How do I switch from P2Pool to P2Pool mini?

To switch from P2Pool to P2Pool mini, stop your P2Pool program and restart it with the --mini option. You can keep the same Monero node, wallet address, and miner settings, provided your miner still connects to the same local address and port.

Change the P2Pool setting, not your wallet

P2Pool mini is a separate P2Pool network designed to give smaller miners more frequent chances to earn shares. A share is proof that your miner has completed enough work to count toward a possible payout.

Mini still mines real Monero blocks. It does not use a different coin or require a new wallet.

Before switching:

• Find the command, startup script, or app setting you use to launch P2Pool.
• Keep your existing Monero wallet address.
• Leave your Monero node, the program that checks and shares Monero’s transaction history, running and synchronized.

You do not need to download the Monero blockchain again. Mini has its own smaller share history, which P2Pool will synchronize separately.

Restart P2Pool in mini mode

If you run P2Pool from a terminal, stop it cleanly, usually with Ctrl+C. Then add --mini to your existing launch command.

For example, a basic command using a local node looks like this:

./p2pool --host 127.0.0.1 --wallet YOUR_XMR_WALLET_ADDRESS --mini

Replace the placeholder with your own wallet address. On Windows, the program may be named p2pool.exe.

Keep any other options your existing setup needs. That includes custom node ports, connection settings, or a custom miner-listening address. Adding --mini to your working command is safer than replacing the whole command with a generic example.

If P2Pool starts automatically as a background service, edit its saved startup command and restart the service. Otherwise, your next reboot could put you back on the main P2Pool network.

If you use a graphical mining app, select its P2Pool mini option and restart mining as the app requires. Setting names vary.

Reconnect your miner and check the result

Your miner, such as XMRig, normally sends work to P2Pool through a Stratum connection, the connection used to receive mining jobs and submit results.

If that connection was 127.0.0.1:3333 and you have not changed it, leave it alone. Your miner may reconnect automatically after P2Pool restarts.

Check that:

• P2Pool’s startup output identifies the mini network.
• P2Pool connects to mini peers—other computers participating in mini.
• Its share history finishes synchronizing.
• Your miner receives jobs and submits accepted work.

Accepted miner submissions do not necessarily mean you have found a payout-eligible P2Pool share yet. That can still take time.

Know what happens to your previous work

Your main-network P2Pool shares do not transfer to mini. They remain eligible on the main network until they leave its payout window, so a final main-network payout may still arrive after you switch.

Mini generally offers more frequent shares for smaller miners, but its network finds Monero blocks less often. It does not guarantee daily payments or higher earnings.

The bottom line

Add --mini, restart P2Pool, and verify that it synchronizes with mini. Keep your node, wallet, and miner connection unchanged unless your particular app requires otherwise.