Trying to mine Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies on your own? You’re not alone-but you’re also not going to win. The network difficulty is so high that solo mining is basically a lottery ticket with no chance of payout. That’s why mining pools exist. They let hundreds or thousands of miners combine their power, share the rewards, and get paid regularly instead of waiting years for a single block. But not all mining pools are the same. Pick the wrong one, and you could be paying too much in fees, getting delayed payouts, or missing out on better earnings. Here’s how to pick the best mining pool for your setup in 2025.
Why Mining Pools Matter More Than Ever
In 2025, the Bitcoin network has a total hashrate of over 900 exahashes per second (EH/s). That’s 900 billion billion calculations every second. A single ASIC miner might contribute 100 terahashes per second (TH/s)-that’s 0.0001% of the total. Without a pool, your chance of finding a block is less than 1 in 10 million per day. Even with a powerful rig, you might wait over a year to earn one Bitcoin on your own. Pools solve this by pooling resources. When the group finds a block, rewards are split based on how much work each miner contributed. You don’t get rich overnight, but you get paid every few hours or days, not once every few years.Top Mining Pools in 2025: Who’s Leading the Pack
As of late 2025, five pools control nearly 80% of Bitcoin’s total mining power. Here’s who’s running the show:- Foundry USA: 26.6% market share, 256.3 EH/s hashrate
- AntPool: 17.96% share, 178.4 EH/s
- ViaBTC: 13.69% share, 113.7 EH/s
- F2Pool: 10.68% share, 102.9 EH/s
- SpiderPool: 9.13% share, 87.9 EH/s
Fee Structures: What You’re Really Paying
All mining pools take a cut. It’s not optional. But the cut varies-and it directly affects your profits. Here’s how the top pools compare on fees:| Pool | Fee Rate | Reward Method | Hashrate (EH/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundry USA | 1.09% | FPPS | 256.3 |
| AntPool | 1.03% | FPPS | 178.4 |
| ViaBTC | 1.09% | PPS+ | 113.7 |
| F2Pool | 1.04% | PPS+ | 102.9 |
| SpiderPool | 1.35% | FPPS | 87.9 |
| BTC.com | 0.95% | FPPS | 17.2 |
| Binance Pool | 0.99% | FPPS | 57.1 |
Two main reward methods are used: FPPS and PPS+.
- FPPS (Full Pay Per Share): You get paid for every share you submit, and the pool includes both block rewards and transaction fees in the payout. Predictable, but you pay the fee regardless of how much fees the block actually had.
- PPS+ (Pay Per Share Plus): You still get paid per share, but the pool adds extra when transaction fees are high. This means you can earn more during busy network periods-but less when fees drop.
For most miners, FPPS is simpler. You know exactly what you’ll earn. PPS+ can be better if you’re mining during high-demand times, like when a new NFT project launches or a major exchange upgrade happens. But it’s riskier. If you’re not tracking fee trends, you might end up earning less than with FPPS.
Which Pool Is Best for You?
There’s no single “best” pool. It depends on what you’re mining and how much experience you have.For Bitcoin ASIC Miners
If you’re using an Antminer S21 or Whatsminer M50, you want stability and high hashrate. Foundry USA is the top pick here. It has the largest share, the most reliable infrastructure, and the fastest payout processing. The 1.09% fee is higher than BTC.com’s 0.95%, but the difference in earnings is tiny compared to the benefit of consistent block finds. If your rig runs 24/7, you’ll make more over time with Foundry USA than you’ll save with a 0.14% fee difference.For Beginners
If you’re new to mining, don’t start with Bitcoin. Start with F2Pool. It supports over 30 coins, including Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, and Zcash. Its dashboard is clean, easy to read, and has built-in tutorials. You can test different coins, see which ones are most profitable, and learn how payouts work without risking your time or hardware. F2Pool also has a mobile app that shows your earnings in real time-no guesswork.For Altcoin GPU Miners
After Ethereum switched to proof-of-stake in 2022, thousands of GPU miners moved to other coins. F2Pool and AntPool are the best options here. AntPool supports a wide range of coins and offers multiple payout methods: daily, weekly, or when you hit a minimum threshold. F2Pool gives you more coin options and better statistics tracking. If you’re mining on a 3060 or 4070, these two pools will give you the most consistent results.For Low-Fee Seekers
If fees are your main concern, BTC.com and Binance Pool are the cheapest. BTC.com charges just 0.95%, and Binance Pool is at 0.99%. But they’re smaller. That means fewer blocks found per day. Your payouts might come less often. If you mine with a small rig (under 50 TH/s), you might go 2-3 days between payments. If you’re okay with that, go for the lower fee. If you want daily payouts, stick with a larger pool.What Else to Look For
Fees and hashrate aren’t everything. Here are three other things that make a big difference:- Server location: Choose a pool with servers near you. If you’re in Germany, pick a pool with EU servers. High latency means your shares arrive late-and late shares don’t count. Most pools list their server locations on their website.
- Payout threshold: This is the minimum amount you need to earn before you get paid. Some pools set it at 0.001 BTC. Others require 0.01 BTC. Lower thresholds mean more frequent payouts. F2Pool and AntPool let you set your own threshold. Foundry USA has a fixed 0.001 BTC minimum.
- Transparency: Some pools, like BraiinsPool, publish their source code and mining statistics publicly. If you care about trust and open systems, this matters. For most users, it’s a nice-to-have, not a must-have.
Setting Up Your Mining Pool: A Quick Guide
Joining a pool takes less than 30 minutes. Here’s how:- Choose your pool based on your hardware and goals.
- Create an account on their website. You’ll need an email and a cryptocurrency wallet address (like a Bitcoin or Ethereum wallet).
- Download your miner’s software (CGMiner, BFGMiner, or the manufacturer’s tool).
- Enter the pool’s stratum URL (e.g.,
stratum+tcp://us1.f2pool.com:8888), your wallet address as the username, andxas the password. - Start mining. Your hashrate should show up on the pool’s dashboard within 5-10 minutes.
Most pools have step-by-step guides. F2Pool’s setup instructions are especially clear for beginners. If you’re using an ASIC miner, check if your firmware supports the pool’s stratum settings. Some older models need updates.
Red Flags to Avoid
Not all pools are trustworthy. Watch out for:- Pools with no website or no contact info
- Pools promising “guaranteed profits” or “10x returns”
- Pools that don’t show real-time hashrate or payout history
- Pools with no community presence (Reddit, Twitter, Discord)
Stick to the top 10 pools listed here. They’ve been around for years. They have millions of users. If something’s wrong, you’ll hear about it fast.
What’s Next for Mining Pools?
In 2025, mining pools are getting bigger, not smaller. Foundry USA just expanded its data centers. AntPool added automated switching between coins based on profitability. Binance Pool now integrates with its exchange, letting you instantly convert mined coins to fiat.But this consolidation worries some in the crypto community. If just five pools control 80% of Bitcoin’s hashrate, what happens if one goes offline? Or gets hacked? Or gets shut down by regulators? That’s a real risk. For now, the system works. But if you’re mining long-term, it’s worth keeping an eye on decentralization trends.
For most miners, though, the goal isn’t to save the blockchain. It’s to earn money. And the best way to do that in 2025 is to pick a reliable pool, keep your fees low, and mine consistently. Don’t chase the highest reward. Chase the most predictable one.
Is it better to mine Bitcoin or altcoins in a mining pool?
It depends on your hardware. Bitcoin mining requires ASICs and is only profitable at scale. Altcoins like Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, or Ergo can be mined with GPUs and often have lower difficulty. If you have a powerful GPU setup, altcoins usually offer better returns. ASIC miners should stick with Bitcoin or other SHA-256 coins. Don’t try to mine Bitcoin with a GPU-it’s not worth the electricity cost.
How often do mining pools pay out?
Most pools pay out daily or when you reach a minimum threshold. F2Pool and AntPool pay daily if you hit 0.001 BTC. Foundry USA pays daily at 0.001 BTC. Smaller pools may pay weekly or only when you hit 0.01 BTC. If you’re mining with a small rig, look for pools with low payout thresholds to get paid more often.
Can I switch mining pools anytime?
Yes. You can switch pools at any time by changing the stratum URL in your mining software. There’s no penalty or waiting period. However, you won’t get paid for shares submitted to the old pool until you’ve reached its payout threshold. Make sure your balance meets the minimum before switching.
Do mining pool fees affect my profitability?
Yes, but not as much as you think. A 0.1% fee difference on a $100 daily profit is just $0.10. What matters more is pool stability, uptime, and payout speed. A 1.35% fee pool that pays daily and never drops is better than a 0.95% fee pool that goes offline for 8 hours a week. Focus on reliability first, fees second.
Are mining pools regulated?
Some are. In the U.S., EU, and Japan, mining pools are increasingly required to follow KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) rules. Larger pools like Foundry USA and Binance Pool comply fully. Smaller pools may not. If you’re in a regulated region, avoid pools that don’t ask for basic identification. It’s not just about legality-it’s about safety. Unregulated pools can disappear overnight.
What’s the best mining pool for someone with a single ASIC miner?
For a single ASIC miner, F2Pool is the best starting point. It has low fees, supports Bitcoin, and pays out daily at 0.001 BTC. Its interface is easy to understand, and it offers real-time stats. Once you’re comfortable, you can switch to Foundry USA for slightly higher earnings. Don’t start with the biggest pool unless you’re mining with multiple rigs.
Craig Fraser
Let’s be real - if you’re mining Bitcoin with anything less than a warehouse full of ASICs, you’re just funding the top 5 pools’ yachts. The whole system is rigged, and ‘reliable’ just means ‘profitable for the big guys.’
Sybille Wernheim
OMG YES. I started with F2Pool last year and it literally saved my sanity. My 3060 was dying from heat and stress, but the dashboard showed me exactly what was going on - no guesswork. I even switched to Ravencoin and made more than I did on Bitcoin. You don’t need to be a genius, just patient and smart. 💪✨
Cathy Bounchareune
Y’all are talking about fees like they’re the end-all-be-all, but have you considered the *vibes*? Foundry USA feels like a corporate bank that still sends you a handwritten thank-you note. BTC.com? Feels like a guy who gives you a discount but never remembers your name. Mining’s not just math - it’s emotional labor. I pick pools based on whether their website looks like it was designed by someone who’s slept in the last 72 hours. F2Pool’s UI? It’s a warm hug. SpiderPool? Looks like it was coded during a blackout. 🤷♀️🌌
Dan Dellechiaie
Wow, so you’re telling me the ‘best’ pool is the one with the biggest hashrate? That’s not mining, that’s feudalism. You’re literally renting out your electricity to oligarchs who control 80% of the network. And you call this ‘decentralized’? Bro, the blockchain’s already dead. It’s just a corporate shell game with ASICs. If you’re not mining Monero with a Ryzen 7 in your basement, you’re part of the problem. 🤡
Also, PPS+ is for amateurs who think ‘risk’ is a Spotify playlist. FPPS is the only honest way to get paid. Everything else is gambling with your hashrate.
Sarah Glaser
There’s a deeper philosophical question here: Is mining, at its core, an act of faith? We submit our hardware to a system we cannot control, trusting in a distributed ledger that exists only because enough people believe in it. The pools are the new cathedrals - and we are the monks, offering our electricity as incense. The fee structure? A modern tithe. The payout threshold? A test of patience. We don’t mine for Bitcoin. We mine to prove we still believe in something bigger than ourselves. Even if it’s just a number on a screen.
Janet Combs
i just got my first asic and was so scared i’d mess it up… but f2pool’s app is like a game. it shows me my hashrate like a health bar and i get little popups when i get paid. it’s kinda fun now? who knew mining could feel like a mobile game 😅
Radha Reddy
As someone from India, I’ve tried 4 different pools. The server latency from US-based pools made my shares invalid 30% of the time. Switched to AntPool’s Mumbai server - my efficiency jumped from 72% to 94%. Location matters more than fee percentage. Don’t just copy-paste what Americans say. Check your ping first.
Also, Binance Pool requires KYC. If you’re in a country with capital controls, avoid it. Your coins could vanish overnight.
Shubham Singh
You call F2Pool ‘beginner-friendly’? That’s like calling a Ferrari ‘beginner-friendly’ because it has seatbelts. If you need a tutorial to mine Bitcoin, you shouldn’t be mining. Go buy Dogecoin on Coinbase and stop wasting electricity. The fact that you’re even asking ‘which pool is best’ proves you don’t understand the fundamentals. Mining is not a hobby. It’s a capital-intensive industrial process. You’re not a miner. You’re a consumer of infrastructure.
Charles Freitas
Oh wow, ‘Foundry USA is the best’ - said every person who owns 12 Antminers and hasn’t seen a sunset since 2023. Let me guess, you also think ‘mining pools are necessary’ and ‘Bitcoin is digital gold’? You’re not a miner. You’re a cheerleader for centralized mining cartels. You’re literally funding the destruction of the very decentralization you claim to believe in. And you’re proud of it? Pathetic.
Also, ‘low fee’? You think 0.95% vs 1.35% matters when your rig’s eating $300/month in power? You’re not optimizing profit. You’re optimizing your ego.