Braiins Pool is the world's oldest active Bitcoin mining pool, having mined its first block in November 2010. Originally launched as "Bitcoin.cz Mining Pool" and later rebranded from Slush Pool, it has mined over 1.3 million BTC and currently maintains 5-8% of the Bitcoin network's total hash rate.
As a collaborative mining platform, Braiins Pool allows miners to combine their computational power to find Bitcoin blocks together, receiving predictable payouts based on their contribution rather than facing the extreme variance of solo mining.
History & Background
2010: Created by Czech programmer Marek "Slush" Palatinus as the world's first mining pool, solving the problem of unpredictable income for individual miners.
2013: Braiins (founded by Jan Čapek and Pavel Moravec) took over operations, allowing Palatinus to focus on creating Trezor, the first cryptocurrency hardware wallet.
2016: Rebranded to Slush Pool and became the first pool to let miners vote on Bitcoin protocol versions.
2022: Rebranded again to Braiins Pool, unifying all products under one brand.
2023: Transitioned to Full Pay Per Share (FPPS) payment model for maximum payout predictability.
2024: Became the first pool to offer Lightning Network payouts.
The company remains independently operated from Prague, Czech Republic, having never accepted venture capital funding.
How It Works
Braiins Pool operates on a simple principle:
- Task Distribution: The pool server divides mining work into smaller units called "shares"
- Miner Contribution: Your ASICs solve these shares and submit them as proof of work
- Block Discovery: When anyone in the pool finds a valid block, everyone shares the reward
- Reward Distribution: You receive payment based on shares submitted using the FPPS model
FPPS (Full Pay Per Share) guarantees payment for every share you submit, including both the block subsidy (currently 3.125 BTC) and transaction fees. This eliminates variance : you get paid consistently regardless of pool luck.
Key Features
1. Predictable FPPS Payments
- Guaranteed payment for every share submitted
- Includes transaction fees, not just block rewards
- Perfect for operations needing stable cash flow
- No variance from pool "luck"
2. Lightning Network Payouts
- First pool to offer this feature (launched Feb 2024)
- Instant payments with near-zero fees
- Ideal for frequent small payouts
- Avoids UTXO accumulation
3. Zero Pool Fees with Braiins OS+
Braiins OS/OS+ is the most advanced open-source mining firmware available. With proven efficiency gains of 10-25%, zero fees on Braiins Pool, and completely free to use, it's one of the easiest ways to significantly improve mining profitability. Whether you have 1 ASIC or 10,000, Braiins OS helps you mine more Bitcoin with less electricity.
No cost. Significant gains. Open source. Easy to install.
- Standard fee: 2.5%
- With Braiins OS+ firmware: 0% fees
- OS+ also improves efficiency by 10-25%
- Free to use on any pool
4. Professional Monitoring
- Real-time hash rate tracking
- Individual worker management
- Mobile app for iOS/Android
- Customizable alerts and notifications
5. Flexible Payout Options
- Daily, weekly, or monthly schedules
- Multiple Bitcoin addresses supported
- Customizable minimum thresholds
- Split payments to different wallets
The Braiins Ecosystem
Braiins offers a complete suite of mining tools:
Braiins OS+ (Free Firmware)
- Replaces stock ASIC firmware
- 10-25% efficiency improvement
- Autotuning for optimal performance
- 0% pool fees when mining on Braiins Pool
- Supports Antminer S9/S17/S19 and Whatsminer M20/M30 series
Braiins Toolbox (Free)
- Batch configuration tool
- Update multiple miners simultaneously
- Quick status checks
- Perfect for small-to-medium farms
Braiins Manager (Enterprise)
- Advanced management for large operations
- Multi-site monitoring
- Curtailment for demand response
- Hosting provider features
- Issue tracking and maintenance scheduling
Stratum V2 Protocol
- Co-developed by Braiins
- 95% bandwidth reduction
- Enhanced security and privacy
- Gives miners more control over block templates
Braiins
Fees & Profitability
Pool Fees:
- With Braiins OS+: 0%
- With stock firmware: 2.5%
Real-World Example (100 TH/s farm):
Without Braiins Ecosystem:
- Effective hashrate: 97.5 TH/s (after 2.5% fees)
- Monthly revenue: ~0.55 BTC
With Braiins OS+ + Pool:
- Efficiency gain: +15% = 115 TH/s effective
- Pool fee: 0%
- Monthly revenue: ~0.69 BTC
- Result: +25% more Bitcoin
Who Should Use Braiins Pool?
✅ Perfect For:
Home Miners (1-10 ASICs)
- Stable income vs solo mining's lottery
- Mobile monitoring
- Lower electricity costs with OS+
- 0% fees maximize small operations
Small Farms (10-100 ASICs)
- Free batch management tools
- Predictable cash flow for bills
- Automated worker management
- Professional monitoring without complexity
Medium Farms (100-1,000 ASICs)
- Braiins Manager for enterprise control
- Multi-site management
- Demand response participation
- API integration options
Large Operations (1,000+ ASICs)
- Proven reliability at scale
- 24/5 support team
- Custom integration capabilities
- Lightning payouts simplify accounting
Anyone Who Values:
- Efficiency and profitability
- Transparency and open-source
- Bitcoin decentralization
- Professional tools and support
❌ Consider Alternatives If:
- You need to mine altcoins (Braiins is Bitcoin-only)
- You want the absolute simplest plug-and-play setup
- You strongly prefer the largest pool (30%+ hash rate)
- You don't want to install custom firmware
Getting Started
Quick Setup (5 Steps):
1. Create Account
- Visit braiins.com/pool
- Sign up with email (or mine anonymously)
- Enable 2FA for security
2. Get Connection Details
- Pool URL:
stratum+tcp://stratum.braiins.com:3333 - Username: your_username.worker_name
- Password: x (or any string)
3. Configure Your ASIC
- Access miner's web interface
- Enter pool connection details
- Save and restart
4. Optional: Install Braiins OS+ (Recommended)
- Download Braiins Toolbox
- Scan network for miners
- Click "Install Braiins OS+"
- Wait 15-30 minutes
5. Configure Payouts
- Choose Lightning or on-chain
- Set payout frequency
- Add Bitcoin address
- Done!
Advantages
- ✅ 15-year track record : Oldest pool, 1.3M+ BTC mined, zero unpaid incidents
- ✅ Predictable income : FPPS eliminates variance completely
- ✅ Superior profitability : 0% fees + efficiency gains = 15-30% more BTC
- ✅ Complete ecosystem : Firmware, tools, and pool work seamlessly together
- ✅ Technical leadership : Lightning payouts, Stratum V2, open-source innovation
- ✅ Transparency : Open-source code, public stats, clear communication
- ✅ All scales supported : Works for 1 ASIC or 10,000 ASICs
- ✅ Decentralization focus : 5-8% hash rate supports network health
Disadvantages
- ❌ Moderate pool size : 5-8% vs mega-pools at 20-30% (though FPPS eliminates any earnings impact)
- ❌ Bitcoin-only: No altcoin mining support
- ❌ Learning curve : Advanced features require time to master
- ❌ Firmware required : Need Braiins OS+ for 0% fees (but it's free and improves efficiency)
Comparison with Other Pools
| Pool | Hash Rate | Fee | Payment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braiins Pool | 5-8% | 0-2.5% | FPPS | Efficiency, tools, all sizes |
| Foundry USA | ~30% | 0-2% | FPPS | Large institutional miners |
| AntPool | 15-20% | 2-4% | Multiple | Bitmain hardware owners |
| F2Pool | 10-15% | 2.5-5% | PPS+ | Multi-coin miners |
| ViaBTC | 8-10% | 2-4% | Multiple | Payment flexibility |
Nakamoto Builder
Why Choose Braiins: Complete ecosystem with free efficiency tools results in higher overall profitability despite moderate pool size.
FAQ
Q: Is it safe? A: Yes. 15-year track record, 1.3M+ BTC mined, zero security incidents.
Q: Do I need Braiins OS+? A: No, but it gives you 0% fees + 10-25% efficiency gains. Highly recommended.
Q: What's the minimum payout? A: Customizable by user. Very low for Lightning, typically 0.001-0.01 BTC for on-chain.
Q: Does pool size affect my earnings? A: No. FPPS guarantees identical earnings regardless of pool size or luck.
Q: Can I mine other coins? A: No. Braiins Pool is Bitcoin-only by design.
Q: How difficult is OS+ installation? A: Easy with Braiins Toolbox—just point and click. Takes 15-30 minutes per miner.
Q: What if my ASIC isn't supported? A: You can still use the pool with stock firmware (2.5% fee). Check braiins.com for supported models.
Conclusion
Braiins Pool offers a unique combination of historical credibility, technical innovation, and practical profitability that few mining pools can match. As the world's first mining pool with 15 years of reliable operation, it has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem serving miners from hobbyists to industrial operations.
The bottom line: For miners who want maximum efficiency, professional tools, and predictable income, Braiins Pool delivers measurably better results than simple alternatives. The combination of 0% fees (with OS+), significant efficiency gains, FPPS payments, and comprehensive management tools translates directly to higher profitability.
Choose Braiins Pool if you: Want to maximize Bitcoin earned per watt, value transparency and open-source development, need professional tools, or plan to mine long-term.
Final verdict: One of the top mining pool choices for serious Bitcoin miners at any scale. The efficiency gains and zero fees alone make it worth considering, and the complete ecosystem provides everything needed for sustainable, profitable operations.
Resources
- Website: braiins.com
- Pool Dashboard: braiins.com/pool
- Documentation: academy.braiins.com
- Support: help.braiins.com
- Community: t.me/BraiinsPool
Article last updated: January 2026 | For bitcoin-builder.com directory
