Mining (mining) is the process in which network participants process transactions, form new blockchain blocks, and keep the distributed system operational. In networks that use the Proof-of-Work algorithm, miners use computing equipment to solve a complex cryptographic task; whoever finds the solution first earns the right to add a block and a reward.

The reward consists of a predefined emission of new coins and the fees for the transactions included in the block. Thanks to the competition among many independent participants, writing data to the blockchain becomes secure: to falsify the transaction history, an attacker would have to control a significant share of the network's entire computing power.

The main forms of mining

• Solo mining — independent mining on one's own equipment.
• Pool mining — combining participants' power and distributing the reward.
• Specialized equipment (ASIC) and graphics cards for different algorithms.

It is important to understand that mining requires spending on equipment and electricity, and its economic feasibility depends on the network's difficulty and the conditions of the specific participant. Besides Proof-of-Work, there are other consensus mechanisms that do not involve classic mining.