Practical knowledge, clearly sourced

Guides for every stage of mining

Step-by-step guides to help you choose hardware, estimate costs, set up safely, and run miners efficiently, written plainly and backed by sources.

  • 52 guidesacross 5 topics
  • 1h 51mtotal reading time
  • Updated Oct 7, 2026most recent change

Measure available power and cooling before selecting hardware.

From Mining basics

52 guides shown

The field notes.

Practical, step-by-step guides on the real-world details of mining.

  1. BeginnerASIC vs GPU vs CPU mining: choose compatible hardwareUnderstand the practical differences between specialized miners and general-purpose processors before choosing equipment for an algorithm.Beginner2 min read
  2. BeginnerBitcoin mining rewards: block subsidy and transaction feesUnderstand the two components of a Bitcoin block reward and why a miner's credited payout differs from a headline network reward.Beginner3 min read
  3. IntermediateBitcoin coinbase transactions: rewards and maturityLearn what a Bitcoin coinbase transaction is, how it differs from ordinary payments, and why protocol maturity is separate from pool withdrawal rules.Intermediate2 min read
  4. BeginnerBitcoin mining difficulty: targets and adjustment cyclesConnect Bitcoin's proof-of-work target, difficulty adjustment, and your share of network hashing without mistaking estimates for guaranteed yield.Beginner2 min read
  5. BeginnerBitcoin halving: model the impact on mining revenueEvaluate subsidy reductions using clearly labeled scenarios rather than assuming constant fees, prices, or miner profitability.Beginner2 min read
  6. BeginnerBitcoin miner vs full node: understand their rolesUnderstand why Bitcoin hash production, full-node validation, and pool coordination are related roles with different requirements.Beginner2 min read
  7. BeginnerBitcoin mining payout addresses: verify wallet and networkCheck payout destinations, network selection, ownership, and account security before assigning a wallet address to a mining pool.Beginner3 min read
  8. BeginnerBitcoin mining payout confirmations: verify receiptDistinguish an accrued pool balance, a broadcast transaction, and a confirmed Bitcoin payout using a clear verification workflow.Beginner2 min read
  9. BeginnerASIC miner efficiency: calculate J/TH and W/TH/sCompute watts per unit of hashrate and distinguish nominal machine efficiency from measured and whole-site energy performance.Beginner2 min read
  10. BeginnerHow to choose a mining pool: fees, payouts, and reliabilityEvaluate pool compatibility, reward rules, fees, withdrawal conditions, security, and connection evidence without choosing by headline size alone.Beginner2 min read
  11. BeginnerMining cooling costs: include auxiliary electricityEstimate auxiliary energy separately from miner power and use a clear boundary when comparing a machine with a complete mining site.Beginner2 min read
  12. BeginnerBuying your first ASIC miner: a decision checklistUse a practical go-or-no-go checklist covering algorithm compatibility, site readiness, total cost, support, and operating responsibility.Beginner2 min read
  13. BeginnerMining hashrate units: convert MH/s, GH/s, and TH/sConvert hashes per second into common mining units and compare equipment without mixing algorithms, scales, or measurement windows.Beginner2 min read
  14. BeginnerHow to measure ASIC miner power consumptionRecord whole-device power under stable conditions using appropriately rated metering and distinguish measured draw from a nominal specification.Beginner2 min read
  15. IntermediateASIC miner airflow: plan intake, exhaust, and ventilationReview air-cooled miner placement, exhaust recirculation, restrictions, and manufacturer requirements before changing fans or ducts.Intermediate2 min read
  16. BeginnerASIC miner monitoring: establish a performance baselineCreate a timestamped baseline of power, temperatures, local hashrate, accepted work, and configuration so alerts lead to useful investigations.Beginner2 min read
  17. BeginnerHow to shut down and restart an ASIC miner safelyCreate a model-specific stop and restart checklist with safe isolation, fault review, and post-start verification for a mining site.Beginner2 min read
  18. BeginnerASIC miner temperature monitoring: sensors and limitsDistinguish ambient, inlet, board, and chip measurements and set model-specific response procedures rather than a universal temperature threshold.Beginner2 min read
  19. BeginnerMining uptime metrics: measure productive availabilityDistinguish powered time, local hashing, pool connectivity, and productive accepted work when reporting downtime and operating performance.Beginner2 min read
  20. BeginnerMining setup budget: hardware, installation, and running costsBuild a pre-purchase budget that separates equipment, installation, running costs, and reserves instead of relying on a miner's price alone.Beginner2 min read
  21. IntermediateMining demand charges: understand peak-power billingDistinguish a tariff's billed demand from kilowatt-hours and ask the right questions before increasing a mining site's connected load.Intermediate2 min read
  22. BeginnerASIC mining electrical safety: prepare a site reviewPrepare an information pack for a qualified electrician covering miner supply requirements, continuous load, site conditions, and safe isolation.Beginner2 min read
  23. BeginnerMining electricity costs: calculate kWh and daily spendConvert a miner's watts and operating hours into kilowatt-hours and a clearly scoped electricity estimate before adding site overhead.Beginner2 min read
  24. BeginnerCryptocurrency mining glossary: key dashboard termsLearn the distinction between hashrate, power, difficulty, shares, uptime, and payouts using a practical dashboard-reading workflow.Beginner2 min read
  25. BeginnerASIC miner heat output: estimate the cooling loadRelate electrical input to heat-load planning and evaluate intake, exhaust, and ambient conditions before installing continuous mining loads.Beginner2 min read
  26. BeginnerMining uptime and electricity: account for idle powerCalculate energy across operating and idle intervals without assuming that an unavailable miner consumes no electricity.Beginner2 min read
  27. BeginnerMining vs buying cryptocurrency: compare costs and risksCompare operating equipment with acquiring coins directly by separating exposure, maintenance, liquidity, and recurring expenses.Beginner2 min read
  28. BeginnerMining wallet security: custody, backups, and recoverySeparate public payout information from wallet secrets and prepare a secure, tested recovery arrangement for receiving mining proceeds.Beginner3 min read
  29. IntermediateBitcoin network hashrate share: calculate your contributionCalculate a miner's share of a network estimate with consistent units and explain why a short-term block outcome can differ greatly.Intermediate2 min read
  30. IntermediateBitcoin network difficulty vs pool share difficultyExplain why a pool can adjust share difficulty without changing Bitcoin difficulty or the amount of physical hashing work a miner performs.Intermediate2 min read
  31. IntermediateMining pool payout methods: PPS and PPLNS accountingCompare reward-method documentation by credit timing, fee treatment, variance, and withdrawal conditions rather than relying on acronyms alone.Intermediate2 min read
  32. BeginnerASIC miner installation checklist: prepare power and coolingOrganize electrical, cooling, network, space, and operating checks before unpacking and commissioning mining equipment.Beginner2 min read
  33. IntermediateMining profitability scenarios: test price, yield, and costsBuild base and adverse mining scenarios by varying yield, coin valuation, power rates, fees, and availability without presenting them as forecasts.Intermediate2 min read
  34. BeginnerProof of work explained: how cryptocurrency mining worksFollow a candidate block from hashing to verification and distinguish mining work from the network rules that nodes enforce.Beginner2 min read
  35. BeginnerMining electricity tariffs: energy, demand, and fixed feesBuild a mining electricity worksheet from your own utility tariff by separating energy rates, fixed fees, demand terms, and taxes.Beginner3 min read
  36. BeginnerASIC miner specifications: compare models and modesCompare exact mining models using algorithm, nominal performance, supply, cooling, and observed specifications instead of a single headline number.Beginner2 min read
  37. BeginnerMining profitability estimates: read inputs and exclusionsRead a mining profitability result by separating gross revenue, electricity, fees, uptime, capital cost, and excluded expenses.Beginner2 min read
  38. IntermediateMining energy bills: reconcile metered and estimated kWhInvestigate differences between modeled miner consumption, logged meter data, and a utility invoice using consistent periods and measurement boundaries.Intermediate2 min read
  39. BeginnerMining pool payouts: reconcile credits and wallet receiptsMatch pool reward records, deductions, withdrawals, and confirmed wallet receipts without mixing accruals with on-chain transfers.Beginner2 min read
  40. IntermediateRejected mining shares: diagnose stale and invalid workDiagnose rejected mining work by collecting reason codes, timing, configuration, connectivity, and device evidence before changing hardware settings.Intermediate2 min read
  41. IntermediateASIC miner security: protect dashboards and firmware updatesRestrict administrative access, verify firmware sources, preserve configuration, and plan recovery before updating or exposing a mining device.Intermediate2 min read
  42. BeginnerMining shares vs blocks: understand pool statisticsDistinguish accepted shares, network blocks, and pool payouts so worker statistics do not become misleading revenue assumptions.Beginner2 min read
  43. IntermediateMining hardware payback: calculate break-even limitsInterpret hardware-cost payback as a constant-input planning ratio and identify expenses and changing conditions it does not capture.Intermediate2 min read
  44. IntermediateSolo Bitcoin mining variance: probability and waiting timeUnderstand why a solo miner's average block-finding expectation does not guarantee a discovery within that period or fund recurring bills.Intermediate2 min read
  45. BeginnerSolo vs pool mining: compare rewards and payout riskCompare solo and pooled mining through variance, service dependency, fees, and the difference between expected value and predictable cash flow.Beginner2 min read
  46. IntermediateStratum mining protocol: configure pool connectionsUnderstand pool work delivery and verify endpoint, worker identity, protocol version, and security support before configuring a miner.Intermediate2 min read
  47. IntermediateTime-of-use electricity rates: plan a mining scheduleCompare operating windows with different electricity prices while accounting for foregone revenue, startup behavior, and fixed site charges.Intermediate2 min read
  48. BeginnerBuying used ASIC miners: inspect condition and test evidenceReview a used miner's identity, test conditions, error history, included parts, and support terms before treating an advertised hashrate as reliable.Beginner2 min read
  49. BeginnerASIC miner seller checks: verify equipment and payment termsCheck a seller's identity, equipment evidence, transaction terms, and payment instructions before committing to a mining hardware purchase.Beginner2 min read
  50. BeginnerHome mining safety checklistReview electrical load, heat, noise, ventilation, and shutdown planning before operating mining hardware at home.Beginner4 min read
  51. BeginnerMining basics for first-time operatorsLearn how proof-of-work mining turns electricity and computing hardware into network security before you buy equipment.Beginner3 min read