A share measures contributed work
A pool share is a submitted proof that meets the pool’s assigned target. That target is easier than the network block target, allowing the pool to measure contributions without waiting for every worker to discover a network block.
A small subset of shares may also satisfy the network target. These can become proposed blocks, subject to validation and chain selection. Payout accounting is a separate layer: the pool’s reward method decides how accepted work contributes to balances and payments.
Step-by-step
- Read the target context. Identify whether a dashboard describes share difficulty or network difficulty. Do not compare raw share counts across different assigned difficulties.
- Classify submissions. Separate accepted, stale, and invalid work according to the provider’s definitions. Check a meaningful time window.
- Reconcile accounting. Follow accepted work into credited rewards, any fees, and eventual wallet transfers. A balance increase and a confirmed payment are different events.
Worked example
Illustrative example. Worker A submits 100 shares at an assigned difficulty of 1,000. Worker B submits 10 shares at 10,000. Both represent the same difficulty-weighted amount of submitted work if all are accepted.
The example illustrates weighting only; actual pools apply their documented accounting rules. A larger raw share count is not automatically a larger contribution.
Common mistakes
- Calling every share a mined block.
- Ignoring difficulty when comparing submission counts.
- Treating accepted work as an immediately confirmed wallet payment.
Questions and answers
Does one rejected share prove a miner is faulty?
No. Rejections can involve timing, connectivity, configuration, or hardware. Investigate sustained patterns and error reasons rather than diagnosing from a single submission.
Apply this to your setup
Save one worker report with accepted work, assigned share difficulty, rejected-work categories, and reward credits for the same interval. Explain which figures represent proofs, which represent accounting, and which represent transactions. Do not calculate network block production by multiplying raw accepted-share counts by the full block reward.
Sources and next steps
See rejected shares and pool payout methods.
How this guide was prepared: AI-generated drafting with the linked technical references and illustrative calculations. It does not report first-hand equipment tests or a named specialist review.