.. meta:: :description: Information and guides on how to mine the Dash cryptocurrency :keywords: dash, mining, X11, masternode, CPU, GPU, ASIC, software, hardware, pool, mining pools .. _mining: ====== Mining ====== Mining in the context of cryptocurrency such as Dash refers to the process of searching for solutions to cryptographically difficult problems as a method of securing blocks on the blockchain. The process of mining creates new currency tokens as a reward to the miner. Mining is possible on a range of hardware. Dash implements an algorithm known as :ref:`X11 `, which the miner must solve in order to earn rewards. The simplest and most general hardware available for mining is the general purpose CPU present in every computer. A CPU is designed to be versatile but offers less efficiency than a GPU, which is designed to rapidly calculate millions of vectors in parallel. While specific CPU instruction enhancements related to cryptography such as AES or AVX can provide a decent boost, GPUs offer a significant performance increase due to their multiple pipelines capable of processing the predictably repetitive calculations associated with cryptocurrency mining. Finally, ASICs are relatively inflexible and can only process the specific function(s) for which they were designed, but at an even faster rate than the more general purpose GPUs and CPUs. A number of X11 ASICs are now available on the market, which have quickly made CPU and GPU mining uneconomic due to the increased difficulty of hashing arising from the rapidly increasing hash rate. The result is a currency which is more secure against brute force attacks on the Dash blockchain. The profitability of mining is determined by the hashrate of your mining device, the current network difficulty and the costs of your hardware and electricity. The following links provide up to date information: - `Hashrate `_ - `Mining difficulty `_ - `Profitability calculation tool `_ Masternodes vs. Mining ====================== Dash, like Bitcoin and most other cryptocurrencies, is based on a decentralized ledger of all transactions, known as a blockchain. This blockchain is secured through a consensus mechanism; in the case of both Dash and Bitcoin, the consensus mechanism is Proof of Work (PoW). Miners attempt to solve difficult problems with specialized computers, and when they solve the problem, they receive the right to add a new block to the blockchain. If all the other people running the software agree that the problem was solved correctly, the block is added to the blockchain and the miner is rewarded. Dash works a little differently from Bitcoin, however, because it has a two-tier network. The second tier is powered by :ref:`masternodes ` (Full Nodes), which enable financial privacy (CoinJoin), instant transactions (InstantSend), and the decentralized governance and budget system. Because this second tier is so important, masternodes are also rewarded when miners discover new blocks. The breakdown is as follows: 90% of the block subsidy is split between the miner and a masternode per the distribution found :ref:`here `, while 10% is reserved for the budget system (created by superblocks every month). The masternode system is referred to as Proof of Service (PoSe), since the masternodes provide crucial services to the network. In fact, the entire network is overseen by the masternodes, which have the power to reject improperly formed blocks from miners. If a miner tried to take the entire block reward for themselves or tried to run an old version of the Dash software, the masternode network would orphan that block, and it would not be added to the blockchain. In short, miners power the first tier, which is the basic sending and receiving of funds and prevention of doublespending. Masternodes power the second tier, which provide the added features that make Dash different from other cryptocurrencies. Masternodes do not mine, and mining computers cannot serve as masternodes. Additionally, each masternode is “secured” by 1000 DASH. Those DASH remain under the sole control of their owner at all times, and can still be freely spent. The funds are not locked in any way. However, if the funds are moved or spent, the associated masternode will go offline and stop receiving rewards. Mining Pools ============ Mining Dash in pools is more likely to generate rewards than solo mining directly on the blockchain. Mining dash using P2Pool is strongly encouraged, since it is a good way to distribute, rather than centralize, the hashing power. The following site lists Dash P2Pool mining pools near you, simply choose a pool with favourable fees and ping time and enter your Dash payment address as username and anything as password. - http://www.p2poolmining.us/p2poolnodes/ If you would like to set up your own P2Pool, documentation of the process is available :ref:`here ` and the code for p2pool-dash is available on `GitHub `_. Other mining pools are listed below and may be advantageous for different reasons such as ping latency, uptime, fee, users, etc. A guide to using a typical mining pool can be found :ref:`here `. - https://coinfoundry.org - https://mining.luxor.tech - https://dash.suprnova.cc - https://www.nicehash.com - https://www.coinotron.com - https://dash.miningpoolhub.com - https://www.multipool.us - https://www.f2pool.com - https://www2.coinmine.pl/dash/ - https://www.antpool.com - https://avalon-life.io - https://www.genesis-mining.com - https://www.viabtc.com - https://zpool.ca DISCLAIMER: This list is provided for informational purposes only. Services listed here have not been evaluated or endorsed by the Dash developers and no guarantees are made as to the accuracy of this information. Please exercise discretion when using third-party services. If you’d like to be added to this list please reach out to leon.white@dash.org In addition to joining a pool, you will also need to create a Dash address to receive your payout. To do this in Dash Core wallet, see :ref:`here `. .. toctree:: :hidden: :includehidden: :maxdepth: 1 pools.rst p2pool.rst CPU Mining ========== This documentation describes how to mine Dash under the Windows operating system using just the CPU in your computer. Please note that the prevalence of GPU and ASIC miners mean that unless you have free electricity, this is highly unlikely to be profitable! Since this is the case, the software in this guide has not been updated in several years, and is intended for experimental purposes and testnet only. This is a fairly simple procedure and examples will be given in order to achieve the fastest possible hash rate for your CPU, but remember that more optimized miners do exist, so we advise you to keep an eye out on mining sites such as these in order to keep up with the latest information and releases. - `Crypto Mining Blog `_ - `Dash Forum Mining Discussions `_ - `Bitcoin Talk Altcoin Mining Discussions `_ Mining software --------------- The first step is to download appropriate mining software. A good basic miner for modern CPUs can be found here: - https://github.com/elmad/darkcoin-cpuminer-1.3-avx-aes This software depends on your CPU supporting the AES-NI and AVX instruction sets. You can use `CPU-Z `_ to check if this is the case for your CPU: .. figure:: img/cpu-z.png :width: 300px CPU-Z showing details for an Intel i7 Haswell CPU If your CPU does not support AES-NI and AVX, then you can try more generalized software which does not require specific instruction sets, such as these: - https://github.com/ig0tik3d/darkcoin-cpuminer-1.2c - https://github.com/tpruvot/cpuminer-multi Our goal here is to choose mining software that supports the maximum possible instruction sets available on your CPU, and then try to increase the hash speed. Once you have made your choice, click **Releases** and download and extract the zip file. The different \*.exe files indicate which specific processor optimizations they support. The folder should look something like this: .. figure:: img/cpu-miner-files.png :width: 400px Executable CPU miners for Dash Configuration ------------- Begin by selecting a mining pool and generating a Dash address as described in the :ref:`Mining Pools ` section above. Keep all your mining files in a single folder. In this example we will work from the Desktop. The node selected for this example is from the p2poolming.us list and is located in China:: http://118.184.180.43:7903/static/ Next, open **Notepad** and type in on one line the command we will use to start the miner, followed by pause on the second line. The general format is as follows:: -a -o -u -p -t pause Where: - minerd = the executable miner daemon file you choose to use - a = algorithm, which is X11 for Dash - o = URL of your mining pool, including the protocol and port - u = username, usually the Dash receiving address of your wallet or worker - p = password, can often be set to x - t = number of threads used - pause = keeps the window open in the case of errors For the CPU in the example above, the command may be:: minerd-avx-aes-sse2-sss3.exe -a X11 -o stratum+tcp://118.184.180.43:7903 -u XwZRjo1f6gmq3LCv7X1Hi5h3NkvDMHvu8G -p x -t 8 pause .. figure:: img/notepad.png :width: 400px Notepad file showing an example command to start a CPU miner Click **File**, then **Save As**. Change **Save as type** to **All Files**, then type the file name as *startminer.bat* and save it in the same folder as the unzipped *minerd* files. Testing ------- You are now ready to start! Keep an eye on your CPU usage in **Task Manager** (right click the taskbar to open this) and be careful that the CPU temperature does not exceed your maximum rating (around 64°C). If you have temperature or desktop stability problems, reduce ``t`` to ~2 threads and try that first. If ``t`` is left out, the machine will default to the maximum number of threads. After running the miner for a while, take a look at the hash speed and payouts in your mining pool. You can identify your miner by the wallet address on the page. .. figure:: img/cpu-mining.png :width: 400px Example of CPU mining using DarkCoin CPUMiner 1.3 on Intel Core i7 Tips ---- Reduce the number of threads for added desktop usability and heat reduction. If the CPU temperature is too high, consider fitting a new fan and check that the heat sink thermal paste on the CPU is adequate. Tweak the processor clock speed for added performance using a motherboard controller like `AI Suite `_ for Asus motherboards. Reduction of CPU core voltage will result in lower temperature but increased instability. Try to select a pool that is nearby to reduce network latency. If the node appears slow, switch to another location. Please distribute the hashing power globally to different pools to avoid forking. GPU Mining ========== This guide consolidates several other guides on how to use your GPU (the processor on your graphics card) to mine Dash using the X11 algorithm on Windows. Please note that the growing market for ASIC miners means that this if probably not going to be profitable! A lot of the software and binaries described here also have not been updated for several years, so this guide should be used for experimental purposes only. This guide will cover the process of downloading and configuring the mining software, followed by some suggestions for optimizations. This technology can change rapidly, so we advise you to keep an eye out on mining sites such as these in order to keep up with the latest information and releases. - `Crypto Mining Blog `_ - `Dash Forum Mining Discussions `_ - `Bitcoin Talk Altcoin Mining Discussions `_ Mining software --------------- As for CPU mining, a range of mining software is available for GPU mining. Most of it based on sgminer compiled with different optimizations specific to different hardware. A good approach is to identify your graphics hardware, then choose an appropriate build of sgminer. You can use `GPU-Z `_ to identify your GPU hardware: .. figure:: img/gpu-z.png :width: 400px GPU-Z showing details for AMD Radeon Turks and NVIDIA Quadro GK104 class GPUs Next, download the mining software. Most of these are based on the original `sgminer `_, but this is not suitable for the X11 algorithm, offers no compiled binaries and hasn't been updated in years. We will describe using pre-compiled binary software maintained by newer developers only. **AMD** - https://github.com/nicehash/sgminer/releases **NVIDIA** - https://github.com/tpruvot/ccminer/releases (focus on core application) - https://github.com/sp-hash/ccminer/releases (sp-mod, optimized CUDA kernels for Windows) Download your chosen release and extract the zip file to a known location. The folder should look something like this: .. figure:: img/gpu-miner-files.png :width: 400px Executable GPU miners for Dash The sgminer file is the executable file, while the various files with .cl extensions define the various algorithms supported by sgminer. In this case, we are interested in the darkcoin.cl and darkcoin-mod.cl implementations of X11. Note that the name of the executable file may be different for miners with different optimizations, for example ccminer for NVIDIA cards. Configuration ------------- Begin by selecting a mining pool and generating a Dash address as described in the :ref:`Mining Pools ` section above. Keep all your mining files in a single folder. In this example we will work from the Desktop. The node selected for this example is from the p2poolming.us list and is located in China:: http://118.184.180.43:7903/static/ Next, open **Notepad** and create the basic configuration. The general format is as follows:: { "pools" : [ { "url" : "stratum+tcp://pooladdress:7903", "user" : "walletaddress", "pass" : "x", "algorithm":"darkcoin" } ] } Where: - pools = defines a list of pools (in this case, only one) towards which the hashing power is directed - url = URL of your mining pool, including the protocol and port - user = username, usually the Dash receiving address of your wallet or worker - pass = password, can often be set to x - algorithm = hashing algorithm to use, in this case darkcoin (for historic reasons) or darkcoin-mod For the pool above, the configuration may be: .. figure:: img/gpu-config.png :width: 400px Configuration file for a Dash GPU miner Click **File**, then **Save As**. Change **Save as type** to **All Files**, then type the file name as *sgminer.conf* and save it in the same folder as the unzipped *sgminer* files. Testing ------- Double click your *sgminer.exe* and a **Command Prompt** window should appear immediately. If it disappears too quickly, check your configuration for missing commas, unclosed brackets or incorrect file name. The program will compile a special binary specific to your GPU and store it in the folder, then begin hashing. .. figure:: img/gpu-mining.png :width: 400px Example of GPU mining using sgminer 5.6.1-nicehash-51 on Intel HD Graphics 4600 .. _asic-mining: ASIC Mining =========== ASIC stands for *Application-Specific Integrated Circuit* and describes a type of processor that is designed for one purpose only. ASICs are a popular choice for mining cryptocurrency because they can offer a higher efficiency than CPU or GPU miners, resulting in higher profit. Please note that the information on this page may become obsolete very quickly due to the rapidly changing market and difficulty of mining Dash. You are responsible for carrying out your own research and any listing on this page should not be considered an endorsement of any particular product. A good place to begin your research is the `mining section of the Dash Forums `_. The following X11 ASIC miners are available on the market today, click the product name to visit the manufacturer's website: +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------+---------+---------+-----------------+---------+ | Name | Hash rate | Power | Weight | Dimensions (mm) | Price | +==========================================================================================================+===============+=========+=========+=================+=========+ | `Bitmain Antminer D5 `_ | 119 GH/s ±5% | 1566 W | 7.5 kg | 486 x 265 x 388 | $1,180 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------+---------+---------+-----------------+---------+ | `Spondoolies SPx36 `_ | 540 GH/s ±10% | 4400 W | 19.5 kg | 640 x 525 x 185 | $7,000 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------+---------+---------+-----------------+---------+ | `StrongU STU-U6 `_ | 420 GH/s ±8% | 2100 W | 8.5 kg | 370 x 135 x 208 | | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------+---------+---------+-----------------+---------+ ASIC resellers may also have miners available: - http://kaboomracks.com - https://brokerage.luxor.tech/dashboard The following ASIC miners are either no longer easily available or obsolete due to the increase in difficulty on the network. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Name | Hash rate | Power | Weight | Dimensions (mm) | +=======================================================================================================+================+========+=========+=================+ | `Baikal BK-X `_ | 10 GH/s ±5% | 800 W | 3.8 kg | 312 x 125 x 130 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Baikal Mini `_ | 150 MH/s ±10% | 40 W | .475 kg | 140 x 100 x 95 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Baikal Giant+ A2000 `_ | 2000 MH/s ±10% | 430 W | 3 kg | 300 x 140 x 125 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Baikal Giant A900 `_ | 900 MH/s ±5% | 217 W | 2.5 kg | 300 x 123 x 123 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Baikal Quad Cube `_ | 1200 MH/s ±10% | 300 W | 3 kg | 135 x 135 x 425 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Bitmain Antminer D3 `_ | 17 GH/s ±5% | 970 W | 6.5 kg | 320 x 130 x 190 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `iBelink DM384M `_ | 384 MH/s ±10% | 715 W | 21 kg | 490 x 350 x 180 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `iBelink DM11G `_ | 11 GH/s ±5% | 810 W | 22 kg | 490 x 350 x 180 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `iBelink DM22G `_ | 22 GH/s ±5% | 810 W | 19 kg | 490 x 350 x 180 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DR-1 | 500 MH/s ±10% | 320 W | 4.5 kg | 290 x 130 x 150 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DR-2 | 450 MH/s ±5% | 335 W | 4.5 kg | 200 x 165 x 135 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DR-3 | 600 MH/s ±5% | 345 W | 4.5 kg | 200 x 165 x 135 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DU-1 | 9 MH/s ±5% | 7 W | | 50 x 50 x 30 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DRX-Kuznetsov | 900 MH/s ±5% | 650 W | | 280 x 180 x 150 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | Pinidea DRX-Varyag | 1200 MH/s ±5% | 850 W | | 280 x 180 x 150 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `iBelink DM56G `_ | 56 GH/s ±5% | 2100 W | 17 kg | 490 x 390 x 180 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+ | `Innosilicon A5 `_ | 32 GH/s ±8% | 750 W | 3.1 kg | 400 x 135 x 158 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------+--------+---------+-----------------+