Bitcoin Mining Pool: How to Choose the Right One

June 02, 2026

Why Do You Need a Mining Pool?

Bitcoin mining is a race: miners worldwide compete to find the next block. With a single device, say an Ofen 2 running at up to 40 TH/s, you're up against a network with over 800 EH/s of total hashpower. Statistically, you'd wait decades to find a block on your own.

A mining pool solves this problem: you combine your hashpower with other miners and split the rewards proportionally. Instead of hoping for a lucky hit, you receive regular, smaller payouts. This makes your mining predictable and calculable.

How Does a Mining Pool Work?

Your miner submits shares to the pool. These are small proofs of work that demonstrate your device is actively contributing to solving a block. The higher your hashrate (measured in TH/s), the more shares your miner submits per time period, and the larger your share of the pool reward.

When the pool finds a block, the block reward (currently 3.125 BTC) plus the included transaction fees are distributed among participants according to a defined payout model.

Key Payout Models

Model	How it works	Advantages	Disadvantages
PPS	Fixed payout per share, regardless of block discovery	Stable, predictable income	Higher fees
FPPS	Like PPS, but includes a share of transaction fees	Higher earnings than PPS	Higher fees
PPLNS	Payout only when a block is found, based on your recent shares	Often more efficient longterm	Variable income

For a deeper dive into the differences between PPS, FPPS, and PPLNS, check out our dedicated article on billing models in Bitcoin mining.

Which Pool Is Right for You?

For beginners and flexible miners, we recommend Braiins Pool. The FPPS model ensures every share is rewarded, even if your miner doesn't run around the clock, for example when heating with Bitcoin miners or running flexibly based on electricity prices and excess solar energy. The platform is user-friendly, open source, and the oldest active mining pool in existence.

For miners running 24/7 who value maximum decentralization and transparency, Ocean Pool is a strong alternative. Ocean uses a PPLNS-based model and gives you real influence over block contents. For a detailed comparison between Ocean and traditional pools, check out our Ocean Pool deep-dive.

Getting Started in Three Steps

1. Choose a pool and register

Pick your pool. With Braiins, you create an account using email and password. With Ocean, your Bitcoin address is all you need.

2. Configure your miner

Enter the pool URL and your username in your miner's interface. The connection uses the Stratum protocol. You can optionally assign each miner a unique worker name (format: Username.Worker1).

3. Monitor your earnings

The pool dashboard shows your hashrate, submitted shares, and earnings. Regular monitoring helps you spot issues early.

Maximilian Obwexer

Maximilian Obwexer is the co-founder and CEO of 21energy. He shares his expertise here on the blog and as a speaker at various conferences. The main topic is Bitcoin mining & its waste heat utilization.