Public Bitcoin miner operating 50 EH/s across self-managed data centers
Public minerBTC50 EH/s
Foundry
Institutional digital asset mining infrastructure operating the largest Bitcoin mining pool
4.3/ 5
Our score
Very good
Type
Mining poolFirmware & software
Pool fee
0%
Payout schemes
FPPS
Coins
BTCZEC
What is Foundry?
Foundry is a digital asset infrastructure and enterprise software company best known for operating Foundry USA Pool, the largest Bitcoin mining pool in the world. As of mid-2026, the pool routinely accounts for 24% to 30% of global Bitcoin network hashrate. Alongside its flagship Bitcoin pool, Foundry develops specialized enterprise software and dedicated infrastructure for institutional miners across North America and global markets.
Corporate backing and leadership
Foundry was established in 2019 and officially announced as a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Currency Group in August 2020. The company is headquartered in the United States and employed 194 staff members as of October 2026. Founding Chief Executive Officer Mike Colyer took leadership in October 2019 after previously working at General Electric and serving in executive leadership at Core Scientific. Chief Operating Officer Philip Tuinenburg joined after a decade at McKinsey & Company, while Chief Financial Officer Kyle Wong previously led corporate accounting teams at Carestream following audit roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG.
Pool architecture and fee structure
Foundry provides mining pool services focused on Bitcoin and Zcash. Foundry USA Pool operates under a Full Pay-Per-Share (FPPS) payout scheme, distributing both block subsidies and network transaction fee averages to participating miners. The headline mining pool fee is listed at 0%, with the operator retaining specific network fee portions as operating compensation. The standard minimum payout threshold for Bitcoin miners is 0.001 BTC. In March 2026, the company introduced an institutional Zcash mining pool designed with compliance-first infrastructure and transparent settlement.
Onboarding, compliance, and track record
Foundry is an institutional-only operator. Access requires comprehensive identity verification through corporate KYC and AML compliance checks. Individual retail miners running solo ASIC hardware cannot register without passing enterprise onboarding. In May 2026, Foundry joined the Stratum V2 Working Group alongside other mining pools to advance mining communication standards, though public Stratum V2 access remained limited at that time.
Key risks and trade-offs
Foundry's scale introduces pool centralization risks, as its control of roughly 30% of the Bitcoin network hashrate concentrates block template creation among a small group of operators. Enterprise clients face operational risks tied to Bitcoin halving cycles, shifting network difficulty, and volatile regional electricity costs. Furthermore, non-institutional operators are excluded entirely by the platform's mandatory enterprise vetting.
Founders
Mike ColyerCEO
Dan MagnuszewskiCTO
Best for:North American institutional Bitcoin minersCommercial hosting facility operatorsEnterprise entities seeking FPPS payouts
Pros and cons
Pros
- Controls 24% to 30% of global Bitcoin network hashrate
- Operates under a 0% headline pool fee structure
- Uses Full Pay-Per-Share accounting for predictable revenue settlement
- Low minimum payout threshold set at 0.001 BTC
- Backed directly by parent company Digital Currency Group
Cons
- Strict corporate KYC onboarding excludes retail and home ASIC miners
- High market share creates Bitcoin network hashrate centralization concerns
- Limited to Bitcoin and Zcash with no merged mining options
- Stratum V2 end-user access is not yet publicly deployed
Our review
4.3/5
Very good
Foundry offers large institutional scale and a headline 0% pool fee, but its strict KYC requirements and institutional focus exclude small retail miners.
Foundry is an institutional digital asset infrastructure company operated by Digital Currency Group, best known for running Foundry USA Pool. Established in 2019 under founding CEO Mike Colyer, the company has grown into a dominant force in network validation. In April 2026, Foundry USA Pool controlled approximately 30% of global Bitcoin hashrate, outranking AntPool at 18%, and routinely maintained a 24% to 30% network share throughout mid-2026.
For enterprise miners, the primary draw is pool economics and reliable settlement. Foundry USA Pool runs on a Full-Pay-Per-Share (FPPS) payout scheme and promotes a 0% headline pool fee, retaining transaction fees as compensation. Payouts clear daily with a minimum threshold of 0.001 BTC. Beyond Bitcoin, Foundry introduced an institutional Zcash mining pool in March 2026 and joined the Stratum V2 Working Group in May 2026 alongside competing pools. The operation is supported by an experienced leadership bench, including Chief Operating Officer Philip Tuinenburg and Chief Financial Officer Kyle Wong.
The service involves distinct operational trade-offs:
- Strict onboarding requires full KYC and AML verification, limiting access strictly to institutional participants and barring anonymous miners.
- Massive hashrate concentration under a single operator presents systemic centralisation concerns for the Bitcoin network.
- The platform lacks merged mining options, such as Namecoin or Elastos, which some alternative multi-asset pools support.
Foundry suits North American public mining corporations and institutional hosting facilities needing regulatory alignment and predictable FPPS accounting. Hobbyist miners operating single rigs or individuals seeking permissionless access should look elsewhere to retail-friendly pools like OCEAN or ViaBTC.
Specs
| Type | Mining pool, Firmware & software · unverified |
|---|---|
| Coins | BTC, ZEC · unverified |
| Pool fee | 0% · unverified |
| Payout schemes | FPPS · unverified |
| Minimum payout | 0.001 BTC · unverified |
| Locations | United States · unverified |
Not disclosed by the provider: Hashrate, Stock ticker, Energy sources, Hardware models.
Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.
Key features
Full Pay-Per-Share payouts
Foundry USA Pool calculates earnings using an FPPS model that distributes both block subsidies and transaction fees to miners.
Zero percent headline fee
The Bitcoin mining pool lists a 0% headline pool fee, using transaction fee allocations for operator compensation.
Low payout threshold
Participating miners can settle earnings at an institutional minimum payout balance of 0.001 BTC.
Institutional Zcash pool
Miners can access a dedicated Zcash pool equipped with compliance-first reporting and US-based infrastructure.
Enterprise mining software
Foundry supplies operational software, advisory tooling, and site management interfaces designed for commercial mining operators.
Stratum V2 development
Foundry participates in the Stratum V2 Working Group to support decentralized block template construction.
Inside Foundry
Foundry USA Pool
An institutional Bitcoin mining pool operating under a Full-Pay-Per-Share model with daily payouts starting at 0.001 BTC.
Foundry Zcash Pool
A compliance-focused institutional mining pool tailored for Zcash with transparent payouts and dedicated US-based support.
Enterprise Software & Advisory
Infrastructure solutions and enterprise tools designed for large-scale mining operations and institutional digital asset participants.
What users say about Foundry
User feedback on Foundry is minimal, with discussions focused externally on Bitcoin mining centralization concerns. There are not enough distinct reports to identify recurring positive or negative themes.
Based on 1 Reddit posts and comments from the last 12 months, checked Oct 26, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.
User reviews
No user reviews yet. Have you used Foundry? Share your experience below.
Funding and investors
1Round
1Investor
-
Funding round Aug 2020 Amount undisclosedSource
FAQ
Who founded Foundry?
Foundry was launched in 2019 by founding CEO Mike Colyer as a wholly owned subsidiary of Digital Currency Group. Colyer previously served as an executive at Core Scientific and General Electric.
What fees does Foundry USA Pool charge?
Foundry USA Pool advertises a 0% headline pool fee. It uses a Full-Pay-Per-Share (FPPS) payout scheme and retains network transaction fees as compensation.
Does Foundry require KYC verification?
Yes. Foundry USA Pool is strictly institutional and requires direct onboarding with full KYC and AML compliance checks.
What coins can you mine with Foundry?
Foundry provides mining pools for Bitcoin and Zcash. It does not offer merged mining on its Bitcoin pool.
What payout scheme does Foundry USA Pool use?
The pool uses the Full-Pay-Per-Share (FPPS) model, paying out both block subsidies and transaction fees based on network averages. The minimum payout threshold is 0.001 BTC.
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