Largest Bitcoin Mining Pools in 2025: Top 5 and What Sets Them Apart

Bitcoin mining isn’t a solo sport anymore. If you’re running an ASIC miner today, you’re almost certainly part of a mining pool. Why? Because solo mining is like trying to win the lottery with one ticket - possible, but statistically near impossible. Mining pools let hundreds or thousands of miners combine their computing power to solve blocks faster. When a block is found, the reward is split based on how much hash power each miner contributed. It’s not glamorous, but it’s reliable. And right now, five pools control nearly 70% of the entire Bitcoin network’s hash rate.

Foundry USA: The Dominant Player

Foundry USA isn’t just big - it’s the biggest. As of October 2025, it controls around 30% of Bitcoin’s total hash rate, according to Coin Bureau’s latest analysis. That’s more than the next two largest pools combined. It’s owned by Digital Currency Group, the same company behind Grayscale and CoinDesk, which gives it deep pockets and strong institutional backing.

What makes Foundry USA stand out? Its payout model: FPPS (Full Pay Per Share). That means you get paid for every share you submit - not just when a block is found. And it includes both the block reward and transaction fees. No waiting. No surprises. Miners get paid daily, reliably.

But there’s a catch. Foundry USA requires KYC (Know Your Customer) verification. If you’re mining more than 10 PH/s, you need to submit business documents. That’s a barrier for privacy-focused miners, but it’s also why regulators like the SEC see it as a compliant operator. In fact, Dr. David Schwartz told the U.S. House Financial Services Committee in October 2025 that pools like Foundry USA help prevent illicit activity by making mining traceable.

Its reliability score is 9.2/10 from Coin Bureau, with users praising its uptime and fast payouts. But with such massive control, critics warn it could threaten Bitcoin’s decentralization. If one entity holds 30% of the network, could it theoretically launch a 51% attack? The answer is technically yes - and that’s why many miners use multiple pools to spread risk.

Antpool: The Veteran with Dual Options

Antpool, operated by Bitmain - the same company that makes the S19 and T19 ASIC miners - holds 18.76% of the network hash rate as of October 2025. It’s been around since 2014 and was once the undisputed leader. Today, it’s still a powerhouse, especially for beginners.

What sets Antpool apart? Two payout options. You can choose PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares), which has 0% fees but comes with reward variance - you might get paid more one day, less the next. Or you can go with PPS+ (Pay Per Share Plus), which charges a 4% fee on block rewards and 2% on transaction fees, but gives you stable, predictable income. That’s why many small-scale miners stick with PPS+.

But Antpool has baggage. Bitmain controls both the hardware and the pool. That vertical integration means miners are often locked into buying Bitmain equipment to get the best performance on Antpool. Bitcoin maximalists hate this. They see it as centralization wrapped in a business model.

Users on Trustpilot give Antpool 4.1/5 stars, but complaints are common. During the April 2025 halving, some miners reported payout delays of up to 36 hours. Customer support takes an average of 8.3 hours to respond, according to MiningPoolStats.stream. Still, its interface is simple. A 2025 usability test by 99bitcoins found new users could get set up in under 15 minutes - faster than any other major pool.

F2Pool: The Multi-Coin Option

F2Pool, founded in 2013, holds 12.395% of the Bitcoin hash rate. It’s one of the oldest pools still operating at scale. What makes it unique? It’s not just a Bitcoin pool. F2Pool also supports Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, Dogecoin, and others. If you mine multiple coins, this is one of the few pools that lets you switch between them without switching platforms.

It offers both PPLNS and PPS payout models, similar to Antpool. But its biggest challenge isn’t technical - it’s political. F2Pool is based in China. Even though China banned Bitcoin mining in 2021, F2Pool still operates internationally. But regulatory uncertainty lingers. In August 2025, Godex reported that some European miners avoided F2Pool due to fears of future sanctions or compliance issues.

Its dashboard is functional but dated. It doesn’t offer the same analytics as ViaBTC or the clean UI of Braiins. Still, it’s a solid choice if you want to mine multiple coins and don’t mind a bit of regulatory gray area. Its reliability is solid, with 92% of positive reviews mentioning consistent daily payouts.

ViaBTC: The Tech-Savvy Mid-Tier

ViaBTC, launched in 2016, controls 10.553% of the network. It’s not the largest, but it’s the most technically advanced. Its strength? Real-time analytics and low-latency global servers. Miners using ViaBTC report fewer connection drops and faster share submission - critical when every millisecond counts.

It supports both PPLNS and FPPS models, and its dashboard lets you track your miner’s efficiency, temperature, and even electricity cost per TH/s. It’s the go-to for data-driven miners who want to optimize their setup.

ViaBTC also supports Stratum V2, the newer, more secure mining protocol that encrypts communications between your miner and the pool. This helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks - a known vulnerability in older Stratum V1 systems. As of October 2025, 78% of new mining connections use Stratum V2, and ViaBTC was one of the first to adopt it widely.

But it’s not perfect. Its customer support is inconsistent. Reddit users report mixed experiences - some get quick help, others wait days. And its interface, while powerful, can overwhelm beginners. If you’re tech-savvy and want granular control, ViaBTC is a top pick. If you just want to plug in and mine, look elsewhere.

Braiins Pool: The Innovator with Zero Fees

Braiins Pool - formerly Slushpool, the original Bitcoin mining pool founded in 2010 - holds 5-7% of the network. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the most respected by purists. Why? Because it charges 0% pool fees. That’s right. No cut. No hidden charges. How? Through its proprietary BraiinsOS+ firmware, which boosts mining efficiency by up to 25% by optimizing how your ASIC communicates with the pool.

Braiins doesn’t just run a pool - it builds better hardware software. Its firmware is open-source and works on Bitmain, MicroBT, and other ASICs. If you’re serious about maximizing your returns without paying extra fees, BraiinsOS+ is the most powerful tool in mining.

It offers both FPPS and PPLNS payout models. Minimum withdrawal is just 0.001 BTC - lower than most. Setup is anonymous. No KYC unless you want to mine over 1 PH/s. That’s why it’s a favorite among privacy-focused miners. Reddit user u/MiningMaster42 reported consistent daily payouts of 0.0015 BTC on an S19j Pro over eight months with zero downtime.

Its customer support is fast - average response time is 1.8 hours. Documentation is the best in the industry, with 37 API endpoints and 12 ready-to-use code examples on GitHub. In September 2025, Braiins launched Braiins Farm 2.0, cutting pool connection overhead by 40%. That means less wasted power and more coins mined.

But its small size means less influence on the network. It’s not a threat to centralization - it’s a counterbalance to it. Coin Bureau gave it a 9.5/10 for innovation, but only 8.0/10 for market influence. For many, that’s a fair trade-off.

What’s Changing in 2025 and Beyond

The mining pool landscape is shifting fast. Five years ago, there were over 50 active pools. Now, there are about 15 major ones. The top five control 70% of the network. That’s consolidation - and it’s driven by regulation, not just competition.

The EU’s MiCA framework will require all pools serving European customers to implement full KYC by Q1 2026. That could push anonymous pools like Braiins to change their model - or lose European miners. Meanwhile, the SEC is watching PPS+ payout structures, wondering if they qualify as securities. That could impact Antpool and ViaBTC.

On the tech side, Stratum V2 adoption is accelerating. It’s not just about security - it’s about efficiency. Pools that don’t support it are falling behind. Foundry USA and Braiins are leading the charge. F2Pool and Antpool are catching up.

Enterprise miners are also adapting. Deloitte’s September 2025 survey found 62% of institutional miners use multiple pools. Why? To avoid putting all their hash power in one basket. If one pool goes down, or gets regulated out of a region, they still have backups.

And then there’s the unknown. Blockchain.com’s October 2025 data shows 53.099% of Bitcoin’s hash rate is unattributed. That’s not a glitch - it’s intentional. Some believe this hidden hash rate actually helps decentralization by hiding where mining is concentrated. Others think it’s just large mining farms operating under shell companies. Either way, it’s a wild card.

Which Pool Should You Choose?

If you’re a beginner and want simplicity: Antpool. Easy setup, clear interface, decent support.

If you want maximum payouts and don’t mind paperwork: Foundry USA. Best reliability, but KYC required.

If you mine multiple coins: F2Pool. It’s the only major pool that does Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum Classic well.

If you’re tech-savvy and want control: ViaBTC. Best analytics, Stratum V2 support, but steeper learning curve.

If you care about fees, privacy, and efficiency: Braiins Pool. Zero fees, open-source firmware, fast support. The most ethical choice for purists.

There’s no single ‘best’ pool. It depends on your goals. Are you mining for steady income? Privacy? Maximum efficiency? Regulatory safety? Your answer will tell you where to go.

And remember - no matter which pool you pick, keep an eye on the network. If one pool ever gets close to 50%, the Bitcoin community will react. That’s the whole point of decentralization. Mining pools are necessary. But they’re not supposed to be kings.