# Mining pools

A mining pool combines many miners' hash power and shares the rewards, giving each small regular payouts instead of rare jackpots. Learn how pools work.

Canonical page: https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/mining-pools
Topic: Mining
Published: 2026-10-29
Updated: 2026-10-30


## Smoothing out luck
A single miner might find a block once every few years, or never. A pool combines thousands of machines. The pool finds blocks regularly and splits the reward by how much work each member did.

> Diagram: Miners send shares to the pool; the pool pays them in proportion to their work — 

## How work is measured
The pool gives members an easier target. Any hash below that easier target is a **share**, proof of effort even though it isn't a valid block. Count shares, and you know how much each miner contributed.

## Who chooses the transactions?
Traditionally the pool builds the block template, so a few large pools decide which transactions go into most blocks. Protocols like **Stratum V2** let individual miners choose transactions themselves, which helps [What does decentralized mean in Bitcoin?](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/decentralization).

## Pools can't break the rules
Even a big pool can't create invalid blocks: [nodes](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/what-is-a-bitcoin-node) would reject them. But a pool controlling most hash power could censor transactions or attempt a [The 51% attack](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/51-percent-attack). Miners can switch pools within minutes if a pool misbehaves.


## Solo vs pool, in numbers
A miner with one machine and 0.00001% of network hash power would expect a block roughly every 200 years solo. In a pool, the same machine earns a tiny but steady daily payout instead.

## Spot pools on MyBitcoinExplorer
Many pools write their name into the coinbase transaction of the blocks they mine. Open a block's first transaction to see it, shown as untrusted text since anyone can write anything there.


## Key takeaways

- Pools combine hash power and share rewards by contributed work.
- Shares are easier-target hashes that prove effort.
- Pools can't make invalid blocks, but large pools concentrate influence.

## Common questions

### How do pools pay miners?

With schemes such as PPS or FPPS (paid per share) and PPLNS (paid per share over recent blocks). Each spreads risk differently.

### Can I mine without a pool?

Yes, it's called solo mining. You keep the whole reward if you win, but you may never win.

### How do I join a mining pool?

Point your mining hardware at the pool's server address with your payout details; the pool tracks your shares.

### Is pooled mining centralising Bitcoin?

A few large pools find most blocks, which is a concern. Miners can switch pools quickly, and newer protocols let them choose transactions themselves.

## Related lessons

- [What is Bitcoin mining?](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/what-is-bitcoin-mining)
- [Hashrate](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/hashrate)
- [The 51% attack](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/51-percent-attack)
- [What does decentralized mean in Bitcoin?](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/decentralization)