A miner is a participant in a proof-of-work cryptocurrency network who searches for a valid block hash. By changing a block’s nonce, the miner tries different hashes until one satisfies the network’s rule. section 12.2.2 section 12.5
A successful mining attempt connects users, transactions, and incentives:
- A miner collects transactions into a candidate block and proposes it to the network. section 12.2.2
- The miner repeatedly changes the nonce, like a counter or random value, until the block hash fits the required threshold. section 12.2.2 section 12.5
- If the block is accepted, the miner receives a block reward and the transaction fees it contains. section 12.2.2 section 12.5
A toy mining puzzle
In an interactive toy blockchain, each block stores its parent’s digest and searches for a nonce that makes its digest begin with four zeros. Changing an earlier block changes its digest and breaks the later chain’s authentication.
