To put it simplistically, but not quite correctly, mining is the mining of cryptocurrencies, most often bitcoins, which is due to their most serious demand and popularity on the market at the moment. Essentially, the owner of a computer, using its resources to operate a virtual payment system, collects and processes information about the cryptocurrency transactions currently taking place. This activity is necessary for the transactions to take place, to ensure a high degree of security, as well as the smooth functioning of the entire peer-to-peer decentralized system. The greater the number of miners and, accordingly, computer resources involved in the process, the more reliable and stable the system is.
Working Principle
The owner of a computer resource receives remuneration for the processing of information in the form of a commission assigned by the owner of the virtual money, or remuneration in the form of a part of the cryptocurrency emitted in the process of mining. This is the basis of one of the main principles of payment systems, involving the use of bitcoins and some other virtual money. The transactions where the highest commission is set are processed and conducted first. Therefore, transactions with zero fees can take a very long time.
Why does bitcoin need miners?
It is important to understand that the common belief that the need for mining and, consequently, miners will disappear after the last bitcoin is released is extremely far from the truth. As already mentioned, no less important functions of mining are processing information, conducting transactions and securing the functioning of the payment system. Obviously, this kind of work will always be required.
Bitcoin mining
Undoubtedly, the most popular cryptocurrency today is bitcoin, created in 2008-2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. That is why, more often than not, the decision is made to mine this particular type of virtual money. However, it should be understood that the flip side of the popularity is a huge amount of resources involved in processing the information. Therefore, today, in order to really make money mining bitcoins requires the presence of extremely large computing power.
Mining schemes
The simplest mining scheme involves the installation of special software on the computer, then the connection of its resources to the payment system.
State-owned mining programs
Nowadays, the interest in various cryptocurrencies began to appear in some countries at the state level. It should be noted that in most developed countries this sector of the economy is given to entrepreneurs. However, in North Korea, the mining of cryptocurrencies is one of the important measures to support the national monetary unit.
In recent months, there has been serious interest in virtual money, especially bitcoin, and its mining process among the leaders of the national government. Some high-ranking officials have repeatedly understood the issue of developing state mining programs. However, it is somewhat premature to talk about actually putting these plans into action.
Mining Pools
An important principle behind the most popular virtual payment system is the random distribution of issued bitcoins. In order to make this process more predictable and uniform, special online services have been created, which are called mining pools. Individual users put the available computing power at their disposal. Eventually, the bitcoins received as issue fees are distributed among pool members based on the pool’s rules. The features of the software allow users to work in a pool much more efficiently than on their own, which has led to the widespread use of this type of mining.
Cloud Pools
Today, in order to effectively engage in mining, you need to have serious computing power. Obviously, to acquire such powerful computers requires considerable financial resources, which are unlikely to be available to a single person. As a result, there is a new type of pool, called a cloud pool. It provides purchase or rent of computing capacities from specialized companies possessing the corresponding equipment.
In this case, all transactions are carried out over the Internet, and the scheme of interaction looks as follows. A specialized company receives funds from a client in the form of profit, necessary for its further development and the purchase of new, more powerful computers; the user is left with the result of mining on the most modern and advanced equipment.