Could a small miner actually randomly solve a Bitcoin block

Skot

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Quote from: kano on March 06, 2023, 02:18:56 AM

Quote from: Skot on March 05, 2023, 08:29:58 PM

Quote from: kano on January 14, 2023, 05:22:15 AM

For normal pooled mining this is pretty uncommon since most pools have fast internet and world wide block distribution.
Most small pools don't have this however, and home mining without that network is just a loss waiting to happen.

Okay, fast internet makes sense. But can you tell me more about “world wide block distribution”? Is this just a node with more peers? Better selected peers?

More nodes on fast worldwide networks means faster worldwide block distribution.
Also, on my pool a block can be distributed via a tiny share to all the nodes.
All my nodes also connect to each other for block distribution, and have a lot of connections in their area.
So ... our blocks get around the world fast.

That's pretty cool! How does one get nodes on fast networks distributed around the world? Are they in datacenters? Sounds like it could be expensive to maintain.

Outhue

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Quote from: BitMaxz on January 11, 2023, 12:01:59 PM

Yes it could be possible to solved a block but it takes time and like the above said you very low chance to get valid blocks to mine due to difficulty.

They mostly called it the lottery if you run a single USB stick to mine solo.
Not all people are lucky but some people that I heard they mined a block with 25btc or 12.5btc reward before.

Are you sure that this is in the case of running a single USB? The hashrate of those USB miners are very small, if anyone would like to try their luck with solo mining today they should use an ASIC miner with 20+terahash and it should always be on, this is pure gambling and it could take years to solve a single block but nothing is impossible.

kano

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Quote from: Skot on March 05, 2023, 08:29:58 PM

Quote from: kano on January 14, 2023, 05:22:15 AM

For normal pooled mining this is pretty uncommon since most pools have fast internet and world wide block distribution.
Most small pools don't have this however, and home mining without that network is just a loss waiting to happen.

Okay, fast internet makes sense. But can you tell me more about “world wide block distribution”? Is this just a node with more peers? Better selected peers?

More nodes on fast worldwide networks means faster worldwide block distribution.
Also, on my pool a block can be distributed via a tiny share to all the nodes.
All my nodes also connect to each other for block distribution, and have a lot of connections in their area.
So ... our blocks get around the world fast.

philipma1957

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Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 03:11:52 PM

Quote from: NotFuzzyWarm on January 11, 2023, 12:32:49 PM

Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Is it *possible*? Yes.
Early in 2022 Sledge0001 found a block using a Compac-F. BUT... he did it through a solo-pool node that has decent stability and propagation times to relay the Block Found message to the BTC network in a timely manner.

The problem with using a local node is that it is a safe bet that you do not have the connection links & speed and server horsepower to get the Block Found out to the network fast enough to ensure that you don't end up in an orphan race with someone else and lose because their block is confirmed by others before yours is. That would truly suck...

So yes you *can* do it but by using yuor own local node you are just increasing the already astronomical odds against you (using a small miner) by several magnitudes.

What is the last reported solo block on a very small rig and setup i mentioned. You know . Like a person running solo pool with local node. This subject is fascinating to say the least.

Quote from: Sledge0001 on January 11, 2023, 02:12:58 PM

Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Yes, even a USB miner can still be successful.

I did hit a block however I was on CK's pool when this occurred with 9 x GekkoScience Compac F's running Kano's version of CGminer on a windows computer.

If you are to really consider mining to your own local full node then the first step I would take is that I would research to make sure you have it well connected to other faster nodes.

Then it maybe even in your best interest to fire up one of those open-source code pools that offer would offer a better starting place like CKPOOL, BLINKHASH, NOMP or YIIMP which will give you a bit more clarity as to what your miner(s) are doing and allow you to grow if need be.

Good Luck!

Crazy awesome. Would not even be able to walk for a minute if went to my computer and seen that i solved a block.

Okay stop thinking your own node with a usb stick.

last Jan of 2022 sledge hit on cks pool with 9 usb sticks.

I am not anti node mining.

I would estimate a block every 10 minutes means a 10 % shot you lose the block in a race with a fast connected person.

I am assuming you have a fairly good connection to the chain on a decent pc.

you will not find out if some guy is solo mining on a node and hits with a usb stick for the simple reason he is like you a paranoid person wanting full security.

your paranoia is unjustified btw.

mining to ckpool solo is private as the address you created to mine it.

I can look at every block made and see the coin payment to an address.

so wether it is ck pool on a node has no difference on security.

Skot

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Quote from: kano on January 14, 2023, 05:22:15 AM

For normal pooled mining this is pretty uncommon since most pools have fast internet and world wide block distribution.
Most small pools don't have this however, and home mining without that network is just a loss waiting to happen.

Okay, fast internet makes sense. But can you tell me more about “world wide block distribution”? Is this just a node with more peers? Better selected peers?

tjtonmoy

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Quote from: kano on January 14, 2023, 05:22:15 AM

Quote from: tjtonmoy on January 13, 2023, 04:33:54 PM

It's a competition to solve a block and mine.
...

It's not a competition.
Every single hash is (pseudo)random, and all that happens is you keep switching work, every time someone else finds a block.
That switching work has no effect on if you will or wont find a block.

The only competition involved is when you do find a block, making sure your block is out there on the network as fast as possible
- and of course that when any else finds a block, you switch to that new block as fast as possible.

That competition is: if two miners find a block of the same height, whichever can get it out to the majority of the network fastest, is most likely to win - which is called an orphan race.

For normal pooled mining this is pretty uncommon since most pools have fast internet and world wide block distribution.
Most small pools don't have this however, and home mining without that network is just a loss waiting to happen.

Thank you for sharing the information. I am not really into mining since the power cost and the availability for purchasing mining rig. But in future, if someday I get my hands on some mining rig, I would definitely try to do it. And this will help a lot. I also think that this will help other people too who has a little knowledge like me.
Luck and power, you need both, that's what I understand from this.

kano

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Quote from: tjtonmoy on January 13, 2023, 04:33:54 PM

It's a competition to solve a block and mine.
...

It's not a competition.
Every single hash is (pseudo)random, and all that happens is you keep switching work, every time someone else finds a block.
That switching work has no effect on if you will or wont find a block.

The only competition involved is when you do find a block, making sure your block is out there on the network as fast as possible
- and of course that when any else finds a block, you switch to that new block as fast as possible.

That competition is: if two miners find a block of the same height, whichever can get it out to the majority of the network fastest, is most likely to win - which is called an orphan race.

For normal pooled mining this is pretty uncommon since most pools have fast internet and world wide block distribution.
Most small pools don't have this however, and home mining without that network is just a loss waiting to happen.

Daltonik

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Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Of course, a small miner can play solo mining, but this can really be considered a game of luck, and given that the 14d MA hashrate of bitcoin mining was 270.25 EH/s, this task becomes even more complicated, although you don't really lose anything.

tjtonmoy

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It's a competition to solve a block and mine. The more power you have, the more chances to mine something. Let's say that your device is solving one and also hundreds of thousands of other powerful computers are doing the same thing to solve the same block. Who would get their first? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I will bet on the powerful machine.
It's a really rare case that you might end up mining something if you get lucky. But who knows what could happen in this case.

lionheart78

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It is possible for a small miner to beat other large farms in randomly solving a Bitcoin block but it is extremely slim. Since the process of solving a block requires a significant amount of computational power and the chances of solving a block are directly proportional to the share of the total mining power to the network. It may take a day to a decade or probably a lifetime depending on the trigger chance (luck) of the small miner to solve a block.

TalkativeCoin

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Quote from: Jet Cash on January 12, 2023, 06:08:58 AM

I'm tempted to install solar panels on my van, and have a go at solo mining with a couple of USB sticks and a Raspberry Pi. I think I will be extremely lucky to find a block, but the chance is there, and the cost is negligible.

I was thinking of doing the same for a single-miner setup. I have a small footprint 50W solar panel, PWM controller, and 3S 5 Ah custom-made 21700 cell battery, that could run easily run a USB-powered device in perpetuity. In the end, it costs you nothing to run it, and if you get something out of it, super, if not, who cares.

kano

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Well yeah if you get small USB miners that do hundreds of GH/s for a few watts - it's a nice idea - since it costs very little to mine that low power and yeah with a lot of people doing that you'll get some of them finding blocks every so often and helping secure the network.

Jet Cash

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I think JackG illustrated that in theory you can mine a block with a pencil and paper, but your chance of doing it is about the same as finding a wrecked pirate treasure ship whilst building sand castles on a popular beach. So it becomes a bit of a lottery. I'm tempted to install solar panels on my van, and have a go at solo mining with a couple of USB sticks and a Raspberry Pi. I think I will be extremely lucky to find a block, but the chance is there, and the cost is negligible. I suspect it it will also have the benefit of contributing to the strength of Bitcoin if enough people do this.

dansus021

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Small chances but yes you can find a block with USB stick but like NotFuzzyWarm have said that you need a reliable internet connection too.

If I don't mistaken bitmain actually launch a internet router with single LTC chip and they advertising "try your luck" or something like that to mine single Litecoin block which is still a good deal if you have can find one Cheesy

FutureSeeker2021

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Quote from: NotFuzzyWarm on January 11, 2023, 12:32:49 PM

Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Is it *possible*? Yes.
Early in 2022 Sledge0001 found a block using a Compac-F. BUT... he did it through a solo-pool node that has decent stability and propagation times to relay the Block Found message to the BTC network in a timely manner.

The problem with using a local node is that it is a safe bet that you do not have the connection links & speed and server horsepower to get the Block Found out to the network fast enough to ensure that you don't end up in an orphan race with someone else and lose because their block is confirmed by others before yours is. That would truly suck...

So yes you *can* do it but by using yuor own local node you are just increasing the already astronomical odds against you (using a small miner) by several magnitudes.

What is the last reported solo block on a very small rig and setup i mentioned. You know . Like a person running solo pool with local node. This subject is fascinating to say the least.

Quote from: Sledge0001 on January 11, 2023, 02:12:58 PM

Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Yes, even a USB miner can still be successful.

I did hit a block however I was on CK's pool when this occurred with 9 x GekkoScience Compac F's running Kano's version of CGminer on a windows computer.

If you are to really consider mining to your own local full node then the first step I would take is that I would research to make sure you have it well connected to other faster nodes.

Then it maybe even in your best interest to fire up one of those open-source code pools that offer would offer a better starting place like CKPOOL, BLINKHASH, NOMP or YIIMP which will give you a bit more clarity as to what your miner(s) are doing and allow you to grow if need be.

Good Luck!

Crazy awesome. Would not even be able to walk for a minute if went to my computer and seen that i solved a block.

hZti

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Quote from: Sledge0001 on January 11, 2023, 02:12:58 PM

Yes, even a USB miner can still be successful.

Not just only a USB miner, you can potentially also run a CPU mining software and submit shares. If you are extremely lucky even the first share could find the block, the question is only if your device is able to submit shares. Also it need to submit the block that was found to the network quite fast.

In general this is the Beaty of the bitcoin network. You can participate with every device. This makes bitcoin truly decentralized.

Sledge0001

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Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Yes, even a USB miner can still be successful.

I did hit a block however I was on CK's pool when this occurred with 9 x GekkoScience Compac F's running Kano's version of CGminer on a windows computer.

If you are to really consider mining to your own local full node then the first step I would take is that I would research to make sure you have it well connected to other faster nodes.

Then it maybe even in your best interest to fire up one of those open-source code pools that offer would offer a better starting place like CKPOOL, BLINKHASH, NOMP or YIIMP which will give you a bit more clarity as to what your miner(s) are doing and allow you to grow if need be.

Good Luck!

NotFuzzyWarm

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Quote from: FutureSeeker2021 on January 11, 2023, 11:35:25 AM

Please do not say . Join Ck pool or anything like that..

My question is...Let’s say I am solo mining with a small geckoscience usb to a local pool on a local node. Is it possible for such a thing to actually solve a bitcoin block. I have seen my little setup get shares as high as 1.8 million diff. Could I check my local little pool one day and see a solved block?

Is it *possible*? Yes.
Early in 2022 Sledge0001 found a block using a Compac-F. BUT... he did it through a solo-pool node that has decent stability and propagation times to relay the Block Found message to the BTC network in a timely manner.

The problem with using a local node is that it is a safe bet that you do not have the connection links & speed and server horsepower to get the Block Found out to the network fast enough to ensure that you don't end up in an orphan race with someone else and lose because their block is confirmed by others before yours is. That would truly suck...

So yes you *can* do it but by using yuor own local node you are just increasing the already astronomical odds against you (using a small miner) by several magnitudes.

BitMaxz

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Yes it could be possible to solved a block but it takes time and like the above said you very low chance to get valid blocks to mine due to difficulty.

They mostly called it the lottery if you run a single USB stick to mine solo.
Not all people are lucky but some people that I heard they mined a block with 25btc or 12.5btc reward before.

Charles-Tim

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Some miners that generates some hashrate which is still though small can mine a block, but the chance to mine a block is very small. I can see two or three different tweets like this a year ago

https://mobile.twitter.com/ckpooldev/status/1480843321043865602

But the chance is very small. Which means the advice is still to just join a mining pool.

Topic: Could a small miner actually randomly solve a Bitcoin block (Read 292 times)