I'm running a Bitcoin node on my computer. Can I configure it so I can join a mining pool? If so, how to do this, or where can I find the documentation?
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1en.bitcoin.it/wiki/ASIC – Prayank Dec 10 '20 at 22:54
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2While this is not exactly what you're asking, I think your question might be obsolete after reading: In the ASIC-age, is it worth starting mining Bitcoin at home? – Murch♦ Dec 11 '20 at 0:48
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Yeah, that's what I got from the first answer. So I guess what you're saying is: whatever hashrate I'm introducing to the network is like adding a drop into the ocean? – Ansjovis86 Dec 11 '20 at 5:00
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5Does this answer your question? How to activate the mining process in the standard bitcoin client? - not that you should do so, because it is pointless nowadays. I also had the impression that current versions no longer support this. Also I believe pools would refuse to let anyone join who doesn't have any significant hashrate. – RedGrittyBrick Dec 11 '20 at 11:24
To join a mining pool go to their website and create an account. Connect the ASIC machines (which you already bought) to their server using the stratum link they give you.
The mining pool has its own bitcoin nodes which will be used for mining. There is no way to connect your node to the pool - they don't want to use it. Your bitcoin node is only used for your mining if you run your own pool.
Miners just do the work the pool asks them to do, without knowing which blocks they work on.
In theory miners could use their own bitcoin nodes for a couple things:
- You could verify that the mining pool is mining on the longest public blockchain. If you detected that this is not the case then you could automatically switch to another pool. This would ensure that you never assist a pool in performing a 51% attack.
- If the pool allows you to mine with getblocktemplate instead of the stratum protocol then you could control which transactions go into the blocks you mine (if the pool allows this). Your bitcoin node would give you transactions to put in the blocks.
But in practice noone is doing either of these things.