Ever since its launch, Bitcoin has always grabbed eyeballs for reasons innumerable. In order to make better investment-related decisions as far as Bitcoin is concerned; having a fair idea about how this cryptocurrency functions can never go in vain. One of the most common topics of discussion under this head is that of mining. The very concept of mining is something that not many are well-versed with and also has posed as a quite a significant hurdle in being aware of the technicalities of digital currencies. That said, let's find out what is mining and what role does it play in the cryptocurrency market.

Before starting off, what is important is understanding how is Bitcoin related to mining. First and foremost, a Bitcoin is created only when a mathematical puzzle is solved. The computer program forms the backbone of all this for the sole reason that the mathematical puzzle is solved by a computer program. The program that runs the calculations is called a miner. In a nutshell, every time a miner solves a mathematical puzzle successfully, a Bitcoin is created. The computer program is such that it connects to a network where every other miner on that network is trying to solve the same puzzle.

Now here is the catch – as the network brings together all the miners that aim at getting the puzzle solved, the Bitcoin becomes increasingly difficult to mine. This happens because, with more miners joining, the chances of a puzzle being solved by one program, person, or group are reduced drastically.

Since mining forms the foundation of making the best of your investment portfolio, thousands of people have purchased hardware and programs designed to "mine" Bitcoin.

The whole idea of mining brings us to yet another important concept – the hash rate. It is nothing but the number of calculations that your mining program can make each second. What is worth noting is that – higher the hash rate, the more puzzles the computer program will successfully solve. This boils down to a simple fact – more the number of puzzles solved, the more are the coins earned. Evidently, everyone would want to earn more coins. Thus, choosing the right miner is the key here. The fact that different miners have different hash rates adds to this.

Here are some things to keep in mind while mining –

• Mining equipment that is slow and takes an eternity to solve the puzzles would fetch you nothing. Thus, relying on faster mining equipment ensures that the miner stays in the game and is not kicked off in the initial stage itself.
• The electricity bills would be high. Being prepared about the same is better. Also, one of the best ways in cutting down the electricity consumed is by switching to newer mining This is solely because relatively, the newer mining equipment would consume lesser energy and therefore, the bills would naturally decline.
• Now that more and more people are well aware of how much potential profit Bitcoin can generate, they began investing vast amounts in Bitcoin mining Now, you need to analyse what your position is with respect to your competitors in the market and what you can do to outshine them.
• The mining equipment is expensive. If you are of the belief that the equipment would be reasonable and that every common man would be able to afford it then you are absolutely wrong. Only heavy pockets stand a chance here. So, if you have significant funds to invest in the mining equipment, only then should you proceed.
• These days, we get to see miners (the people, not the programs) creating mining The main aim of this is to get around Bitcoin mining costs. This method not only makes the pool competitive but also increases the chances of getting the puzzle solved. Needless to say, the combined computing power stands a much better chance of winning the contest. If you are given a choice to get into a mining pool, consider it to be no less than a golden opportunity and explore the same to the fullest.

What everything boils down to is that – Bitcoin mining holds the potential to pay off in the long run, but there is no guarantee that it ever will. There are several factors that form the base for this. Some of them are deep study, good decisions, patience and of course luck, among others!