What are Monero Mining Pools?
The best Monero mining pools function as collaborative hubs where multiple miners unite to enhance their prospects of accumulating Monero. A block is successfully mined and distributed among members in proportion to their contributed computing power.
Most pools levy a fee within the 0-2% range and employ the PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) payment model, ensuring miners receive a payout upon block discovery and subsequent reward division. Joining a mining pool offers individual miners a more consistent and predictable income stream, contrasting starkly with solo mining, which could entail protracted durations before reaping the benefits of block discovery. In this article, we delve into the best Monero mining pools and highlight some of the top ones to watch in 2024.
5 Best Monero Mining Pools in 2024
In the dynamic realm of crypto mining, Monero remains a favored option, celebrated for its privacy-centric and decentralized approach. Selecting the right mining pool is pivotal for optimizing mining efficiency and profitability.
Nanopool: Consistent Payouts and Low Fees
Nanopool has emerged as a leading crypto mining pool offering a versatile platform for mining various cryptocurrencies including XMR. It stands out for its stability, user-friendliness, and timely payout. While the specific size and hash rate remain undisclosed, it accommodates a range of cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum Classic, ZCash, and Monero. Nanopool boasts a modest 1% commission fee, which appeals to many users. Utilizing the PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) reward system, payout frequency varies by cryptocurrency, with hourly or paid daily options. Nanopool’s interface garners praise for its ease of use, making it a dependable choice for cryptocurrency miners seeking consistent returns.
Pool Size: Large
Hash Rate: High
Fees: Depends on the Cryptocurrency
Minimum payout: The default payout limit is 0.2 ETHW, which can be changed to 0.05 ETHW and up to 20 ETHW
Payout Frequency: Several times a day
Supported Platforms: Windows and Linux
Pros
- Larger in size and high hash rate
- User-friendly interface
- Supports various coins
Cons
- The minimum payout is relatively high compared to other pools
- Charges higher transaction charges
- The calculated hashrate can fluctuate due to high-difficulty shares
2Miners: Community-Focused Monero Pool
2Miners is a Monero mining pool catering to novice and experienced miners. This platform is distinguished by its consistent payouts, comprehensive tutorials, robust server infrastructure, and rig monitoring tools. 2Miners supports GPU and ASIC mining and offers diverse digital currencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more. It operates on a secure and efficient blockchain-based system, earning it a reputation for user-friendliness and dependable payments. Specific details like pool size, hardware systems, hash rate, and transaction fee are not disclosed, but few reviews consistently praise 2Miners’ fair features and reliability.
Pool Size: Medium
Hash Rate: Not specified
Fee: 1.0% for PPLNS and 1.5% for SOLO
Minimum payout: The payout varies by the cryptocurrency being mined; for example, 0.0005 ETH for Ethereum
Payout Frequency: Payout occur regularly every 2 hours
Supported Platforms: 2Miners is compatible with GPU and ASIC mining for various cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, Aeternity, Firo (Zcoin), and more.
Pros
- Offers a relatively low pool charges
- Provides regular, frequent payout
- Supports various cryptocurrencies for both GPU and ASIC mining
Cons
- Specific information regarding the size and hashrate is not provided
- Min payout thresholds can vary based on the cryptocurrency being mined
Moneroocean: Enhanced Profitability with Smart Auto-Switching
MoneroOcean is a versatile Monero (XMR) mining pool offering miners the flexibility to mine Monero or more profitable coins with payouts in XMR. The platform is designed for mining enthusiasts, providing regular payments. Unfortunately, key details such as size, hash rate, and fee are unavailable. For a comprehensive understanding of MoneroOcean’s features, it is advisable to consult their official website or other trustworthy sources. This is an attractive option for miners aiming to maximize earnings while focusing on Monero, a leading privacy-oriented cryptocurrency.
Pool Size: Moneroocean has a world XMR hash rate of 1.12 GH/s and a hash rate of 1.11 GH/s
Hash Rate: 1.11 GH/s
Fees: Moneroocean charges a 0% fee for all miners
Minimum Payout: 0.003 XMR (can be lowered to 0.0003 XMR)
Payout Frequency: every 2 hours
Supported Platforms: Moneroocean supports various platforms and miners, such as XMRig, XMR-Stak, SRBMiner, Cast XMR, xmrig-proxy, and more. You can also use the meta-miner tool to add algo-switching support to any stratum miner.
Pros
- Offers multi-coin profit switch features
- Lightweight and fast UI for easy monitoring and management of your mining activity
- Features a large and active community on Telegram, Discord, and Reddit
Cons
- Relatively high min payout for exchange wallet address, which might be inconvenient for some users
- Limited number of supported coins, which are mostly based on the CryptoNight algorithm
MINEXMR: Dedicated to Monero Mining Only
MINEXMR, formerly a prominent Monero mining pool, boasted a minimal 1.1% fee and a 0.004 minimum payouts. It supported various mining software and platforms, with servers in multiple locations. MINEXMR also provided a dashboard for monitoring and managing mining activity to mine Monero. However, it has recently closed its Monero pool, recommending users transition to the decentralized p2pool. Before its closure, MINEXMR was considered one of the top Monero pools.
Pool Size: MINEXMR had a world XMR hash rate of 1.12 GH/s and a hash rate of 1.11 GH/s
Hash Rate: 1.11 GH/s
Fees: 1.1%
Minimum Payout: 0.004 XMR
Payout Frequency: every 2 hours
Supported Platforms: MINEXMR supported various mining software and platforms, such as XMRig, XMR-Stak, SRBMiner, Cast XMR, and more.
Pros
- Low fee compared to other pools
- Has a high-performance and reliable server
- Offers a simple and user-friendly dashboard
Cons
- A limited number of supported coins
- Risk of losing profits – if the decentralization of the network difficulty increased or if the pool was attacked
SupportXMR: Reliable and Secure Mining Pool
SupportXMR, a renowned Monero mining pool, featured a low 0.6% fee and a 0.1% payout. It supported various mining software and platforms and maintained servers across multiple locations. SupportXMR offered a user-friendly dashboard for efficient mining management. Nevertheless, it recently encountered network issues and downtime. Despite these challenges, SupportXMR remains a popular and trusted mining pool within the network.
Pool Size: 1.12 GH/s
Hash Rate: 1.11 GH/s
Fees: 0.6%
Minimum Payout: 0.1 XMR
Payout Frequency: Every 2 hours
Supported Platforms: SupportXMR supports various platforms and miners, such as XMRig, XMR-Stak, SRBMiner, Cast XMR, and more.
Pros
- Low fee compared to other pools
- High-performance and reliable server to mine Monero
- Simple and user-friendly dashboard
Cons
- Relatively high minimum payouts, which might be inconvenient for some users
- limited number of supported coins
Factors for Choosing the Right Monero Mining Pool
In the realm of cryptocurrency mining, Monero stands out for its unwavering commitment to privacy, making it a prime choice for those who cherish anonymity. Selecting the appropriate mining pool is pivotal for optimizing earnings, and maintaining a steady payout will have you covered all the risks after registration.
To aid in your decision, here are several critical factors to contemplate when choosing them:-
Pool Hash Rate
A higher hash power signifies a greater likelihood of the pool discovering blocks and earning rewards. However, an exceedingly high hash rate may also imply increased competition, a more challenging difficulty level, and usage of high electricity.
Pool Size
A larger size equals more miners contributing to the pool’s hash rate, enhancing the chances of finding blocks. Nevertheless, larger pools might have higher transaction fees and potentially lower individual payouts.
Pool Fees
Most Monero mining pools can levy a fee, a percentage of the rewards earned. Lower fee translates to higher miner payouts, but this should be balanced with improvements like algorithm, size, and reliability.
Minimum Payout
The minimum payout is the threshold that must be reached before receiving a payout. A lower payout enables miners to receive payouts more frequently, but this should be weighed against factors like pool fees and reliability.
Pool Location and Server Reliability
The geographical area of the pool servers involved can influence connection latency and stability, impacting mining performance. Opt for a pool with reliable servers near your geographic area.
Trustworthiness
Prioritize selecting a pool with a reputable and trustworthy track record in the Monero mining community. This can be assessed through reviews, historical data, and community feedback.
Uptime
Uptime refers to the duration a pool remains operational and available to mine. Higher uptime is indicative of a more dependable and consistent pool.
Why Join a Monero Mining Pool?
If you are contemplating Monero mining, joining a pool is an advantageous choice that appeals to both novices and experienced miners. Here are a few reasons why you should join the mining pool –
Primarily, mining pools empower you to merge your computational might with other miners, increasing the collective hash rate. This cooperative endeavor substantially elevates your prospects of successfully mining Monero block through a hard fork. Flying solo, individual miners might face protracted wait times before unlocking blocks found autonomously.
Furthermore, linking up with pools secures a stable and more predictable income flow. Pools split the rewards amongst participants proportionate to their contributed hash rate, ensuring a more uniform payout than lone mining. This reliability can be especially enticing for miners keen on a steady revenue source from their Monero mining transactions.
Additionally, mining pools frequently streamline the mining journey through user-friendly interfaces and automated systems. These attributes simplify the onboarding process for newcomers, allowing them to delve into mining without an intricate technical grasp.
How to Join a Monero Mining Pool?
Joining a Monero pool involves a simple process that can be completed in a few uncomplicated steps. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to join a mining pool –
Begin by researching and comparing various Mining pools. Evaluate the pool’s hash rate, size, fee, minimum payout, hardware systems, server location, reliability, trustworthiness, and uptime. This thorough assessment helps workers make an informed choice.
Once you have selected a mining pool that aligns with your preferences, create an account on the pool’s official website. This involves providing an email address and establishing a secure password.
Next, you must download and configure your mining software to connect with the chosen pool’s servers. Monero hard forks are used for improving the protocol, and most mining software allows you to specify the pool’s URL, algorithm, username, and password, ensuring seamless integration.
After configuring your mining software, initiate the mining process by running the software on your computer. Your mining rewards will be automatically credited to your account as you contribute to the pool’s collective hash rate.
Continually monitor your transactions and earnings through the pool’s website, and be ready to adjust your mining settings as necessary to maximize your profits. Staying proactive ensures you are optimizing your mining efforts.
It is crucial to note that specific mining pools may have particular requirements or restrictions. Therefore, carefully peruse the pool’s documentation and guidelines before joining to ensure you meet their criteria.
Adhere to best mining practices, including using a subaddress for mining to enhance your privacy.
Risks Associated with XMR Mining Pools
Although joining a Monero pool offers numerous advantages, it is vital to remain conscious of the potential risks associated with this approach –
Most Monero mining pools levy a fee, impacting a miner’s overall profits. It is essential to opt for a pool with high popularity and a fee structure that balances being reasonable and competitive while considering other factors like size and reliability.
Pools experiencing downtime or technical difficulties can disrupt mining activities and impede payout. Selecting a farm with a strong track record of uptime and reliability is crucial to maintaining smooth operations.
Centralization poses one of the primary risks. When a single mining pool amasses a substantial portion of the network hash rate, it raises concerns about the concentration of electricity. This concentration could facilitate malicious activities like a 51% attack, where a single line entity gains control over most of the network’s mining power, jeopardizing the Monero network’s security and integrity.
Consistent issues like downtime or technical glitches can disrupt mining operations, causing missed opportunities. When you have decided, opt for a well-established and reliable one with a demonstrated track record of stability to minimize these risks.
The existence of untrustworthy or fraudulent mining pools is a risk that brings to the table. Scammers may create deceptive pools to deceive miners and fraudulently collect their block reward. Thorough research and diligent verification of a pool’s credibility are essential safeguards against such scams.
Conclusion
In summary, the best Monero mining pools provide miners numerous benefits, such as increased reward opportunities, consistent payouts, reduced variance, community support, and a lower entry threshold. Nevertheless, Monero mining pools have their share of potential risks, including fees, downtime, centralization, privacy concerns, and technical requirements. When considering membership in an XMR pool, several factors should be evaluated, including hash rate, size, fee, minimum payout, location and server reliability, trustworthiness, and uptime.
Adhering to best practices, like using a subaddress for mining and connecting through Tor for added privacy, is essential. The best Monero mining pools can be lucrative and fulfilling, provided miners select the right pool and rigs aligned with their needs and remain mindful of associated risks. Finally, it is worth embracing luck to get more profitable mining rewards!
FAQs
What equipment do I need to join a Monero mining pool?
To join a Monero mining, you will require a computer equipped with a CPU or GPU, a Monero wallet, and software. Hardware specifications may vary depending on the chosen mining software and pools. Notable Monero mining software options for 2024 encompass XM Rig, XMR-Stak, and Claymore’s CryptoNote AMD GPU Miner.
How can I troubleshoot common issues in Monero mining pools?
In Monero mining, a few issues encompass connectivity glitches, software configuration errors, and low hash rates. Miners can troubleshoot these challenges by restarting their mining software, verifying their internet connection, and adjusting mining settings. It is crucial to maintain up-to-date mining software and drivers while routinely monitoring mining performance.
Are there any hidden fee associated with the best Monero mining pools?
Most Monero mining pools impose a fee, generally disclosed as a percentage of earned rewards. These fees are usually transparent and upfront. Opting for a pool with a reasonable fee balancing other factors, like size and reliability, is of paramount importance in maximizing mining returns.
What happens if the XMR mining pool I joined becomes inactive or goes offline?
If Monero mining becomes inactive or experiences downtime, Asia and other geographical area users may encounter disruptions in their mining operations and payout. Consequently, selecting a pool with a demonstrated history of consistent uptime and reliability is crucial.
