Mining Pools & Proxies

Cryptonote-universal-poolOpen-Source Mining Pool Server Review

Open-source CryptoNote mining pool server with Redis and MySQL. Features, setup steps, safety notes and alternatives. Unmaintained since 2014.

Free Open source Windows: Yes v1.1.4 Updated 27 Oct 2014
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10 min read Last update 27 Oct 2014 github.com/fancoder/cryptonote-universal-pool

Cryptonote-universal-pool is a free, open-source mining pool server for operators who want to run their own pool instead of joining someone else's. It is aimed at system administrators and technically confident hobbyists who are comfortable with configuration files, Redis and MySQL. It is distributed under the GPL-2.0 license and lists both Windows and Linux as supported platforms.

Read this before you download anything: the project has not received code updates since October 27, 2014, and its latest version is 1.1.4. It is an improved version of node-cryptonote-pool and still reflects the design choices of that era. Treat it as a reference for how pools work and as a testing tool, not as a choice for a production pool that needs current security patches.

02

What Is a Mining Pool and Where This Server Fits

A mining pool lets many miners combine their hashing power and share the reward when any member of the group finds a block. Instead of waiting a very long time to solo-mine a block, participants submit shares that prove they have done a measurable amount of work, and the pool pays them in proportion to that work.

A pool server is the software in the middle. It hands out jobs to connected miners, checks the shares they return, tracks each account's balance, and sends payouts once the balance meets the threshold. Cryptonote-universal-pool is this kind of server, not a miner. You run it on your own machine or server, and miners point their hardware at its address and port.

That distinction matters when you choose software. Mining rigs and miner programs generate the hashes, while a pool server coordinates them. Confusing the two is a common beginner mistake, and it leads people to download the wrong tool for the job.

03

Who Is Cryptonote-universal-pool For?

The most natural user is a technically confident operator who wants to study or run a small pool for a CryptoNote-style coin. Examples include a hobbyist setting up a private pool for a few friends' rigs, a developer who wants to read how payment processing and share validation fit together, or a small group that already runs a server and has some administration experience.

It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a click-and-go solution. Running it means setting up Redis and MySQL, editing configuration files, choosing ports and difficulty values, and watching logs. Operators who need a current, actively patched pool should look at more recently updated projects instead.

A common use is testing. You can run a pool on a local network with a single miner, observe how difficulty changes and how payouts are recorded, and then decide whether the approach suits your goals before committing any real hash power or money to it.

04

How Shares, Difficulty and Orphans Work Together

Every pool depends on shares. A share is a proof-of-work result that meets a difficulty target easier than the full network difficulty. Because shares arrive far more often than full blocks, the pool can measure each miner's contribution long before a block is found.

Difficulty is the setting that balances this. Variable difficulty raises or lowers the target for each connection based on its share rate, so the server stays responsive. The configuration also includes a minimum difficulty setting (minDiff), which in the included configuration is set to 2, so very weak shares cannot become a cheap way to load the server.

Orphans are the other concept to understand. When a miner finds a valid block just after another pool finds one at the same height, the slower block is discarded and its work is lost. A protocol that pushes new jobs quickly is intended to reduce that loss. Measured hashrate at the pool level is only meaningful when you also track rejected and orphaned work.

05

Key features

Stratum-style TCP protocol

Miners connect over a TCP protocol modeled on stratum, so the server can push new work to them as soon as it is ready. The developers note that this design delivers a higher hash rate than the older HTTP approach, with lower network and CPU load on the server and fewer orphaned shares.

IP banning and flood protection

Operators can ban addresses that submit low-difficulty shares, a common way to waste server resources. Socket flooding detection helps the pool recognize and limit connections that open too many sockets too quickly, protecting the server from simple denial attempts.

Automated payment processing

The pool tracks each miner's balance and sends payouts automatically. A minimum payment threshold means a balance must reach a set amount before it is paid out, which keeps the number of transactions manageable for both the operator and the miners.

Split transactions and amount rounding

Splintered transactions break up payouts that would exceed the maximum transaction size. A minimum denomination truncates payment amounts to a set precision, which reduces the size and complexity of block transactions when many small balances are paid together.

Multiple ports with separate difficulty

You can configure several listening ports, and each one can have its own difficulty. This lets high-end rigs and low-power devices connect on separate endpoints, each tuned to the hardware behind it, without running separate pool instances.

Variable difficulty and share limiting

Variable difficulty adjusts the work required from each connection based on how quickly its shares arrive, so a fast rig does not flood the server with tiny shares. A share limiter caps how many shares a connection can submit in a given period.

Share trust algorithm

A share trust mechanism reduces how often shares must be fully hashed on the server. For connections that have built up trust, the pool can skip some validation work, which lowers CPU load on the machine running the pool.

Detailed logging

Logs record connection events, accepted and rejected shares, and payment runs in detail. That makes it easier to troubleshoot problems such as miners that cannot connect, shares that fail validation, or payouts that do not match the expected balances.
06

Supported coins

The project's documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) as the coins and networks it covers. Monero is the CryptoNote coin the software is built around, so it is the natural starting point for most operators. Before running a pool for either coin, confirm that the blockchain daemon and wallet you use are compatible with the version you install.

07

How to install Cryptonote-universal-pool on Windows

  1. 1

    Get the release

    Open the project's GitHub repository at github.com/fancoder/cryptonote-universal-pool and go to the Releases page. Download only from the official website or that GitHub Releases page. The latest version listed is 1.1.4, and the Windows build is available from the same source.

  2. 2

    Verify the file

    Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published alongside the release. If a signature is provided, verify it as well. If the values do not match, delete the file and do not run it.

  3. 3

    Install or extract

    Run the installer or extract the Windows build to a folder you choose. Keep the pool in its own directory, separate from your mining software, so that configuration files and logs are easy to find and back up.

  4. Prepare services and configure

    Install and start Redis and MySQL before the first launch. Then edit the configuration file to set your ports, difficulty values such as minDiff, payment threshold and daemon settings. Start the pool only after the services respond to local connections.

08

System requirements

  • Windows, with Linux also listed as a supported platform
  • Redis server running alongside the pool
  • MySQL server running alongside the pool
  • Administrator access to edit configuration files and open the listening ports
09

How to use Cryptonote-universal-pool

Cryptonote-universal-pool runs as a server, so the workflow differs from a typical desktop miner. Plan the setup on a machine that will stay online, and test with a small setup before you accept real hash power from anyone else.

  1. Start Redis and MySQL, and confirm both services accept local connections.
  2. Open the configuration file and enter the coin details, including the daemon address and the wallet address the pool will use.
  3. Define each listening port and assign its starting difficulty. Keep minDiff and variable difficulty settings in mind so that small devices can connect.
  4. Set the minimum payment threshold and the minimum denomination, so payouts are batched and rounded the way you intend.
  5. Start the pool process and watch the logs for connection, share and payment entries.
  6. Point a test miner at the pool's address and port, then confirm that accepted shares appear in the logs and the database.
  7. Review a test payout cycle before you enable payments for real accounts.

Keep a written record of every change you make to the configuration file, so you can roll back quickly if something breaks.

10

Pros & cons

Pros
  • Free and open source under the GPL-2.0 license, so the code can be read and modified
  • Covers core pool needs in one package: payouts, IP banning, multiple ports and detailed logging
  • Stratum-style TCP design aims for lower server load than the older HTTP approach
  • Based on the well-known node-cryptonote-pool design, which makes its logic easier to research
Cons
  • No code updates since October 2014, so there are no recent bug fixes or security patches
  • Requires Redis and MySQL to be installed, configured and maintained alongside the pool
  • Only Bitcoin and Monero are named in its documentation, so coin options are narrow
  • Not a plug-and-play tool; it demands server administration skills and patience
11

Is Cryptonote-universal-pool safe?

Cryptonote-universal-pool has not received code updates since October 27, 2014, so it lacks recent security fixes. Treat it as a learning and testing tool unless you can audit the code and maintain it yourself. Its source is public under GPL-2.0, which lets you review it, but that review is only useful if you read it carefully.

Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page linked from the project repository. Before running the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the published value, or verify the signature if one is provided. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, and be suspicious of any tool that asks for one unexpectedly.

Pool software is often flagged by antivirus programs because mining-related code can look suspicious. If that happens, check the file's hash first and add a narrow exception only for the verified file. Never disable your protection entirely. Also check the latest version on the official website before deploying.

  • Official source only. Download from github.com/fancoder/cryptonote-universal-pool. 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.
12

Alternatives

Cryptonote-universal-pool sits in a crowded space. Node-cryptonote-pool is the original it improves on; it offers a front-end and uses Redis, while this project adds MySQL, a stratum-style TCP protocol and the extra safeguards described above. MiningCore is a broader toolkit for building pools and supports Ergo, so it suits operators who want more coin options. P2Pool for Monero takes a different approach because it is decentralized and does not rely on a single central operator. XMRig Proxy is a stratum proxy for mining farms, so it manages connections rather than running a full pool. Choose based on the coin, the level of activity you need, and whether you want a pool or a relay.

Node-cryptonote-pool Review of node-cryptonote-pool for Windows: features, setup with Redis, fees, safety notes on the unmaintained code, and alternatives. Unmaintained Open source MiningCorev0.24 Free open-source mining pool software with Stratum, vardiff, payments and live stats. Setup steps, safety notes and alternatives. Unmaintained Open source P2Pool (Monero)v5.0-beta Mine Monero through P2Pool, a trustless pool with no operator wallet, zero payout fee and direct block payouts. Setup guide and comparison. Free Open source XMRig Proxyv6.26.0 Learn what XMRig Proxy does, how to install it safely, and how it compares to other Monero pool tools before you set up your farm. Free Open source
13

Specifications

Price
Free
Type
Open source
License
gpl-2.0
Latest version
1.1.4
Last update
27 Oct 2014
Windows support
Yes (Windows build or installer)
Source code
github.com/fancoder/cryptonote-universal-pool
14

Frequently asked questions

It can be downloaded safely only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page. Verify the SHA-256 checksum before running the file. Keep in mind that the project has not had code updates since October 2014, so it is better suited to testing than to a live pool that handles real payouts.

No. The last code update was on October 27, 2014, and the latest version is 1.1.4. Because there have been no updates for more than a decade, you should expect outdated dependencies and no security patches. Review the code yourself before relying on it.

Its documentation names Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) as the coins and networks it covers. Before setting up a pool for either one, confirm that the daemon and wallet you use are compatible with the version you install, since the software has not been updated in years.

Install and start Redis and MySQL, then edit the configuration file with your coin details, ports, difficulty values and payment threshold. Start the pool, point a test miner at its address, and confirm that shares appear in the logs before enabling payouts for real accounts.

Yes. The software is free and released under the GPL-2.0 open source license. The sample configuration sets a pool fee of 1.8%, which you can change, but you should also consider any other costs of running the server, such as hosting and database maintenance.

Yes. The project lists Windows and Linux as supported platforms and offers a Windows build. You still need Redis and MySQL running alongside it, and Windows operators should plan for firewall rules that open the listening ports to miners.

A minimum payment threshold means a miner's balance must reach a set amount before it is paid. This keeps the number of transactions reasonable and prevents tiny payouts from crowding blocks. Setting the threshold is a business decision for the operator and should be tested before launch.

15

Verdict

Cryptonote-universal-pool is best for technically confident operators who want to study how a CryptoNote-style pool works, or who need a simple private testing setup. Its features, including the stratum-style protocol, IP banning, variable difficulty and detailed logging, make it a useful reference. It is not a good choice for a live public pool, because the code has not been updated since 2014. Anyone who chooses it should audit the code, verify every download and keep the server isolated.

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