A person or system that builds candidate blocks and searches for valid proof of work.
Miner meaning
Mining combines two jobs: constructing a valid candidate block and repeatedly hashing its header to find proof of work below the current target. Specialized hardware usually performs the hashing while node and pool software handles templates and validation.
How it works in Bitcoin
A winning miner broadcasts the block. Full nodes independently check it before adding it to their accepted chain. The miner may claim the permitted block subsidy and the fees from included transactions.
A simple example
A pool can coordinate thousands of machines. The pool proposes work, miners submit shares proving effort, and the pool distributes revenue under its payout method.
Why Miner matters
Mining terms connect proof of work, block production, incentives and energy. They should not be used as shorthand for node validation or guaranteed profitability.
What people often get wrong
Miners do not define Bitcoin's rules by themselves. Nodes can reject an invalid block regardless of how much electricity was spent producing it.
Quick checks before using the term
- Is this about hashrate, energy, revenue or validation?
- Which unit and period does the claim use?
- What changes when difficulty or fees move?
Apply these questions to the concrete example above. A precise answer is more useful than repeating the definition without naming the actor, rule or failure path.
Check the primary reference
This entry is written in plain English, but the technical source is available when you need exact protocol detail.
Bitcoin Developer Guide: Mining ↗