A look at BTC Guild Mining Pool
Note: This review reflects experiences with a small-scale mining setup (a few hundred GH/s). Results may vary for larger miners.
Overview of BTC Guild
One of North America’s longest-running mining pools, BTC Guild launched in 2011 and mined nearly 32,000 blocks before closing in December 2015. At its peak, it accounted for 5% of daily Bitcoin finds.
Key Features
- Originally a PPS (Pay Per Share) pool, later switched to PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares).
- 2% fee (partially offset by shared transaction fees and Namecoin merge-mining).
- Servers in EU and US for low-latency connections.
Dashboard and Payout System
Dashboard Highlights
- Shift-based earnings: Mining divided into 10 shifts (1.6 hours each).
- PPLNS rewards: Blocks mined apply to previous shifts, creating variable payouts.
- Real-time stats: Hashrate, shares submitted, and block history.
Payout Adjustments
- Minimum withdrawal: Reduced from 0.001 BTC to 0.0001 BTC (fee: 0.0001 BTC).
- Auto-payouts: Available for balances >0.01 BTC.
- Security: Address locking and idle-worker alerts.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Stable uptime: No downtime reported during testing.
- Active community: Loyal user base and responsive admin.
- Transparent stats: Exportable data for detailed analysis.
👉 Compare BTC Guild to modern pools
Drawbacks
- Volatile earnings: Smaller miners risk zero payouts during unlucky shifts.
- Outdated UI: Lacks real-time features of newer pools.
FAQ
1. Why did BTC Guild shut down?
The pool ceased mining in June 2015 due to declining profitability and regulatory challenges, fully closing by December 2015.
2. What alternatives exist today?
Modern pools like Slush Pool or F2Pool offer lower fees and real-time tracking.
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3. Can I still access historical data?
Yes—archived stats are available on BlockTrail and Bitcoin forums.
Final Verdict
BTC Guild was a reliable but niche option for patient miners. Its PPLNS system rewarded long-term participants but posed risks for small-scale operations. Today, miners prioritize pools with predictable payouts and advanced dashboards.