Since Jan. 3, 2009, the Bitcoin community has mined over 910,000 blocks, with 9 well-known mining swimming pools accountable for discovering 48.78% of them. The next highlights the highest ten entities which have mined 673,848 blocks, representing almost three-quarters of all blocks produced for the reason that community’s launch.
The ten Entities That Helped Write Bitcoin’s Ledger
In Bitcoin’s early days, mining was carried out solo, with some individuals commanding extra hashrate than others, all whereas the {hardware} developed from central processing models (CPUs) to graphics processing models (GPUs) and ultimately to at this time’s application-specific built-in circuits (ASICs). On the shut of 2010, Marek Palatinus, also referred to as Slush, launched the primary publicly acknowledged bitcoin (BTC) mining pool, aptly named Slush Pool, and it has since rebranded to Braiins Pool.
Right here’s a complete take a look at the highest ten mining entities, the variety of blocks they’ve found, and the identities behind them.
1. Unknown (25.25% / 229,922 blocks)
This class covers unknown miners whose identities stay hidden within the coinbase transaction. It contains Satoshi Nakamoto, early bitcoin individuals, and different nameless contributors energetic within the community’s childhood. Whereas many of those blocks have been mined earlier than organized swimming pools turned the norm, a handful are nonetheless discovered at this time by unknown miners, although the follow has change into more and more uncommon.
2. Antpool (11.00% / 100,178 blocks)
Antpool ranks among the many largest and longest-running mining swimming pools within the business. As soon as immediately owned by Bitmain, Antpool not operates underneath the corporate’s umbrella however nonetheless maintains shut ties to the agency. It has lengthy been a number one contributor to Bitcoin’s hashpower and at this time stands because the second-largest mining pool by hashrate, simply behind Foundry.
3. F2pool (10.15% / 92,382 blocks)
Based in China in 2013, F2pool—initially often called Discus Fish—has grown into a number one multi-asset mining pool. Over time, it has mined a large portion of blocks and continues to rank among the many most influential swimming pools, supporting a variety of cryptocurrency networks past Bitcoin.
4. Foundry USA (6.39% / 58,175 blocks)
Foundry USA, a U.S.-based mining pool backed by Foundry Digital, a subsidiary of Digital Forex Group, has rapidly risen in prominence since 2020. Pushed by North America’s mining growth and rising institutional curiosity, it now ranks fourth all-time in blocks discovered however leads the business in hashrate as of 2025. Up to now three days, Foundry has commanded about 32.42% of the community’s complete hashrate.
5. ViaBTC (5.16% / 47,014 blocks)
Based in Could 2016 by Haipo Yang, ViaBTC is a Chinese language‑based mining pool that rapidly gained prominence for its pioneering companies and strong multi‑coin assist. It launched modern cost strategies like PPS+—a primary within the business—and helps mining throughout over 20 cryptocurrencies, together with BTC, LTC, BCH, ETH, and KAS. Immediately, it serves a world person base of over 1.7 million customers throughout 150+ nations, sustaining high rankings in hashrate.
6. Braiin’s Pool (4.53% / 41,283 blocks)
Based by Marek Palatinus in November 2010 (initially underneath the identify Bitcoin.cz or Slush Pool), Braiins Pool was the world’s first publicly accessible bitcoin mining pool. It launched pooled mining with the modern “Slush‑model” share system, enabling miners to mix computing energy and earn predictable rewards. Immediately, it stays a key business presence, famend for its transparency, use of protocols like Stratum V2, and its contribution to mining decentralization.
7. BTC Guild (3.62% / 32,935 blocks)
Launched in 2011, BTC Guild rapidly rose to prominence as one of many largest bitcoin mining swimming pools, at instances commanding greater than 40% of the community’s hashrate. Operated by software program developer Michael Marsee, it performed a pivotal function in Bitcoin’s childhood, giving smaller miners dependable payouts. Nevertheless, confronted with rising regulatory uncertainty and rising industrial competitors, the pool formally closed its doorways in June 2015 after 4 years of affect.
8. Poolin (3.07% / 27,911 blocks)
Established in 2017 by former Btc.com executives, Poolin quickly turned one of many largest bitcoin mining swimming pools worldwide, at one level rating second by hashrate. Recognized for its multi-asset mining assist and user-friendly companies, the pool attracted a world following. Nevertheless, by 2022, it confronted liquidity and withdrawal points that weakened its dominance, although its contributions throughout peak years left a long-lasting mark on Bitcoin’s mining historical past.
9. Ghash.io (2.54% / 23,083 blocks)
Operated by the crypto alternate CEX.IO, Ghash.io emerged in 2013 as probably the most highly effective bitcoin mining swimming pools of its period. In June 2014, it briefly surpassed 50% of the community’s hashrate, igniting widespread fears about centralization and a possible 51% assault. Though the pool’s dominance rapidly waned, ongoing scrutiny and aggressive pressures led to its closure in 2016, cementing its place in Bitcoin’s early mining historical past.
10. Binance Pool (2.30% / 20,965 blocks)
Launched in April 2020 by the worldwide alternate Binance, Binance Pool swiftly entered the ranks of the highest bitcoin mining swimming pools, leveraging the platform’s huge person base and monetary sources. It affords each proof-of-work mining and staking companies, together with options like FPPS (Full Pay-Per-Share) payouts. Regardless of being a comparatively new entrant, it has mined tens of 1000’s of blocks, cementing itself as a formidable pressure within the business.
The Arc of Affect in Bitcoin’s Mining Historical past
The distribution of mining energy over time reveals not simply who formed Bitcoin’s basis, however who may affect its future. As institutional gamers declare extra hashrate and older entities fade, the steadiness between decentralization and dominance grows extra delicate. The quiet evolution of mining swimming pools might but decide whether or not Bitcoin stays trustless—or merely ruled by completely different gatekeepers.
Behind each mined block lies a strategic shift in know-how, governance, and ambition. From nameless pioneers to corporate-backed swimming pools, Bitcoin’s chain is a residing artifact of financial and ideological competitors. Whereas mining stays permissionless, affect accrues in patterns, suggesting that energy inside the community could also be extra fluid—however not essentially extra distributed—than many may assume.
