POA Miner is a free, open-source CPU miner for people who want to mine POA blocks on the Dapscoin blockchain or work with the PRCY network. It is a fork of CPU Miner, so it follows a familiar lineage among lightweight mining tools that run on ordinary processors rather than dedicated graphics cards.
The project is actively maintained. The latest version is 2.5.1, and the code was last updated in August 2026. Because the miner is released under GPLv2, anyone can read the source, build it, or modify it within the license terms. The project lists Windows, macOS and Linux as platforms, which makes it a practical option for Windows users who want to experiment with POA-based mining without buying specialized hardware.
What Is POA Miner and How Does It Work?
Mining software performs repeated calculations to find valid results for a blockchain. Your computer does the work, and the miner reports successful results to the network. In a CPU miner, the processor carries the load instead of a graphics card, which changes both the speed and the economics of the process.
POA Miner applies this idea to POA blocks on the Dapscoin blockchain. Its code is a fork of CPU Miner, so many of its concepts are shared with that project. Understanding these basics helps you read the program's output and judge whether the setup is working as you expect.
The miner runs as a program you start from a terminal window. It does not need a graphical dashboard to function, and its behavior depends on the options you give it when you launch it.
Who Should Consider a CPU Miner for Windows?
POA Miner suits a few specific groups. The first is hobbyists who already own a 64-bit Windows PC and want to see how POA-based mining works in practice. Running a miner on hardware you already have is the cheapest way to learn the mechanics before spending money on anything else.
The second group is developers and blockchain enthusiasts who want to study or test a CPU miner. Because the source is public under GPLv2, the project can serve as a reference for how processor-based mining software handles instruction sets and network communication.
The third group is people already involved with PRCY or Dapscoin who want a free tool that matches those networks. If your goals involve other coins, a different miner from the alternatives list may fit better.
Key Concepts: Hashrate, Pools and Why Results Vary
Hashrate measures how many calculations a miner performs per second. A higher hashrate generally means more attempts at finding valid results, but it does not guarantee rewards on its own. The network difficulty, the share of total work you contribute and the time you spend running the software all shape outcomes.
A mining pool is a group of miners who combine their work and split the results. Pools smooth out income for small miners, although they also introduce fees and rules that differ from pool to pool. Check the pool's own documentation before connecting, since the miner only handles the local side of that arrangement.
Processor performance varies widely. Two computers with the same Windows version can produce very different hashrates depending on the chip, cooling and background load. Treat any benchmark you see online as a rough guide, and measure your own machine over several hours before drawing conclusions.
Key features
Built on CPU Miner
Dapscoin and PRCY support
Modern instruction set use
Free and open source
Supported coins
POA Miner is built for POA blocks on the Dapscoin blockchain and is described as working with PRCY. Support for other networks is not part of the program's stated scope, so confirm compatibility in the project documentation before pointing the miner at a different chain.
How to install POA Miner on Windows
- 1
Open the Releases page
Go to the project's GitHub repository at github.com/prcycoin/poa-miner and open the Releases section. Download the package listed for Windows from that page. The project describes Windows builds, but check the release files to confirm a ready-made Windows archive is available for the version you want.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published in the release notes. If the release includes a signature, check it as well. A mismatch means the file should not be run, and you should download it again from the official source.
- 3
Extract the archive
Unzip the package into a folder you control, such as a new folder on your desktop or in your documents. Keeping the miner in its own folder makes it easier to update later and to manage antivirus exceptions precisely.
-
Run from Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt in the folder, then start the miner executable. Review the options included with the release before launching, because the miner's behavior depends on the settings you pass in. Begin with a short test run to confirm the program starts and reports activity.
System requirements
- 64-bit x86 processor (x86-64 architecture)
- Windows version with AVX support, which the project notes begins with Windows 7 SP1
- Processor with AVX, AVX2 or XOP instructions lets the miner use those features; the software takes advantage of them when present
How to use POA Miner
Using POA Miner is mostly a matter of preparing your connection details and starting the program from a terminal. Work through the steps in order so you can spot problems early.
- Confirm the miner runs by starting it once with a basic command and reading the output.
- Gather the pool address and the wallet address that your pool or network documentation specifies.
- Open Command Prompt in the folder where you extracted the program.
- Enter the launch command with your pool details, using the syntax shown in the release documentation.
- Watch the first few minutes of output for connection messages and any error text.
- Check your pool dashboard to see whether the work is being credited to your account.
- Keep a log of your settings so you can reproduce a working configuration after an update.
- Stop the miner with the keyboard shortcut or by closing the window, and review results over several sessions rather than judging after one run.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use
- Open source under GPLv2, so the code can be inspected
- Recent code update in August 2026 and a current release, version 2.5.1
- Builds described for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Uses AVX, AVX2 and XOP instructions on supported processors
- Focused on POA blocks on Dapscoin and works with PRCY
- Windows availability is described as likely, not guaranteed, so you must check the releases for a Windows package
- Narrow scope: the stated networks are Dapscoin and PRCY
- CPU mining generally delivers lower hashrates than dedicated graphics hardware for many workloads
- Setup relies on a terminal, which may feel unfamiliar to beginners
- Antivirus software may flag the program as a threat
Is POA Miner safe?
POA Miner is mining software, so treat it with care. Download it only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page, and never from mirrors or links on forums. Before running the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the value in the release notes, and check the signature if one is provided.
Miners are often flagged by antivirus tools because of how they use processor resources. If that happens, add an exception only for the specific folder or file you verified. Do not turn off your protection entirely. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, since no legitimate mining tool needs one. The project was last updated in August 2026, so check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/prcycoin/poa-miner. 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
POA Miner differs from the other programs in this catalog mainly in scope. XMRig is a CPU and GPU miner for RandomX, KawPow and CryptoNight, so it covers a much wider range of algorithms. GMiner, Rigel and WildRig Multi focus on GPU mining, which suits different hardware and different coins. T-Rex Miner and NBMiner are GPU tools whose development has stopped, so they carry more risk of incompatibility.
POA Miner is narrower and more specific. It targets POA blocks on Dapscoin and works with PRCY, and it runs on the processor you already have. If your goal is those networks, it is the more direct choice. If you want a broad toolkit, the alternatives offer more coverage. PhoenixMiner has no official website and carries high risk of fake downloads, so avoid it.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- GPLv2
- Latest version
- 2.5.1
- Last update
- 7 Aug 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/prcycoin/poa-miner
Frequently asked questions
Yes. POA Miner is free and released under the GPLv2 license. You can download, run and inspect the source code without paying a fee for the software itself. Costs you may face come from electricity, your hardware, and any mining pool you choose to join, since pools may charge their own fees.
The project describes builds for Windows, but availability should be confirmed on the GitHub Releases page for the version you want. The project notes AVX support starting from Windows 7 SP1, so a current 64-bit Windows system is the practical choice. If no Windows package is listed for a release, the project's build instructions would be needed.
It can be, provided you download it from the official GitHub repository and check the SHA-256 checksum against the release notes. Avoid copies from third-party sites. Mining software is often flagged by antivirus tools, so verify the file first and add a narrow exception only if needed.
POA Miner is built for POA blocks on the Dapscoin blockchain. The project also describes it as working with PRCY. It is not designed as a general multi-coin miner, so check the documentation before pointing it at any other network.
Antivirus tools often flag miners because they run heavy processor workloads and look similar to unwanted software. A flag does not prove the file is malicious. Verify the checksum first, then add an exception for that specific file rather than disabling your protection entirely.
No. POA Miner is a CPU miner, so it runs on your processor. The miner uses AVX, AVX2 and XOP instructions when your processor supports them, which can help performance. A graphics card is not required for this program.
Yes, the project lists macOS and Linux as supported platforms. Requirements differ: the project notes AVX support began with Mac OS X 10.6.8 and with Linux kernel 2.6.30. Follow the platform-specific instructions in the release documentation for your system.
Verdict
POA Miner is a sensible choice for Windows users who want a free, open-source CPU miner focused on POA blocks on Dapscoin and the PRCY network. It suits hobbyists, developers and anyone who wants to study a processor-based miner. It is not a broad, multi-coin toolkit, and its Windows package should be confirmed on the Releases page before you commit time to setup. Verify every download, use the program on a machine you understand, and expect modest results from a single CPU.