## Definition

**Pool hopping** is the practice of moving mining hash rate from one pool to another to chase better short-term payouts. It usually targets mining pools where the value of a submitted share changes during a reward round. The miner is not producing more work; they are trying to time where that work is paid best.

## How It Works

In a [mining pool](/glossary/what-is-a-mining-pool), miners submit [shares](/glossary/share) to prove they contributed computing power. When the pool finds a valid block, it distributes the reward according to its payout method. Some older proportional systems divide the block reward among all shares submitted since the last block.

That setup creates a timing problem. At the start of a round, there are few total shares, so each new share can have a higher expected value. As the round gets longer, each additional share may be worth less. A pool hopper connects during the early, favorable part of a round, then leaves when expected payout drops.

Pool hopping is different from normal pool switching. A miner might change pools because of fees, downtime, payout thresholds, or better [Stratum protocol](/glossary/stratum-protocol) performance. Pool hopping specifically means switching to exploit the reward formula.

Modern pools reduce this behavior with payout methods that make share timing less useful. Pay-per-share systems pay a fixed amount for each valid share. PPLNS and score-based systems give more weight to sustained participation over time.

## Why It Matters

Pool hopping matters because it can shift rewards away from steady miners. If hoppers earn above-average payouts during favorable windows, miners who stay connected through long rounds may receive less than their fair share of the pool's [hash rate](/glossary/hash-rate).

For miners, this is a reason to understand payout rules before choosing a pool. A low-fee pool may still produce unstable or unfair returns if its accounting can be gamed. The guide on [how to choose a mining pool](/guides/how-to-choose-a-mining-pool) covers those trade-offs in more detail.

## Related Terms

- [What Is a Mining Pool](/glossary/what-is-a-mining-pool)
- [Share](/glossary/share)
- [Hash Rate](/glossary/hash-rate)
- [Stratum Protocol](/glossary/stratum-protocol)
- [Mining Payout Methods](/glossary/mining-payout-methods)