Top Bitcoin Mining Pools in 2025: Detailed Overview
Bitcoin mining pools are groups of miners who combine their computational power to boost their chances of mining new blocks, also known as hashes. Instead of running their own solo mining operation, miners connect to a pool's server to increase their odds of earning a reward. Mining pools became popular when Bitcoin mining became more competitive and resource-intensive, making it difficult for smaller, solo miners to earn consistent rewards.
Top Bitcoin Mining Pools Worth Looking Into
Here are some top Bitcoin mining pools in 2025:
- Foundry USA: Best for North American miners seeking regulatory compliance and stability.
- AntPool: Offers efficiency, flexibility, and support for various coins besides Bitcoin.
- ViaBTC: Suitable for miners who want to leverage merged mining and scalability through their mining rigs.
- F2Pool: A good option for international miners seeking a user-friendly platform.
- Luxor Mining Pool: Perfect for industrial-scale miners who require advanced software tools for operation and maintenance.
Of course, it's essential to consider the fees, supported equipment, security features, and payout structures when selecting a pool that meets your needs. Let's dive deeper into each pool.
Foundry USA
Foundry USA is an institutional-grade mining pool that leads the Bitcoin network in 2025, with a whopping 30% of the network's hashrate. Its offerings include:
- Institutional-grade services, including treasury management, Bitcoin custody, and derivatives products.
- Strong security and compliance, attested by SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 certifications, KYC/AML requirements, and strict internal controls and operations.
- Detailed fee structures, exportable data, and user-friendly analytics for efficient performance tracking.
Its fees are adjustable based on a miner's quarterly average hashrate, with deductions accounting for newly minted Bitcoin, block subsidies, and transaction fees under the FPPS payout structure. A 0.001 BTC minimum payout threshold makes Foundry accessible for smaller operations with frequent, regular, and predictable payments.
AntPool
AntPool, run by Bitmain Technologies, offers overall efficiency, support for other coins, and various reward structures. Some of its key features include:
- Multi-currency support: AntPool currently supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Litecoin, among other proof-of-work cryptocurrencies.
- Global server infrastructure: AntPool operates servers worldwide to minimize latency and ensure optimal performance.
- Daily payouts and reliability: Users receive payments once their balance reaches 0.001 BTC, with security measures like 2FA, DDoS protection, and wallet locks for added protection.
AntPool offers three payout schemes: PPLNS (0% fee), PPS+ (2.5% fee), and FPPS (4% fee), making it suitable for diverse miner preferences. Payments are processed daily once the minimum payout threshold is met.
ViaBTC
ViaBTC appeals to miners who prioritize flexibility and merged mining. It has a solid reputation for robust infrastructure, wide coin support, and advanced tools for mining operations. Key features of ViaBTC include:
- Wide range of assets: Supports over 20 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Zcash, and Dash.
- Global server: Reduced latency, optimized performance, and network consistency.
- Security measures: 2FA, multi-level risk controls, and wallet locks to safeguard user accounts.
Fees vary depending on the payout model, with 4% and 2% for PPS and PPLNS, respectively. Miners can automate Bitcoin conversions as well. A default 0.0001 BTC minimum payout provides flexibility for smaller miners.
F2Pool
F2Pool is a reliable and long-established mining pool with a strong global presence and diverse cryptocurrency support. Some of its advantages are:
- Multi-currency support: Covers over 40 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum PoW (ETHW), Litecoin, and more.
- Advanced tools: Real-time hashrate monitoring, revenue history, and integrated profitability calculators.
- Security measures: DDoS defenses and secure payout systems for seamless mining operations.
F2Pool's payout options include PPS+ and FPPS with a flat 2% fee and PPLNS with a variable fee, shaping rewards based on the pool's performance. The default minimum payout is 0.005 BTC.
Luxor Mining Pool
Luxor Mining Pool is a North American-based mining pool with a reputation for robustness, user-friendliness, and a Full Pay Per Share (FPPS) model for stable earnings. Its benefits comprise:
- Multi-coin support: Offers Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, and Dogecoin, among others.
- Global server network: Allows reliable, low-latency mining for users worldwide.
- Advanced analytics and developer tools: Detailed performance tracking, API, and user-friendly resources for monitoring.
Fees are competitive at 0.7% for the FPPS model, which yields steady hourly payouts. Luxor's offerings cater to industrial-scale miners seeking robust, convenient solutions for their mining ventures.
Benefits of Joining a Mining Pool and Popular Models
Benefits of Joining a Mining Pool
- Consistency: Miners get more frequent rewards compared to solo mining.
- Accessibility: Reduced entry barriers, including hardware and electricity investments.
- Assistance: Many pools offer support, tools, and guidance for beginner miners.
Common Payout Models
- Pay-Per-Share (PPS): Fixed, predetermined payouts for every share a mining rig submits to the pool.
- Full Pay-Per-Share (FPPS): Similar to PPS but complements the block reward with an estimated share of transaction fees, providing more predictable earnings.
- Pay-Per-Last-N-Shares (PPLNS): Payments only when the pool finds a block, based on the proportion of the last N shares submitted by all miners.
How to Choose the Best Pool and Set Up a Rig
- Research pools. Assess fees, security, coin support, and payout structure.
- Select a Bitcoin miner. Choose an ASIC device with decent efficiency and compatibility.
- Match the power supply to the miner's power draw.
- Use a network scanner to find the miner's IP address.
- Set up a stable and wired Ethernet connection.
- Connect the miner, PSU, and Ethernet cable.
- Configure the miner. Enter the pool's server information, your worker credentials, and Bitcoin wallet address.
- Link your Bitcoin wallet to the pool's account.
After configuring your miner, it should be ready to start mining Bitcoin. Regularly monitor your miner's performance via the control dashboard or the pool's website.
In conclusion, joining a mining pool offers numerous benefits, including increased profitability, streamlined setup, and reduced barriers to entry. Moreover, popular payout models like PPS, FPPS, and PPLNS cater to diverse miner preferences, letting you choose the formula that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance. Good luck, miner!
- In 2025, Foundry USA is a popular choice for North American miners seeking regulatory compliance and institutional-grade services, with a 30% share of the Bitcoin network's hashrate. Foundry offers flexible fee structures, detailed analytics for efficient performance tracking, and strict security measures.
- AntPool, run by Bitmain Technologies, offers multi-currency support, global server infrastructure, and a choice of payout schemes to cater to diverse miner preferences. With a 2.5% to 4% fee, AntPool currently supports Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin, among other cryptocurrencies.
- ViaBTC appeals to miners seeking flexibility and merged mining, offering support for over 20 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. ViaBTC features 2% to 4% fees for its PPS and PPLNS payout models, respectively.
- F2Pool is a reliable and long-established mining pool with a strong global presence, multi-currency support, and advanced tools. F2Pool offers payout options with a 2% flat fee and provides assistance to beginner miners.
- Luxor Mining Pool is a North American-based pool with a reputation for robustness and a Full Pay Per Share (FPPS) model for stable earnings. With competitive fees of 0.7%, Luxor Mining Pool supports various cryptocurrencies and offers advanced analytics and user-friendly resources.
In addition to selecting a mining pool, consider researching the best Bitcoin miner, matching the power supply to the miner's power draw, connecting the miner, setting up a stable Ethernet connection, and configuring the miner with the pool's server information, your worker credentials, and Bitcoin wallet address. Monitor your miner regularly for optimal performance and profitability.