As the Bitcoin network approached the milestone of mining its 18 millionth coin, the landscape of mining pools had become more concentrated and competitive than ever. With mining difficulty rising exponentially, individual miners no longer stand a chance without joining forces. This guide explores the top 10 Bitcoin mining pools of 2019, analyzing their hash rates, fee structures, supported cryptocurrencies, and unique features to help you make an informed decision in your mining journey.
What Is a Bitcoin Mining Pool?
Bitcoin mining has evolved from a hobbyist activity into a highly specialized, resource-intensive industry. In the early days, miners could use CPUs or GPUs to successfully mine new blocks. Today, only powerful ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) devices are viable—and even those struggle when operating alone.
A Bitcoin mining pool allows individual miners to combine their computational power (hash rate) to increase the probability of solving a block and earning rewards. When the pool successfully mines a block, the reward is distributed among participants based on their contributed work.
Mining pools use various reward systems, including:
- PPS (Pay Per Share): Immediate payment for each valid share submitted.
- PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares): Rewards based on recent contribution, encouraging long-term participation.
- FPPS (Full Pay Per Share): Includes transaction fees in addition to block rewards.
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Current Bitcoin Hashrate Distribution (2019)
By 2019, Bitcoin’s total hashrate exceeded 100 exahashes per second (EH/s), with mining power concentrated among a few dominant pools. The top players—such as Poolin, F2Pool, Antpool, and BTC.com—controlled over 60% of the network's total hash power. This centralization raised concerns about network security, but also highlighted the efficiency and reliability of these platforms.
Below is an overview of the leading mining pools during that pivotal year.
Top 10 Bitcoin Mining Pools in 2019
1. Poolin (币印矿池)
- Hashrate: 16,793.12 PH/s
- Network Share: 17.74%
Launched as a relatively new entrant, Poolin quickly rose to become one of the largest mining pools globally. It supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies including BTC, BCH, BSV, Litecoin, ZCash, Monero, and more across both ASIC and GPU devices.
Key Features:
- Supports multiple reward models: PPS, FPPS, and PPLNS
- Low service fee of 1.07%
- User-friendly mobile apps for Android and iOS
- Built-in mining profitability calculator
- Internal PIN token for community engagement and incentives
Poolin stood out for its transparency, strong technical infrastructure, and global outreach.
2. F2Pool (鱼池)
- Hashrate: 12,667.01 PH/s
- Network Share: 13.39%
As China’s first major mining pool, F2Pool built a reputation for stability and trustworthiness. Founded before many competitors, it expanded rapidly to support dozens of cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin.
Why Miners Chose F2Pool:
- Decentralized operations with no public scandals
- Multilingual support (English, Spanish, Chinese)
- Mobile app availability for real-time monitoring
- Competitive fee of 1.36%
Despite slipping slightly in market share by 2019, F2Pool remained a top choice due to its proven track record and user-centric design.
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3. Antpool (蚂蚁矿池)
- Hashrate: 9,468.53 PH/s
- Network Share: 10.24%**
Operated by Bitmain—the world’s largest manufacturer of ASIC miners—Antpool launched in February 2014 and quickly became an industry leader.
Notable Milestones:
- Early adopter of SegWit2X and multi-currency mining (ETH, LTC, ZEC)
- Offers both pooled and solo cloud mining
- Supports PPS, PPLNS, and solo mining modes
With minimal withdrawal thresholds and a low 1% fee for solo mining, Antpool catered to both large-scale farms and individual miners.
4. Huobi Pool (火币矿池)
- Hashrate: 5,918.94 PH/s
- Network Share: 6.26%**
Backed by the Huobi Global exchange, this multi-coin mining platform launched in 2018 and gained traction fast. It supports POW-based coins like BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, and also integrates DPOS voting for EOS holders.
Unique Advantages:
- Combines mining with EOS voting rights
- Uses FPPS model for BTC/ETH (includes transaction fees)
- Low fee of 0.78%
- Strong institutional backing and security
Huobi Pool exemplified the trend of exchanges expanding into mining infrastructure.
5. ViaBTC
- Hashrate: 5,904.44 PH/s
- Network Share: 6.25%**
Known for innovation, ViaBTC introduced AsicBoost compatibility, making mining more energy-efficient for BTC and BCH.
Features That Set It Apart:
- Proprietary “transaction acceleration” service
- Supports PPS+, PPLNS, and solo mining
- Fees range from 2% (PPLNS) to 4% (PPS+)
- Available in five languages with mobile monitoring tools
Its focus on performance optimization made it popular among technically advanced miners.
6. BTC.TOP
- Hashrate: 4,609.28 PH/s
- Network Share: 4.88%**
Originally a closed pool limited to domestic Chinese users, BTC.TOP opened registration in late 2017 and surged in popularity.
Why It Grew Fast:
- Very low withdrawal fee (<1%, currently 0.98%)
- Optimized for ASIC-only operations
- Exclusively Chinese interface
While not accessible to international audiences, it became a major player within China’s mining ecosystem.
7. Bitfury
- Hashrate: 3,092.44 PH/s
- Network Share: 3.4%**
One of the few non-Chinese giants, Bitfury originated in Latvia in 2011 and developed its own ASIC chips and data centers.
Key Facts:
- Closed ecosystem using proprietary hardware
- Operates large-scale farms in Georgia and Norway
- Fee: 1.05%
- Also mines ETH, BCH, LTC using custom software
Bitfury represented Western technological prowess in an increasingly China-dominated space.
8. Bitcoin.com
- Hashrate: 516.3 PH/s
- Network Share: 0.2%**
Despite lower overall hash power, Bitcoin.com maintained influence as a key supporter of Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
Strengths:
- Simple UI ideal for beginners
- Supports PPS and PPLNS
- Offers cloud mining contracts
- U.S.-based servers and legal compliance
It appealed to users seeking regulatory clarity and ease of use.
9. Slush Pool
- Hashrate: ~3.54 EH/s (estimated)
- Network Share: ~3.9%**
The world’s first Bitcoin mining pool, launched in 2010 by Satoshi Labs, Slush Pool emphasized fairness and decentralization.
Reward System:
- Hybrid model combining PROP and PPLNS
- Fixed 2% fee, transparently applied
- Prevents pool-hopping via scoring algorithms
Though not the largest by hashrate, Slush Pool remained a symbol of ethical mining.
10. BTCC Mining Pool
Once a major player from 2014–2018, BTCC Mining Pool ceased operations after contributing over 16,959 blocks to the Bitcoin network. At its peak in late 2017, it mined up to 18 blocks daily.
Though inactive by 2019, its legacy underscored the dynamic nature of the mining industry—where even top players must adapt or exit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is it still profitable to mine Bitcoin in 2025?
A: Yes—but only at scale. Profitability depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency (e.g., Antminer S19 series), and pool fees. Joining a reliable pool significantly increases reward consistency.
Q: Which reward method is best—PPS or PPLNS?
A: PPS offers stable income with higher fees; PPLNS rewards loyalty and long-term participation with lower fees but variable payouts. Choose based on your risk tolerance.
Q: Do I need special equipment to join a mining pool?
A: Yes. Modern Bitcoin mining requires ASIC miners. GPUs are no longer efficient for BTC but may still be viable for other coins like Monero or Ravencoin.
Q: Are large mining pools a threat to Bitcoin’s decentralization?
A: Concentration poses risks—if three pools control over 50%, they could theoretically launch a 51% attack. However, economic disincentives make such attacks unlikely.
Q: Can I switch pools anytime?
A: Yes. Most pools allow free switching without downtime. Just update your miner settings with the new pool’s server address.
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Final Thoughts
Mining Bitcoin solo is no longer practical for most individuals. By joining a reputable mining pool in 2019—and continuing into 2025—miners could achieve steady returns through shared computational power.
The top pools distinguished themselves through low fees, transparent reward systems, mobile accessibility, and technological innovation. Whether you're operating a single ASIC or managing a full-scale farm, choosing the right pool remains critical to long-term success.
As the final 3 million Bitcoins slowly emerge over the coming decades, efficient and collaborative mining will remain essential to securing the network—and building digital wealth.
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