Largest Bitcoin Mining Pools in 2025: Top 5 Ranked by Hash Rate, Fees, and Reliability
30 May 2025

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Bitcoin mining isn’t a solo sport anymore. If you’re running an ASIC miner at home, you’re not going to find a block on your own-not without years of patience and a fortune in electricity. That’s where Bitcoin mining pools come in. They let hundreds of thousands of miners combine their computing power, share the rewards, and get paid regularly. It’s the only way most people actually make money mining Bitcoin today.

As of October 2025, five pools control nearly 70% of the entire Bitcoin network’s hash rate. That’s not just a majority-it’s dominance. And with regulatory pressure rising, tech evolving, and centralization fears growing, choosing the right pool isn’t just about payouts anymore. It’s about security, privacy, and long-term stability.

Foundry USA: The Giant in North America

Foundry USA is the biggest Bitcoin mining pool in the world right now, holding around 30% of the total network hash rate. That’s more than the next two largest pools combined. It’s run by Digital Currency Group, the same company behind CoinDesk and Grayscale, and it’s become the go-to for institutional miners and large-scale operations in the U.S. and Canada.

What makes Foundry USA stand out? Its payout model: FPPS (Full Pay Per Share). That means you get paid for every share you submit, including both the block reward and transaction fees-no waiting, no variance. You know exactly how much you’ll earn each day. It’s reliable, predictable, and ideal if you’re running a farm with hundreds of miners.

But there’s a catch: you need to go through KYC. If you’re mining over 10 PH/s, you’ll need to submit business documents, ID, and proof of address. The onboarding process takes 3-5 days. For privacy-focused miners, that’s a dealbreaker. But for regulated entities-hedge funds, mining corporations, even some city-run operations-it’s a feature, not a bug. The SEC has taken notice, and Foundry USA’s compliance stance might be the reason it’s still standing while others face scrutiny.

It also supports Stratum V2, the newer, more secure protocol that encrypts communication between your miner and the pool. That reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks. And with 4.7/5 stars from nearly 900 verified reviews on MiningPoolStats.stream, uptime and support are solid.

Antpool: The Legacy Powerhouse

Antpool, operated by Bitmain-the same company that makes most of the world’s ASIC miners-holds 18.76% of the network hash rate. It’s been around since 2014 and was once the undisputed leader. Today, it’s still a major player, especially for beginners.

Antpool gives you two payout options: PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) and PPS+ (Pay Per Share Plus). PPLNS is free-no fees-but your earnings fluctuate based on how often the pool finds blocks. PPS+ charges a 4% fee on block rewards and 2% on transaction fees, but gives you stable daily payouts. Most new miners pick PPS+ because it’s easier to budget with.

Its interface is simple. You can get your miner configured in under 15 minutes, according to usability tests by 99bitcoins. That’s half the time it takes on most other pools. It also supports multiple cryptocurrencies-Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic-so you can switch if one coin becomes more profitable.

But there’s controversy. Bitmain controls both the hardware and the pool. That means they have an unfair advantage: they know which miners are using their machines, and they can prioritize their own hardware in block assignments. Critics call it vertical integration. Supporters say it’s just smart business. Either way, Bitcoin maximalists worry this level of control could lead to manipulation.

And payouts? They’re inconsistent during high-traffic periods. Users on Trustpilot report delays of up to 36 hours after the April 2025 halving. If you need daily cash flow, Antpool might not be your best bet.

F2Pool: The Multi-Coin Operator

F2Pool, founded in 2013, sits at 12.395% of the hash rate. It’s one of the oldest pools still active and the only one among the top five with roots in China. Even after China’s 2021 mining ban, F2Pool moved its operations overseas and kept running.

Its big selling point? It supports more than just Bitcoin. You can mine Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, Zcash, and Dogecoin-all from the same dashboard. That’s useful if you want to switch coins based on profitability without switching platforms.

F2Pool offers both PPLNS and PPS payout models, with fees around 1-2%. It’s flexible, but not as transparent as others. There’s no clear documentation on how rewards are calculated, and their support response time averages 8.3 hours-among the slowest in the top five.

Regulatory risk is the elephant in the room. While F2Pool claims it’s now based in Singapore, its leadership and codebase still have strong ties to China. With the PRC cracking down on crypto even harder in 2025, and global regulators watching closely, using F2Pool could become risky. Some institutional investors have already started moving away.

A juggling creature holds five different crypto coins on a floating island with regulators watching.

ViaBTC: The Tech-Savvy Mid-Tier

ViaBTC holds 10.553% of the hash rate. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the most technically advanced. Founded in 2016, it’s known for its clean, powerful dashboard and low-latency global server network.

ViaBTC uses a mix of PPLNS and FPPS, giving you flexibility. Its real strength? Analytics. You can track your miner’s performance in real time, see historical earnings, and even forecast future payouts based on current network difficulty. It’s built for data-driven miners.

It also supports Stratum V2, and its API is well-documented-35 endpoints with sample code for Python, Node.js, and Go. Developers love it. So do miners who want to automate their operations.

But it’s not perfect. ViaBTC’s customer support is hit-or-miss. And while its interface is sleek, it can feel overwhelming for beginners. Plus, its market share has been flat for over a year. It’s not growing like Foundry USA, and it’s not shrinking like some smaller pools. It’s stuck in the middle.

Braiins Pool: The Privacy-Focused Innovator

Braiins Pool-formerly Slushpool-is the original Bitcoin mining pool. Created in 2010 by Marek Palatinus, it pioneered the whole concept. Today, it’s the smallest of the top five, holding just 5-7% of the hash rate. But it might be the most important.

Braiins doesn’t charge pool fees. Zero. That’s because it makes money through its open-source firmware, BraiinsOS+. If you flash your ASIC miner with BraiinsOS+, you get up to 25% more efficiency. That means more Bitcoin for the same electricity. It’s a brilliant business model: give away the pool, sell the software.

It supports both FPPS and PPLNS, with a minimum payout of just 0.001 BTC. You can mine anonymously. No KYC. No documents. Instant setup. That’s why it’s the favorite of privacy-minded miners. Reddit users like u/MiningMaster42 report consistent daily payouts of 0.0015 BTC on S19j Pro miners with zero downtime for over eight months.

It also leads in innovation. In August 2025, Braiins launched Braiins Farm 2.0, which cuts connection overhead by 40%. That means less lag, fewer rejected shares, and more earnings. And in September 2025, it announced integration with zero-knowledge proofs-letting users verify pool fairness without revealing their identity.

The downside? Small size. With only 7% of the hash rate, Braiins can’t influence network decisions. And if you’re mining at scale, you’ll need to verify your identity to go above 1 PH/s. But for individual miners who care about decentralization, privacy, and innovation? It’s the best choice on the market.

A small miner uses glowing firmware to make ASIC miners sparkle and grow wings under a starry sky.

What’s Changing in 2025 and Beyond

The mining pool landscape is shifting fast. In 2020, there were over 50 active pools. Now, there are about 15. The top five control 70% of the hash rate. That’s consolidation. And it’s not slowing down.

Regulation is the biggest driver. The EU’s MiCA framework requires all pools serving European customers to implement full KYC by Q1 2026. The SEC is watching pool reward structures-PPS+ might be classified as a security. That could force Antpool and ViaBTC to change how they pay miners.

Technology is changing too. Stratum V2 adoption is now at 78% among new connections. That’s a huge leap from just a year ago. It’s more secure, more efficient, and harder to hack. Pools that don’t support it are falling behind.

And then there’s the unknown. Blockchain.com’s October 2025 data shows 53.099% of the network hash rate is still unattributed. No one knows who’s running it. Some say it’s state-backed miners. Others think it’s anonymous individuals using decentralized infrastructure. Either way, it’s a buffer against centralization. If Foundry USA ever tried to launch a 51% attack, the unknown hash rate could block it.

Which Pool Should You Use?

Here’s how to decide:

  • If you’re an institution or run a large farm → Foundry USA. Reliable, compliant, high uptime. Just expect paperwork.
  • If you’re new and want simplicity → Antpool. Easy setup, clear interface, good support.
  • If you mine multiple coins → F2Pool. One dashboard for everything.
  • If you’re a tech nerd or automate your mining → ViaBTC. Best analytics, best API.
  • If you care about privacy, fees, and decentralization → Braiins Pool. Zero fees, anonymous, innovative.

Most miners use more than one pool. Deloitte’s 2025 survey found that 62% of institutional miners spread their hash rate across two or more pools. Why? To avoid being too dependent on one. If Foundry USA goes down-or gets shut down-you don’t want all your mining to stop.

Start small. Pick one pool. Test it for a month. Watch your payouts. Check the support response. Then decide if you want to stick with it-or split your hash rate.

What is the largest Bitcoin mining pool right now?

As of October 2025, Foundry USA is the largest Bitcoin mining pool, controlling approximately 30% of the total network hash rate. It’s operated by Digital Currency Group and is the preferred choice for institutional miners due to its reliable FPPS payout model and strong regulatory compliance.

Are Bitcoin mining pools safe?

Yes, but with caveats. Reputable pools like Foundry USA, Braiins, and Antpool have high uptime, secure protocols (like Stratum V2), and transparent payout systems. However, pools with poor support, unclear fee structures, or ties to high-risk jurisdictions carry more risk. Always check reviews, payout history, and whether the pool supports encrypted communication.

Do mining pools charge fees?

Most do, but not all. Foundry USA, Antpool, and ViaBTC charge between 1-4% in fees depending on the payout model. F2Pool charges around 1-2%. Braiins Pool charges 0% fees-it makes money by selling its BraiinsOS+ firmware, which improves miner efficiency by up to 25%.

Can I mine Bitcoin without joining a pool?

Technically yes, but it’s not practical. With today’s difficulty level, a single ASIC miner has less than a 1 in 10 billion chance of finding a block per day. You’d likely wait years to earn a single Bitcoin. Pools make mining viable by combining hash power and distributing rewards daily.

What’s the best mining pool for beginners?

Antpool is the best for beginners. Its interface is simple, setup takes under 15 minutes, and it offers clear payout options. The PPS+ model gives stable daily earnings, which helps you understand your returns without dealing with variance. Just be aware that payouts can be delayed during network congestion.

Is Braiins Pool really free?

Yes, Braiins Pool charges 0% pool fees. But it’s not charity-it makes money by selling BraiinsOS+, its firmware that boosts your miner’s efficiency by up to 25%. If you use the firmware, you’re effectively paying for the pool through better performance. If you don’t, you still get free mining, but you’ll miss out on the efficiency gains.

What’s the future of Bitcoin mining pools?

Expect more consolidation. By 2027, experts predict only 3-4 pools will control over 60% of the network. Regulation will force KYC on most pools, especially in Europe and the U.S. Stratum V2 will become standard. And if centralization keeps growing, Bitcoin Core developers may change the protocol to discourage large pools-possibly by reducing their rewards or making them less efficient.

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