After setting up Bitcoin mining equipment, the user has a choice: to mine blocks independently (solo mining) or to join with other miners in a pool (pool mining).
 

To learn more about WhiteBIT's mining pool — WhitePool, you can read our article at the link.
 

Each of these approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, for most users, especially beginners, the choice is usually obvious. Nevertheless, let's consider the main differences.

What is solo mining?

In solo mining, the user directs all the processing power of their hardware, such as an ASIC (a special-purpose integrated circuit designed specifically for efficient Bitcoin mining), to try to find a solution for the next block in the Bitcoin blockchain on their own.
 

More detailed information about mining equipment can be found in our article at this link.
 

Reward distribution: if the user's hardware is the first on the network to find the correct solution, they receive 100% of the block reward. As of summer 2025, this amounts to 3.125 BTC, plus all transaction fees included in that block. This reward can represent a significant amount of money.

What is pool mining?

In pool mining, a user connects his or her equipment to a mining pool, a server that pools the computing power (hashrate) of many individual miners from around the world. The pool coordinates the actions of all connected participants, who work together to try to find a solution for the next block. From the perspective of the Bitcoin network, a mining pool looks like one powerful miner.
 

Reward distribution: when a pool finds a block, the reward received (after deduction of the pool's commission) is distributed among all participants. The distribution is done in proportion to each miner's contribution to the pool's total computational work. The contribution is measured in so-called "shares" — units that reflect the amount of proof-of-work that the user's hardware sends to the pool.

Comparison: advantages and disadvantages

Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each approach:

Solo mining

Advantages:

• Full reward: if a block is successfully mined, the user receives the whole reward in its entirety;
• No pool commission: no need to share income with the pool operator;
• Potential anonymity: some configurations do not require account registration or transfer of personal data.
   

Disadvantages:

• Extremely low probability of success: the main disadvantage of solo mining. At the current level of Bitcoin network complexity, the chances of finding a block on your own, even with several powerful ASIC devices, are close to zero. This is comparable to winning the lottery — you can mine for months or even years without earning any income;
• Unpredictable income: rewards are entirely dependent on luck. Income is unstable and unplannable, making it difficult to cover regular expenses such as electricity payments;
• Complexity of setup: in some cases, solo mining requires deploying and maintaining your own full Bitcoin network node, which requires technical expertise.

Pool mining

Advantages:

• Income stability: a major advantage. Thanks to the pooled computing power, the pool finds blocks much more frequently. The user receives a proportional share of the reward, payments are made regularly (e.g., once a day), which allows you to plan financial flows;
• Low entry threshold: you can start mining even with a single ASIC device;
• Easy to connect: most pools provide detailed instructions and addresses for connection. On the WhiteBIT platform, the reward is credited directly to the account's Main balance;
• Minimal impact of randomness: user revenue is averaged based on the pool's aggregate performance, reducing the impact of the luck factor.
   

Disadvantages:

• Splitting the reward: the user receives only a portion of the total block reward, depending on their contribution;
• Pool commission: pools charge a fee for providing services — typically between 1% and 3%. On WhiteBIT, the base commission is 2% and can be customized depending on the hashrate of the user;
• Dependence on the pool operator: the user must trust the pool for correctness of calculations and uninterrupted operation of servers.

Why is pool mining chosen more frequently?

The main reason for the popularity of pool mining is the predictability of income and risk reduction. Mining is an investment activity associated with the cost of purchasing equipment and paying for electricity. A stable cash flow is needed to cover these expenses and generate profit.
 

Pool mining provides regular income, even if it is relatively small.

Solo mining, on the other hand, is a strategy with high potential rewards but a very low probability of success.

This approach is justified only in two cases: if the operator runs a large mining farm with a high hash rate in the network, or if he has access to very cheap electricity and the patience to wait a long time for results.
 

For the vast majority of miners — especially beginners — participating in a pool is the only rational and economically feasible option for mining Bitcoin.
 

The choice between solo and pool mining depends on available resources, attitude to risk and requirements for income stability. However, if the goal is to be rewarded regularly for the operation of the equipment and to cover operating costs, pool mining is the industry standard and the preferred solution.

Support

In case of any questions related to the functionality of our exchange, you can:

• Leave a request on our website;
• Write to the support email: support@whitebit.com;
• Write to the chat using the button in the lower right corner of the screen (in the upper right corner of the WhiteBIT app, click ).