Mining Algorithm

RandomX

Security

Falcon-512

Block Time

~1 minute

Mining Reward

2.5 QBC

Staking Reward

3 QBC

Reward Distribution

60 blocks Interval

Prerequisites

Before starting with Qbitcoin mining, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

Ubuntu Recommended: This guide is optimized for Ubuntu Linux. While other Linux distributions may work, Ubuntu provides the best compatibility for Qbitcoin mining.

Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or newer (recommended)
Python: Python 3.9 or higher
RAM: Minimum 4GB (8GB+ recommended for optimal mining)
Storage: At least 50GB free space for blockchain data
Internet: Stable broadband connection
Hardware: Modern CPU with AES support (RandomX optimized)

RandomX Algorithm: Qbitcoin uses the RandomX proof-of-work algorithm, which is optimized for general-purpose CPUs and provides ASIC resistance while maintaining quantum-resistant security through Falcon-512 signatures.

Install Python and Pip

First, ensure Python 3 and pip are installed on your system. Most Ubuntu systems come with Python pre-installed, but let's verify and install pip if needed:

Check Python version:

python3 --version

Update package list and install pip:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y python3-pip

Verify pip installation:

pip3 --version

Create Virtual Environment

Create and activate a Python virtual environment to keep your Qbitcoin installation isolated and avoid conflicts with other Python packages:

Install virtualenv (if not already installed):

pip3 install virtualenv

Create virtual environment:

python3 -m venv qbitcoin-env

Activate virtual environment:

source qbitcoin-env/bin/activate

Virtual Environment Benefits: Using a virtual environment ensures that Qbitcoin dependencies don't conflict with other Python projects on your system. Always activate this environment before running Qbitcoin commands.

After activation, your terminal prompt should show (qbitcoin-env) prefix, indicating the virtual environment is active.

Install Qbitcoin

With your virtual environment activated, install the Qbitcoin package using pip:

Install Qbitcoin package:

pip install qbitcoin

Note: Since you're using a virtual environment, you won't need sudo privileges or the --user flag. The package will be installed in your isolated environment.

Install Build Dependencies

Install the required system dependencies for building and running the Qbitcoin node. These libraries are essential for the cryptographic operations and network functionality:

Install build dependencies:

sudo apt install -y build-essential cmake swig python3-dev libssl-dev libboost-all-dev libuv1-dev

These dependencies include:

build-essential: Essential compilation tools (gcc, make, etc.)
cmake: Cross-platform build system
swig: Interface generator for connecting C/C++ with Python
python3-dev: Python development headers
libssl-dev: SSL/TLS cryptographic library
libboost-all-dev: Boost C++ libraries for networking and threading
libuv1-dev: Asynchronous I/O library

Run Smart Installer

Execute the Qbitcoin smart installer to automatically configure your node with optimal settings for your system:

Run the smart installer:

python3 -m qbitcoin.smart_installer

Smart Installer Features: The installer will automatically detect your system configuration, download necessary components, set up the blockchain database, and configure mining parameters for optimal performance.

The installer will guide you through:

System compatibility checks
Initial blockchain synchronization
Wallet setup (optional)
Mining configuration optimization
Network connectivity testing

Start the Qbitcoin Node

After installation, start your Qbitcoin node to begin synchronizing with the network:

Start the node:

qbitcoin

Initial Sync: The first time you run the node, it will download and verify the entire blockchain. This process may take several hours depending on your internet connection and system performance.

You should see output similar to:

                        Qbitcoin Node v1.0.0 Starting...
RandomX: Initializing mining engine...
Network: Connecting to peers...
Blockchain: Synchronizing... (0.5% complete)
Node Status: Running on port 19009
                    

Start Mining

Once your node is synchronized, you can start mining by specifying your Qbitcoin wallet address:

Start mining with your address:

qbitcoin --miningAddress <your_qbitcoin_address>

Example with a sample address:

qbitcoin --miningAddress Q010500d07e3d8f2b5c3f6e8e74c43c5d6b1f9a2e4c8b7a6f3e2d1c0b9a8f7e6d5c4b3a2

Get Your Address: If you don't have a Qbitcoin address yet, you can create one using our web wallet or by running the node wallet commands.

Staking Rewards Information

Qbitcoin offers staking rewards alongside mining. Here's how the staking system works:

Stake Reward per Block

3 QBC

Distribution Interval

60 Blocks

Reward Distribution

Proportional

Proportional Rewards: Your staking rewards are proportional to your contribution to the total staked amount on the network. For example, if you contribute 10% of the total staked amount, you will receive 10% of the staking rewards.

How Staking Rewards Work:

Block Reward: 3 QBC per block is distributed to all stakers
Distribution: Rewards are distributed every 60 blocks
Proportional Share: Your reward = (Your Stake / Total Network Stake) × Block Reward
Automatic Distribution: Rewards are automatically sent to your staking address

Start Staking & Mining Together

You can run both mining and staking simultaneously using the combined command. This allows you to earn both mining and staking rewards:

Start mining and staking together:

qbitcoin --miningStakingAddress <your_address>

Example with a sample address:

qbitcoin --miningStakingAddress Q010500d07e3d8f2b5c3f6e8e74c43c5d6b1f9a2e4c8b7a6f3e2d1c0b9a8f7e6d5c4b3a2

Address Requirement: Make sure you use an address that has a balance for staking. The address will be used for both mining rewards and staking operations.

Dual Benefits: When using the --miningStakingAddress flag, your node will participate in both mining (CPU-based RandomX) and staking (balance-based rewards), maximizing your earning potential.

Run Mining in Background

To keep your mining operation running even after closing the terminal, use nohup to run the process in the background:

Start background mining with logs:

nohup qbitcoin --miningAddress <your_qbitcoin_address> > mining.log 2>&1 &

Check if mining is running:

ps aux | grep qbitcoin

Monitor mining logs:

tail -f mining.log

Stop background mining:

pkill -f qbitcoin

Quick Command Reference

Basic Commands

Create Virtual Environment:

python3 -m venv qbitcoin-env

Activate Environment:

source qbitcoin-env/bin/activate

Install Qbitcoin:

pip install qbitcoin

Start Node:

qbitcoin

Mining & Staking

Start Mining:

qbitcoin --miningAddress <address>

Start Mining & Staking:

qbitcoin --miningStakingAddress <address>

Background Mining/Staking:

nohup qbitcoin --miningStakingAddress <address> > mining.log 2>&1 &

Stop Process:

pkill -f qbitcoin

Monitoring

Check Process:

ps aux | grep qbitcoin

Monitor Logs:

tail -f mining.log

Check Virtual Environment:

which python

Deactivate Environment:

deactivate

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Command 'qbitcoin' not found

                            # Add pip binary path to your PATH
echo 'export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/bin' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
                        

Issue: Permission denied during installation

                            # Use --user flag to install in user directory
pip3 install --user qbitcoin
                        

Issue: Node fails to sync or connect

                            # Check firewall settings and ensure ports 19009-19010 are open
sudo ufw allow 19009
sudo ufw allow 19010
                        

Issue: Low mining performance

Ensure your CPU supports AES instructions for optimal RandomX performance. You can check with:

grep -m1 -o aes /proc/cpuinfo

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues or need additional support, our community is here to help:

Qbitcoin Mining & Staking Guide