XMRig Proxy is a stratum proxy for mining farms and operators who run many rigs against one pool. It sits between your miners and the pool, so a group of workers can share one relay instead of each rig connecting on its own.
XMRig Proxy is open source and free, and its latest release is v6.26.0, with the last code update dated March 28, 2026. Its documentation names Monero (XMR) as the supported network, and the project describes it as compatible with any pool and any miner that supports NiceHash. This guide covers what the program does, how to install the ready-made build, and where it fits among other Monero mining tools.
What Is a Stratum Proxy and How Does It Work?
A stratum proxy is a relay that stands between mining software and a mining pool. Each rig connects to the proxy instead of connecting straight to the pool, and the proxy forwards the work and the submitted shares on behalf of those rigs.
The main benefit is consolidation. A pool usually sees one or a few connections from the proxy rather than hundreds from individual machines. For the operator, that means one address to point rigs at, one place to change when the pool address changes, and one set of output to watch when something goes wrong.
This design is most useful when you manage many workers across one site or several sites. A single rig at home rarely needs it, because the miner can usually connect directly. The proxy earns its place when the number of connections, and the number of settings you would otherwise edit on each machine, becomes hard to manage.
Who Is XMRig Proxy For?
XMRig Proxy is aimed at people who already understand how mining pools work and run more than a handful of machines. A typical case is a small farm where a dozen or more rigs report to the same Monero pool, and the operator wants a single relay in front of them.
System administrators and experienced hobbyists who keep rigs in a rack may also find it useful. Because the project describes a low-memory virtual machine as a valid host, you can place the proxy on a cheap server rather than on one of your mining machines. That keeps the relay running even when a particular rig is restarted or replaced.
It is less suited to beginners or to someone mining with a single laptop. In that case, connecting a miner straight to a pool is simpler, and the proxy adds a layer you do not need yet.
Key Mining Terms You Need Before You Set Up a Proxy
Hashrate is the amount of work your hardware performs per second. When many rigs feed one proxy, the combined hashrate is what the pool sees, so it helps to track per-worker and total numbers separately.
A share is a unit of proof that a rig completed a piece of work. The proxy relays shares upstream to the pool, and the pool credits them to your account. If shares stop arriving, the first thing to check is whether the proxy and its upstream connection are healthy.
The upstream is the connection from the proxy to the pool, and the downstream is the set of miners connecting to the proxy. Keeping these terms straight makes configuration files and logs easier to read. NiceHash is a marketplace for hashing power, and the project's compatibility with NiceHash-supporting miners means those miners can connect through the proxy.
Key features
Pool-Agnostic Design
Miner Compatibility
Large Connection Capacity
Configurable Developer Fee
Supported coins
Monero (XMR) is the only coin and network the project names. Because the proxy works with any pool, your choice of Monero pool is independent of the proxy itself, and the proxy simply relays your rigs' work to whichever pool you configure.
How to install XMRig Proxy on Windows
- 1
Find the Official Release
Open the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/xmrig/xmrig-proxy and open the entry for the latest version, v6.26.0. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub page, never from a mirror or a file shared in a chat.
- 2
Check for a Windows Build
The project lists Linux as its platform and says it builds for Windows, so not every release includes a Windows file. Look in the assets section of the release for a Windows archive. If there is none, run XMRig Proxy on a Linux machine or virtual machine instead.
- 3
Verify the File
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published on the release page. If the project publishes a signature, verify that as well. Do not run a file whose hash does not match.
- 4
Extract and Configure
Unzip the archive into a dedicated folder that only your account can write to. Open the configuration file included with the release and set your pool address, the local listening port and the developer fee before the first run.
-
Start and Test
Run the proxy from a command prompt so you can read its output. Point one test miner at the proxy, confirm that the pool accepts its shares, and then connect the rest of your rigs.
System requirements
- Platform: Linux is the platform the project lists; Windows use depends on whether the chosen release includes a Windows build.
- Memory: the project cites a low-memory virtual machine with 1024 MB of RAM as a reference point for handling over 100,000 connections.
How to use XMRig Proxy
Once the proxy is installed and verified, the workflow is straightforward: set the upstream pool, start the relay and point your miners at it. The steps below assume the download has already passed the checksum check.
- Open a command prompt in the folder where you extracted the files.
- Edit the configuration so the upstream address points to your Monero pool, and confirm the developer fee setting is what you want.
- Choose the local port your miners will connect to and write it down for later.
- Start the proxy and watch the first lines of output for errors about the upstream connection.
- Configure one test miner to connect to the proxy's address and port, using a NiceHash-compatible or pool-compatible miner.
- Confirm that the pool registers shares from that test rig.
- Repoint the rest of your rigs once the test succeeds.
- Check hashrate and share counts after an hour, and restart the proxy only when you need to change something.
Pros & cons
- Works with any pool, so you are not tied to a single provider
- Compatible with miners that support NiceHash
- Free and open source, with a recent code update
- Handles a large number of connections on modest hardware, according to the project's reference point
- Lets you consolidate many rigs behind one relay
- Linux is the listed platform, so Windows users depend on the release including a Windows build
- The default developer fee of 2% applies unless you change the setting
- Named coin support covers only Monero (XMR)
- Requires comfort with configuration files and the command line
- Adds little value for a single rig
Is XMRig Proxy safe?
Download XMRig Proxy only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. Verify the SHA-256 checksum of the file against the value published by the project, or check the signature if one is provided, and do not run a file that fails the check. Check the latest version on the official website before installing, since builds change over time.
Antivirus software often flags mining tools, sometimes as a false positive. Add an exception for a verified file if needed, but never turn protection off entirely. Keep the proxy on a machine you control, and never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website, since a relay like this has no reason to ask for one.
Monitoring is part of security too. Watch the connections the proxy accepts, and restrict the listening port to your own network so outsiders cannot use your relay.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/xmrig/xmrig-proxy. 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
XMRig Proxy is a relay that sits in front of a pool, so it is a different kind of tool from pool software. P2Pool is a decentralized Monero pool, which means you run pool logic yourself rather than forwarding work to an existing pool. Node-cryptonote-pool, which includes a front end, and Cryptonote-universal-pool, which uses Redis and MySQL, are full pool applications for cryptonote coins. MiningCore is a toolkit for building pools and supports Ergo. ErgoStratumProxy is the closest in role because it is also a stratum proxy, but it is built for Ergo miners rather than Monero. If you need a proxy for Monero rigs, XMRig Proxy is the more direct match.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v6.26.0
- Last update
- 28 Mar 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/xmrig/xmrig-proxy
Frequently asked questions
Yes, XMRig Proxy is free and open source. The program itself costs nothing, but the default developer donation is 2%, which you can lower to 1% or turn off in the settings. Check that setting before you start, because it determines how much of your hashing power goes to the developer.
It may, but it is not guaranteed. The project lists Linux as its platform and says it builds for Windows, so check the Releases page for a Windows archive in the latest version. If none is offered, run the proxy on a Linux machine or virtual machine instead.
XMRig Proxy is designed for Monero (XMR), the only coin and network the project names. It works with any pool, so the pool you choose determines the rest of your Monero setup. The proxy itself simply relays work between your miners and that pool.
Yes, the project states that it is compatible with miners that support NiceHash. Point those miners at the proxy's address and port instead of the pool address. The proxy then forwards their work to the upstream pool you configured, so you keep one consistent entry point.
It is open source, so its code can be reviewed, and it is safe when you use the official build and verify its SHA-256 checksum. Keep your antivirus enabled, because mining tools are often flagged, and restrict the listening port to your own network. The safety section covers the full checklist.
The project cites a low-memory virtual machine with 1024 MB of RAM as a reference point for handling more than 100,000 connections. That makes it practical on inexpensive hosts. Your real needs depend on how many miners you connect and how your upstream is configured.
A mining pool credits your shares and pays out rewards, while a proxy only relays work and shares between your miners and an existing pool. You still need an account with a pool. The proxy simply consolidates how your rigs reach that pool.
Verdict
XMRig Proxy is a focused tool for Monero operators who run many rigs and want one relay in front of an existing pool. It is free, open source, works with any pool and with NiceHash-compatible miners, and the project describes modest memory needs. It is a weaker fit for Windows-only users, since Linux is the listed platform, and for solo miners with a single rig who do not need an extra layer. Check the latest version on the official website before you commit to a setup.