Four pools control over 70% of Bitcoin hashrate, splitting market

Four mining pools now account for more than 70% of Bitcoin’s total hashrate, according to data on June 23, 2026. The concentration has increased since the 2024 halving as network difficulty and margin pressure have risen.

Foundry holds roughly 31% of the network and is based in the United States. Foundry is backed by Digital Currency Group and applies strict know-your-customer checks and regulatory controls. The pool negotiates fees by volume rather than publishing standard rates and focuses on large-scale and publicly traded operators.

AntPool controls about 18% of the network and is affiliated with Bitmain, an ASIC manufacturer. AntPool supports FPPS and PPLNS payout models and merged mining. Its service model routes many routine requests through automated ticket systems and is oriented toward large data centers and institutional accounts.

ViaBTC accounts for roughly 13% of hashrate and offers PPS+, PPLNS and pooled solo mining. The pool is popular in CIS and Asian markets. In 2026 ViaBTC faced regulatory scrutiny that led to reports of sudden KYC checks, account limits and temporary freezes for some users.

F2Pool represents close to 10% of the network and has operated since 2013. F2Pool provides FPPS and PPLNS options and maintains a globally distributed server network intended to reduce latency for established operators. Its customer approach is standardized across users.

Smaller pools and newer operators have increased market presence. One operator reporting a place in the global top ten lists 2.7% of the network and about 30.35 exahashes per second. That operator reports FPPS fees starting at 1.5% and says it negotiates custom terms and provides direct client engagement for independent and mid-size miners.

Smaller and mid-size miners report that fee schedules, minimum thresholds and support levels at the largest pools are structured around high-volume clients. As network difficulty rises and margins tighten, these miners report slower responses to operational issues and fewer opportunities to negotiate terms that reflect their scale.

Technical and economic factors cited by market participants include the post-halving reduction in block subsidy relative to operating costs, rising network difficulty and cost advantages from operating at large scale. Large operators often have in-house compliance teams, negotiated terms with providers and integrated hardware supply chains.

Miners evaluating pools continue to consider payout model, latency and fee level. In the current market, miners also assess provider responsiveness, availability of human support and the pool’s approach to compliance and account management.