HashNet mines six coins, but it does not treat them as one pool of options. It organises everything around four algorithm groups. Understanding those groups is the key to understanding how HashNet mines.
Why Algorithms Come First
Every mineable coin uses a specific algorithm, and mining hardware is built for specific algorithms. A machine can only mine coins that use the algorithm it was built for. HashNet therefore gives each algorithm group its own dedicated hardware.
The Four Groups
| Group | Coins | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SHA-256 | Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | Two coins to choose between |
| Scrypt | Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE) | Two coins to choose between |
| Equihash | Zcash (ZEC) | The only coin HashNet mines on Equihash |
| kHeavyHash | Kaspa (KAS) | A single coin |
How the Alpha Engine Uses Them
Within each group, the Alpha Engine compares the available coins and moves hardware to the most efficient one at that moment. Coins are only compared with others in the same group. An SHA-256 machine will never try to mine an Equihash coin.
Turning Complexity into Clear Choices
HashNet’s founder, Ian Issa, has said he once believed that mining more coins simply meant more chaos. Structure changed his view. Six coins fall into just four algorithm groups, and machines only switch within their own group. That turns potential chaos into a set of clear choices.
One Payout at the End
Whatever each group mines, the output converts to Bitcoin and is paid on-chain to customer wallets every eight hours.
Why It Matters
The algorithm-group structure is what allows HashNet to be both diversified and disciplined: spread across six coins, but never attempting what its hardware cannot do.