Best Bitcoin Mining Pools 2026
Pool choice affects your real revenue by up to 2.5%. Here's how the major pools compare — fees, payout methods, and which fits your operation.
Quick Comparison
| Pool | Hashrate | Payout | Fee | Min Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundry USA | ~30–35% of network | FPPS | 0% (subsidized) | 0.005 BTC |
| Antpool | ~15–20% of network | PPS+ | 2.5% (PPS+) | 0.001 BTC |
| Luxor | ~3–5% of network | FPPS | 0.3% | 0.001 BTC |
| Braiins (Slush Pool) | ~2–4% of network | SCORE (variance reduction) | 2% | 0.001 BTC |
| Ocean | ~1–2% of network | TIDES (direct from coinbase tx) | 0% | No minimum — direct from block |
- +Largest US-based pool
- +Full-pay-per-share — predictable income
- +No fee currently
- +Strong for institutional and hosted miners
- −Dominant market share raises centralization concerns
- −US regulatory exposure
Best for: Hosted miners and large US-based operations
- +Run by Bitmain — deep infrastructure
- +Low minimum payout
- +PPS+ includes transaction fees
- +Long track record
- −China-based — regulatory risk
- −Higher fee vs Foundry
- −Some transparency concerns
Best for: Bitmain hardware owners who want integrated support
- +US-based, transparent team
- +Excellent dashboard and hashrate analytics
- +ASIC firmware and hashrate marketplace
- +Good for small to mid-size operations
- −Smaller pool — lower luck buffer vs large pools
- −Newer than some competitors
Best for: Miners who value data transparency and US jurisdiction
- +Oldest pool still operating (est. 2010)
- +Open-source firmware (Braiins OS)
- +SCORE payout reduces variance
- +EU-based, good for European miners
- −Smaller pool — more variance on lucky blocks
- −Higher fee than Luxor
Best for: Miners running Braiins OS who want a trusted, long-running pool
- +Zero fee
- +Pays directly from coinbase transaction — most decentralized
- +Backed by Bitcoin maximalists
- +No KYC required
- −Smallest of the major pools — highest variance
- −New architecture — less battle-tested
- −Requires patience for payouts on small operations
Best for: Privacy-conscious miners and those who prioritize decentralization
Payout Methods Explained
You get paid for every valid share submitted, regardless of whether the pool finds a block. Predictable but pool assumes all risk. Fee reflects this.
Like PPS but also includes transaction fee income — a more complete picture of pool revenue. Standard for most large US pools.
Combines PPS for block subsidies with PPLNS for transaction fees. Good balance of predictability and upside.
Pays based on your share of the last N shares before a block is found. Higher variance but higher reward when pool gets lucky.
Direct payout from the coinbase transaction — most decentralized option. Variance depends on pool size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a mining pool?
The most important factors are: pool fee (0–2.5%), payout method (PPS vs PPLNS), pool hash rate (larger = more predictable income), and jurisdiction (US vs China). For most hosted miners in the US, Foundry USA or Luxor are strong defaults.
Does pool choice affect my profitability?
Yes — meaningfully. Pool fees range from 0% to 2.5%, which directly reduces revenue. Payout method affects variance: FPPS gives you the same income regardless of the pool's luck, while PPLNS ties your income to block-finding luck. For most miners, predictability (FPPS) is worth a small fee premium.
Can I switch pools without losing earnings?
Yes. You simply point your miner's pool URL to the new pool. Any pending balance at your old pool will be paid out once you hit the minimum payout threshold. Check the minimum payout before switching so you don't leave small balances stranded.
What is pool luck and does it matter?
Pool luck measures how often a pool finds blocks relative to its expected frequency. Luck averages to 100% over time, but small pools experience more variance. If you're on a small pool, your daily income can swing significantly even at the same hash rate. Larger pools smooth this out.
What pool do Abundant Miners use for hosted machines?
Abundant Miners allows miners to connect to their pool of choice. Most customers use Foundry USA or Luxor. Contact them directly to confirm current options for your hardware type.
Know your pool. Know your ROI.
Use our Deal Analyzer to model your net revenue at different pool fees and payout structures.