Best Solo Mining Pools (Ideal for Full Node and ASIC Users)
1. Solo CKPool
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Pros: Anonymous, easy to configure, no account needed, works well with low hashrate miners
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Cons: Very low chances of finding a block unless using ASIC
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Cost: 2% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Solo Bitcoin miners using ASIC hardware at home
Popularity: Very popular among die-hard Bitcoiners and hobbyists who enjoy lottery mining.
2. KanoPool
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Pros: Stable and reputable, low fees, transparent operation
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Cons: No fancy UI, fewer block finds compared to big pools
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Cost: 0.9% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Bitcoin solo miners using moderate hash rate rigs
Popularity: Long-standing community with a good reputation among solo miners.
3. ViaBTC Solo Pool
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Pros: Multi-coin support, user-friendly dashboard, high uptime
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Cons: Requires account registration
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Cost: 1% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Altcoin solo miners looking for reliable infrastructure
Popularity: One of the most reliable multi-coin solo pools.
4. EMCD Solo Pool
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Pros: Good UI, reliable payouts, supports Bitcoin and Litecoin
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Cons: Not as large as others, less hash power concentration
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Cost: 1% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Bitcoin and Litecoin solo miners
Popularity: Growing popularity in the Eastern European mining community.
5. 2 Miners Solo Pool
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Pros: Supports over 15 coins, detailed real-time stats, Telegram notifications
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Cons: Smaller pool for some coins, lower luck
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Cost: 1.5% fee
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Ideal Use Case: GPU solo miners mining altcoins like ZEC, ETC
Popularity: Popular among GPU miners seeking alternative chains.
Best Group Mining Pools for Home Miners (Low Hashrate Setups)
1. PicoPool
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Pros: Designed specifically for Bitaxe users, highly optimized for ESP32-based miners
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Cons: Limited to supported devices
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Cost: ~2% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Bitaxe and ultra-low-power mining setups
Popularity: Popular among micro-mining enthusiasts and hobbyists.
2. Flexpool
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Pros: Active community, fast payouts, supports ERGO and Ethereum Classic
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Cons: Higher payout threshold for some coins
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Cost: 1% fee
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Ideal Use Case: Low to mid-level GPU home miners
Popularity: One of the most community-focused altcoin mining pools.
3. NerdMiner Pool
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Pros: Custom-built for Nerdminer ESP32 devices, friendly for beginners
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Cons: Only supports specific hardware
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Cost: Free
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Ideal Use Case: Entry-level home miners and students
Popularity: Widely used in educational and DIY projects.
4. Zergpool
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Pros: Algorithm switching, supports mining to different wallets, works with low hashpower
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Cons: Requires some technical knowledge to optimize
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Cost: 0.5%–1%
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Ideal Use Case: Home miners looking to auto-switch coins
Popularity: Known for versatility in coin selection and payout options.
5. UnMineable
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Pros: Mine unmineable tokens like DOGE, SHIB, XRP using hashpower from mineable coins
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Cons: Centralized, not efficient for large-scale mining
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Cost: 1% fee (0.75% with custom miner)
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Ideal Use Case: Fun home projects or mining small amounts of meme coins
Popularity: The popularity of UnMineable is so viral among hobby miners and altcoin enthusiasts.
Real-World Example Setups
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Bitaxe + PicoPool + Sparrow Wallet: Perfect low-power Bitcoin solo mining setup.
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Nerdminer + Nerdminer Pool + Mycelium Wallet: Simple DIY solo mining for education.
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GPU Miner + Flexpool + Exodus Wallet: Balanced altcoin mining with easy wallet management.
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ASIC Miner + CKPool + Trezor: Professional-level solo mining with maximum security.
Final Thoughts
Home mining and solo mining offer a unique way to support decentralized networks and potentially earn crypto rewards. Whether you’re an amateur enthusiast with a Nerdminer or a seasoned miner using an Antminer, the right combination of wallet and mining pool is essential.
Choosing wallets like Electrum or Sparrow gives you maximum control, while Exodus and Mycelium offer beginner-friendly interfaces. Meanwhile, solo mining pools like CKPool and group pools like PicoPool provide dedicated environments based on your mining style.
Remember, mining is not just about profit; it’s about contributing to decentralization. Pick tools that match your philosophy and goals.