The book explores reward structures, fee models, and operational intricacies, providing a much-needed guide for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, investors, and researchers. It begins with a historical context of cryptocurrency mining, progressing to core concepts like block discovery and reward distribution. The book then delves into various reward systems such as proportional, pay-per-share (PPS), and full pay-per-share (FPPS), analyzing their advantages and disadvantages.
It culminates in discussions on advanced topics like pool security, centralization risks, and the impact of mining pools on blockchain governance.