Cryptocurrency mining is the process of verifying and adding new transactions to a blockchain, which is a digital ledger that records all cryptocurrency transactions.
Miners use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems that validate these transactions.
When a miner successfully solves a problem, they are rewarded with newly created units of the cryptocurrency as an incentive for their work.
The mining process involves a race among miners to be the first to solve the problem and add the next block of transactions to the blockchain.
This requires significant computational power and energy consumption. Miners often join mining pools to combine their resources and increase their chances of earning rewards.
Mining serves two main purposes: securing the cryptocurrency network by preventing fraud and maintaining a decentralised system where no single entity has complete control.
Additionally, mining contributes to the creation of new coins and helps regulate the supply of cryptocurrencies.
It's important to note that different cryptocurrencies use different mining algorithms, and some cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, have a finite supply, meaning there is a limit to the number of coins that can be mined.
As a result, mining difficulty increases over time, requiring more computational resources and specialised equipment.