
    2miners homepage

    2Miners is an easy to use multi-currency mining pool with servers in Europe, USA and Asia. 2Miners allows users to mine 20+ cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, Bitcoin Gold, Zcash and more.

    The pool supports 18 languages (Spanish, Polish, Russian, etc.), two mining modes, payouts within 24 hours. The number of active miners is 48+ thousand.

    You can receive notifications about new blocks via telegram bot and e-mail. The pool fees are: 1% for PPLNS and 1.5% for SOLO.

    Key Features

    Basic information about the ETH Classic pool:

    • Pool hashrate: 12.28 TH/s;
    • Payout threshold: 0.1 ETC;
    • Remuneration Distribution Method: PPLNS, SOLO;
    • Commissions: 1%.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    User-friendly interface;
    Quick start without registration;
    The pool pays a commission for transfers to miners;
    Regular payouts
    every 2 hours;
    Works with exchange wallet addresses;
    Dedicated servers and DDOS protection;
    Officially recommended pool by Nicehash (one of the most secure cryptocurrency companies in the world, a leader in software security innovation for mining);
    Tracking information using notification bots;
    24/7 mining;
    24/7 support.
    The minimum payout of 0.1 ETH is disadvantageous for small miners;
    No Bitcoin mining.

    What are the different types of mining pools?

    According to the payout system, there are more than 15 types of mining pools. However, the vast majority of pools are based on PPS, PPLNS, PPS+ and FPPS. Let’s consider them in more detail:

    • Per Share (PPS) or pay per share: guarantees the miner a payout regardless of whether the pool finds the next block. The cost of a share is determined by the network complexity, block reward, block time and pool power. This method is rarely used by large pools due to high fees;
    • Pay-Per-Last N Share (PPLNS) or Last N Share Fee: distributes profits based on the number of shares contributed by pool members. Miners are rewarded only after a block has been found. Unlike the first payout model, there are significant profit fluctuations here. For example, if a pool mines several blocks per day, its members will receive a significant profit. If a mining pool does not find a single block during the day, its members do not earn anything. Pools that use Pay-Per-Last N Share may or may not include transaction fees in miner payouts. This model is more commonly used by large pools;
    • Pay-Per-Share Plus (PPS+) Pay Per Share Plus: combines PPS and PPLNS. Block rewards are in line with the relatively stable PPS payment model, and transaction fees are in line with the PPLNS regime. Mining rewards are constant, but transaction fee calculations vary greatly;
    • Full Pay-Per-Share (FPPS): The mining pool pays miners the expected block reward. Members also receive transaction fees. This is an improvement to the Pay-Per-Share system. Payments are calculated using theoretical concepts of rewards and transaction fees. For example, pool operators calculate a standard transaction fee in the short term and distribute it among the miners according to their share.

    When using the PPS and FPPS payment methods, the miner gets paid regardless of whether the pool finds a block or not. This is the most significant advantage over PPLNS, which offers higher risks but higher returns.

    Less common payment systems:

    • Proportional method (PROP) distributes the reward proportionally among all miners, depending on the number of shares that each of them owns;
    • The Total Max Pay-Per-Share (SMPPS) method is similar to the Pay-Per-Share (PPS) approach, but has the limitation of not paying more than the mining pool profit.

    How to choose the best mining pool?

    To select a mining pool, examine company reviews and their reputation, pool statistics, commissions, pool size, reward distribution methods, etc.

    Miningpoolstats.stream
    Miningpoolstats.stream page

    Reputation

    Reputation is one of the important factors when choosing a pool. Unfortunately, not all mining pools work honestly. Some overestimate commissions and do not pay rewards properly. Among the obvious signs of fraud lets highlight:

    • Profit guaranteed: Profit-guaranteed pools may promise more than they can deliver;
    • Company anonymity: Mining pools or services owned and operated by anonymous companies or individuals can sometimes be fraudulent;
    • No public audit data: Mining pools or mining services that do not publish data about their operations or do not disclose hash rate statistics can be fraudulent;
    • No hash rate proof: Legitimate pools provide hash rate statistics that cannot be faked and can be independently verified by any would-be miner. Fraud companies do not provide such statistics or publish their hash rate figures without any supporting evidence.

    To avoid scam pools, you need to chech up the reviews or visit the forums to get a better idea about the service you may want to join to. You can find positive and negative reviews about any company, but too large number of bad review is an alarm sign when choosing a pool.

    Commissions

    The pools charge miners a commission on each reward, thereby covering the costs of equipment, internet and administration costs. Typically, the pool fee is between 1% and 5%. In order to keep track of your rewards, it is important to know how much commission the pool is charging.

    Pool Size

    The size of the pool and the market share it holds plays a big role in mining. Large pools include more users: combining their hash power, the speed of mining a new block becomes even faster. This multiplies the chances of one of the participants to find the next block. The reward is shared among all miners. Therefore, it is better to join a large pool in order to receive faster and more stable income.

    Pool efficiency

    Mining efficiency is the ratio of confirmed and rejected transactions. You can calculate it using the formula accepted/(accepted+rejected). It’s important to aim for 100% efficiency, as any lower number means lower stability and profitability.

    Remuneration distribution method

    The reward system is one of the main characteristics of a mining pool and can be a key factor in choosing it. Different bitcoin mining pools have their own reward distribution methods. There are more than 15 in total, but PPS, PPLNS, PPS+ and FPPS are the most commonly used.

    Miners usually choose FPPS as they do not have to take the risk of variance (luck). PPS+ is acceptable if the mining pool is large enough to consistently find blocks.

    FPPS is the most risky for the pool operator, so there is usually a higher fee. PPLNS pools has a little or no risk to the pool operator, so they can have very low fees.

    Geographic location

    If two miners find the correct solution for the current block at the same time, then the one who submits the solution first is more likely to receive the reward. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a pool close to you in order to have the best internet connection quality.

    Support

    It is important to choose a pool that has 24/7 support. This will allow you to quickly resolve possible problems.

    Why are crypto miners important?

    Miners do the job of verifying the legitimacy of bitcoin transactions. By verifying transactions, they help prevent the “double spending problem”.

    Double spending is the risk that a cryptocurrency can be used twice or more.

    What are pros and cons of mining pools?

    Increased chances of finding a block and earning a reward;
    No hardware and electricity costs;
    More stable income compared to solo mining.
    Since the reward is divided between by all participants, the income of each miner is reduced;
    Complex reward structure.

    FAQ

    What is the difference between mining pools and cloud mining?
    Mining pools are for those who have their own hardware. By joining a pool, miners combine their computing resources. This allows them to generate more hashrate and get a more stable income.

    Unlike pools, cloud mining allows you to mine cryptocurrencies using a remote data center with a shared computing power. In simple it is mining on rented equipment. The user needs to register in the cloud mining service and purchase a mining contract by paying a fee.

    What is hashrate?
    Hashrate is a a unit of network processing power. For example, when a network reaches a hash rate of 5 Th/s, it can perform 5 trillion calculations per second. The hashrate helps to assess the health and safety of the network, as well as to measure the contribution to the mining pool.
    How to mine cryptocurrencies at home?
    Home Bitcoin mining is no longer profitable due to the increased complexity and expensive equipment, users are mining cryptocurrency using cloud mining or mining pools.

    Crypto mining from home is still an option for other popular cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin and Ethereum Classic etc.

    Is it better to mine solo or in a pool?
    Although solo mining can bring in decent income, pool mining is more stable and involves less investment at the start. As pool members pool their computing power, the chances of finding a block increase, and with it, the regularity of payouts.
    Is Bitcoin mining still profitable?
    Bitcoin mining is still profitable, but not in the same way as in previous years. Potential miners should consider declining cryptocurrency prices, the cost of power required to run mining machines, the cost of hardware, and the increasing difficulty of mining.

    Before you start mining, calculate your potential profit with crypto mining profit calculator, which is easy to find on the Internet.

    Conclusions

    Mining pools are groups of crypto miners that combine computing power to create new blocks and receive rewards. The pools divide the payout among all participants depending on the contribution of each. Miners have to pay a fee to the pool.

    Mining pools provide an opportunity for private miners who do not have access to large computing power to receive a stable reward. However, before joining any pool, it is recommended to carefully study security measures, reputation, fees, hashrate and other pool statistics. It is also important to read customer reviews on a particular pool.

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    Agatha Redich
    Agatha Redich
    Articles author, editor
    Articles author and website editor. Works with texts for over 12 years. Among Agatha’s clients: Rossman, Zara, Bosch, ING Bank, Lexus and others. Crypto journalist since 2018. She wrote more than a hundred articles about cryptocurrencies and the crypto market. Agatha's professional credo is to reveal complex topics in an accessible and simple way.
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    Emil Rabin
    Emil Rabin
    Site expert
    Cryptocurrency expert and financial analyst. Emil has working experience in Bain and KPMG, collaborated with PayPal and Revolut, organized more than 30 educational events about blockchain and cryptocurrencies in Eastern Europe. An expert of the TGDRatings.com portal since 2022.
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