BFGMiner is a free, open-source mining program that lets Windows users point ASIC, FPGA and AMD graphics hardware at SHA-256 and Scrypt work. It suits hobbyist miners and tinkerers who are comfortable with command-line options and configuration files, rather than people looking for a point-and-click dashboard.
Before you start, know that the project has had no code updates since October 26, 2021, and its latest release is bfgminer-5.5.0. That makes the code more than four years old, so it will not receive fixes for newer hardware or for changes in the networks it was built to serve. It still runs and is useful for learning how solo mining software works, but treat it as a legacy tool and weigh that against newer options in the same category.
Where the Name BFGMiner Comes From
The name is a long, playful acronym. Its expansion reads roughly as St. Barbara's Faithfully Glorified Mining Initiative Naturally Exceeding Rivals, and the alternative reading is Basically a Freaking Good Miner. St. Barbara is a traditional patron saint of miners, which explains the religious wording.
Playful names were common in early open-source mining projects, many of which were built by hobbyists rather than large companies. Knowing that background helps set expectations. Volunteer-driven tools often have lighter documentation and fewer polished interface elements than commercial software, so plan to read the project's text carefully and learn the command-line options before relying on the program.
How Mining Software Hands Work to Your Hardware
Mining software performs one central job: it sends work to your devices, collects the results and reports them to a pool. Hashrate is the number of hash calculations a device completes per second, and it is the most common way to compare performance between cards or boards.
A share is a result that meets the pool's target. Your software submits shares to the pool, which tracks them and credits your contribution. Rejected shares usually point to a network delay, outdated work or an unstable device, so watching the accepted and rejected counts is one of the most useful habits for a new miner.
Difficulty changes over time as more hashing power joins a network. That means results from one period can look very different from another, even with identical hardware and settings.
Who Might Still Choose a Legacy Mining Tool
A home-lab tinkerer with an older AMD card might use BFGMiner to see how a single machine behaves under a controlled setup. Because the program runs from the command line, it can be scripted and repeated, which suits people who like to document each change.
Students and developers interested in how mining software works may also find the source code useful. The project is open source under GPLv3, so the logic for device handling, share submission and pool communication can be read and studied directly.
People who need dependable, actively supported software for regular operation should look elsewhere. A legacy tool can still run well for testing, but it is a poor foundation for a long-term operation that depends on ongoing updates.
Key features
Multi-Device Control
SHA-256 and Scrypt Support
AMD OpenCL and CPU Hardware
Network and Proxy Options
Builds for Several Systems
Supported coins
The project documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) and Nano as coins. The algorithms covered are SHA-256 and Scrypt, and the hardware targets are AMD graphics cards using OpenCL along with CPUs. Because the code has not changed in several years, confirm that any pool you plan to use still supports the coin and algorithm you want.
How to install BFGMiner on Windows
- 1
Get the Windows Package
Go to the official project page or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer and download the Windows build or installer for the latest release, bfgminer-5.5.0. Download only from the official website or GitHub, never from mirror sites or links shared in forum posts.
- 2
Verify the File
Calculate the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file and compare it with the value published alongside the release. If the hashes do not match, delete the file and download it again from the official source. Do not run a file you cannot verify.
- 3
Install or Extract
Run the installer, or extract the archive into a dedicated folder. Keeping the miner in one stable location makes it easier to maintain batch files and shortcuts that launch it with your settings.
- 4
Handle Antivirus Alerts
Antivirus tools often flag mining software, sometimes with generic detections. Review the detection, confirm the file hash matches the official release and keep your protection turned on. Do not disable your antivirus entirely just to get the program to run.
-
Start a Test Session
Launch the program from a command prompt with your pool address and worker credentials. Check the output to confirm that each device is detected and reporting activity before you leave it running unattended.
System requirements
- An AMD graphics card with OpenCL support, or a CPU
- A powered USB hub if you connect several USB-based devices, since many hubs cannot supply the power they advertise
How to use BFGMiner
Once the program is installed, the basic workflow is to point it at a pool, choose the devices you want to use and watch the output while it runs. Everything is controlled through the command line, so take time to understand each option before starting a long session.
- Open a Command Prompt in the folder where the BFGMiner files are located.
- Start the program with your pool URL, worker name and password, following the syntax in the project's documentation.
- Check that each device appears in the output and reports hashing activity.
- Review the submit-threads setting if you need to change it from the default of 64 concurrent share submissions.
- Watch the accepted and rejected share counts over the first few minutes. If rejections climb, test a different pool or inspect the device and connection.
- Stop the program from its own interface rather than forcing the process to close, so the session ends cleanly.
Keep a simple log of each session, including settings, pool and hardware. Comparing logs across runs makes it much easier to see which change actually made a difference.
Pros & cons
- Free and open-source under the GPLv3 license
- Supports SHA-256 and Scrypt algorithms
- Handles AMD OpenCL devices and CPUs
- Builds available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android
- Detailed command-line control over devices and share submission
- No code updates since October 2021
- Command-line focus with a steep learning curve
- Antivirus tools may flag the program
- Some USB hubs cannot supply the power they promise for multiple devices
Is BFGMiner safe?
BFGMiner is mining software, so full safety precautions apply. Download it only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for luke-jr/bfgminer, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running the file. The project has had no code updates since October 2021, so the current build has no recent development behind it. Check the latest version on the official website and read the open issues before trusting it with a valuable rig. Never enter a seed phrase or wallet private key into any miner or third-party site. A miner needs only your pool address and worker credentials. If your antivirus flags the program, investigate the detection rather than turning protection off.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Several programs in this catalog cover similar ground. TeamRedMiner focuses on AMD hardware, which overlaps with BFGMiner's AMD OpenCL support, though it is a GPU-oriented tool. GMiner and BzMiner are GPU miners aimed at graphics cards rather than ASIC or FPGA boards. T-Rex Miner targets NVIDIA cards, and its development has stopped, which makes it another legacy option to weigh. BFGMiner stands apart for its broader device scope and its command-line focus, but its age is its main drawback. Check which tool is still actively maintained before you choose.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPLv3
- Latest version
- bfgminer-5.5.0
- Last update
- 26 Oct 2021
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer
Frequently asked questions
No active code development is visible for the project. Its last code update was on October 26, 2021, and the latest release is bfgminer-5.5.0. The software can still run, but it will not receive fixes for newer hardware or changes in mining networks. If you need current support, compare it with maintained tools in this catalog first.
Yes. BFGMiner is free, open-source software released under the GPLv3 license. You can obtain the program without paying for the software itself, but electricity, hardware and pool fees are separate costs you should account for. Mining results depend on many variables, so no return is guaranteed.
Yes. The project provides a Windows build or installer. It also lists macOS, Linux and Android builds. For Windows users, the main steps are getting the release from an official source, verifying its checksum and running it from a command prompt with your pool settings.
The documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) and Nano. The program works with SHA-256 and Scrypt algorithms, so coins that use those algorithms and have a compatible pool may be possible. Check your pool's supported coins before configuring anything, because the software alone does not decide which coin you mine.
Mining software often triggers antivirus heuristics because it places heavy load on processors or graphics cards and communicates with pools over the network. A detection does not automatically mean the file is malicious. Verify the SHA-256 hash against the official release and keep your protection enabled.
Yes, the hardware list includes CPUs alongside AMD graphics cards through OpenCL. CPU mining is generally much slower than dedicated hardware, so it is mainly useful for testing your setup and learning how the software behaves rather than as a serious source of income.
A share is proof to a pool that your device completed a qualifying amount of work. BFGMiner submits shares, and the pool tracks them to credit your contribution. Rejected shares usually indicate a connection delay, outdated work or a device problem worth investigating.
Verdict
BFGMiner is a free, open-source option for people who want direct command-line control over AMD, CPU and ASIC or FPGA mining hardware. Its biggest limitation is that it has received no code updates since 2021. It suits experienced hobbyists testing setups, students studying mining software and people who value a legacy tool. Anyone planning to run equipment regularly should compare it with actively maintained alternatives in this catalog before committing.