Introduction to Bitmark Mining
Welcome to the Bitmark (BTMK) mining guide. Bitmark is a unique cryptocurrency that utilizes 8 different Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithms to secure its network. This multi-algorithm approach allows for a more decentralized and fair mining environment, accommodating a wide range of hardware from CPUs to ASICs. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to start mining BTMK.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you will need the following:
- A Bitmark Wallet: To receive your mining rewards, you need a Bitmark address. Get one by downloading the official Bitmark Core wallet from the official releases page.
- Mining Software: For CPU mining, a popular choice is cpuminer-multi. GPU and ASIC miners will need software specific to their hardware and chosen algorithm.
- A reliable internet connection and appropriate computer hardware.
Pool Mining vs. Solo Mining
You can mine Bitmark either solo or as part of a mining pool. Pool mining provides a steady income by sharing rewards. Solo mining means you keep the entire reward if you find a block, which can be viable on Bitmark when the difficulty for a specific algorithm is low.
For most users, pool mining is the recommended method as it provides consistent, smaller payouts.
Step-by-Step: Pool Mining
1. Get your Bitmark Wallet Address
After installing and syncing your Bitmark Core wallet, go to the "Receive" tab and copy your address. This is where your mining rewards will be sent.
2. Configure Your Miner
You will need to connect to a mining pool. Two possible choices are:
Create a batch file (.bat on Windows) or a shell script (.sh on Linux/Mac) with a command like the one below. This example is for mining X17 on the Openmarks pool.
./cpuminer -a x17 -o stratum+tcp://pool.openmarks.com:3032 -u YourBitmarkWalletAddress -p x3. Start Mining
Run the script. If the configuration is correct, your hardware will start receiving work from the pool and you will begin earning shares.
Reference: Proof-of-Work Algorithms
Bitmark's security is shared across 8 Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithms. The difficulty for each is adjusted independently by DGWv3. Choose one that is best suited for your hardware.
| Proof of Work Algorithm | pow_algo_id | Merge-Mineable with… | cpuminer-multi name |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCrypt | 0 | Digibyte | scrypt |
| SHA256d | 1 | Bitcoin | sha256d |
| Yescrypt | 2 | Unitus | yescrypt |
| Argon2d | 3 | Argentum, Unitus | ar2 |
| X17 | 4 | Verge | x17 |
| Lyra2REv2 | 5 | Unitus | lyra2REv2 |
| EquiHash | 6 | ZCash | equihash / *special executable needed* |
| CryptoNight | 7 | – | cryptonight |
Advanced: Solo Mining with the Core Wallet
If you choose to solo mine, you can use the built-in miner in the Bitmark Core wallet. First, set the algorithm in your bitmark.conf file.
Set via configuration file (~/.bitmark.conf), using the numeric ID from the table:
miningalgo=3Then, start the miner from the wallet's debug console, specifying the number of CPU cores to use:
setgenerate true 4