In a surprising development that sent ripples through the cryptocurrency mining community, Huobi Pool recently experienced a dramatic spike in Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network hashrate—surging from a baseline of 13P to an astonishing 1320P within a single hour. This sudden jump, observed on May 13, was no accident. According to insider sources, it marked a live test of Huobi Pool’s upcoming auto-switching mining pool—a dynamic new feature poised to redefine mining efficiency and profitability.
This strategic move signals Huobi Pool’s intent to innovate beyond traditional mining models and strengthen its position in a competitive landscape increasingly shaped by adaptive technologies.
👉 Discover how next-gen mining pools are boosting returns with smart auto-switching strategies.
What Is an Auto-Switching Mining Pool?
Unlike conventional mining pools that lock hashpower into a single cryptocurrency, auto-switching mining pools (commonly referred to as "gun pools" or "机枪池") dynamically allocate computational power across multiple cryptocurrencies using the same mining algorithm—such as SHA-256, used by Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), and Bitcoin SV (BSV).
The system continuously monitors real-time factors like:
- Cryptocurrency market prices
- Mining difficulty levels
- Block rewards
Based on these metrics, the pool automatically shifts hashpower to whichever coin offers the highest immediate return. This ensures miners maximize profits without needing to manually monitor or switch chains.
Huobi Pool’s approach combines this flexibility with a stable settlement model: earnings are calculated in BTC value and paid out daily in BTC, minimizing exposure to price volatility while enhancing predictability.
How Huobi’s Strategy Stands Out
While several major mining pools—including Bitmain’s AntPool and BTC.com—have experimented with auto-switching models, Huobi’s implementation focuses on risk mitigation and consistent gains.
According to industry insiders, Huobi Pool uses real-time hedging on secondary markets, locking in BTC-denominated returns instantly. This method avoids the pitfalls of delayed settlements (e.g., waiting for BCH or BSV transfers before converting to BTC), which can expose miners to sudden price swings.
This contrasts with alternative approaches where pools wait until mined coins are transferred before selling—potentially missing optimal sell points. By settling in BTC daily and hedging live, Huobi ensures:
- No negative returns during market dips
- Smoother revenue curves for miners
- Higher confidence for large-scale operators
As one COO in the space explained, “The first model is far more stable. It turns mining into a predictable income stream rather than a speculative gamble.”
The Evolution of Mining Pools: From Static to Smart
Mining pools have come a long way since their inception. Initially designed to aggregate hashpower for more consistent block rewards, most early pools operated on fixed algorithms—mining only BTC or only one altcoin.
But as competition intensified and block rewards halved, innovation became essential. The emergence of profit-switching logic allowed pools like ViaBTC and F2Pool to explore multi-chain mining. However, widespread adoption was limited until high-profile forks—like the BCH and BSV splits—created lucrative short-term opportunities.
Enter LTC.TOP, led by Jiang Zhuoer, which gained notoriety for using its gun pool to influence chain dominance during contentious forks. Similarly, AntPool launched public testing of its auto-switching feature in late 2019, reporting a 3% average revenue increase over standard PPS+ and FPPS models.
Now, Huobi Pool is stepping into this space with a refined, enterprise-grade solution aimed at both retail and institutional miners.
Industry Trends: Why More Pools Are Going “Smart”
The rise of auto-switching pools reflects broader shifts in the crypto mining ecosystem:
- Profit Optimization: With electricity and hardware costs rising, even small efficiency gains matter. Auto-switching can boost annual returns by 5–15%, depending on market volatility.
- Risk Management: BTC-based settlement shields miners from sudden devaluations in lesser-known coins.
- Competitive Pressure: After Binance and Poolin reduced BTC fees to 2.5%, Huobi followed suit—proving that innovation in pricing and features is critical to retention.
- Hashrate Fluidity: Pools with switching capabilities can now play pivotal roles during protocol wars (e.g., chain splits), sometimes swaying outcomes based on where they direct hashpower.
Some operators, however, raise concerns about transparency. For instance, Jiang Zhuoer once accused Poolin of running “anonymous gun pools”—diverting unspecified amounts of hashpower to BCH without disclosure, leading to irregular block intervals.
As more platforms adopt these tools, demand for clear reporting and auditability will grow.
Huobi Pool’s Roadmap: Innovation Beyond the Gun Pool
Launched in March 2018, Huobi Pool has steadily climbed to become the tenth-largest BTC mining pool globally. In 2019, it reported revenues of 2.278 billion RMB (~$320M USD) and introduced HPT, its native mining token.
Its two-year anniversary event on May 11 included:
- A permanent fee reduction from 4% to 2.5% for BTC mining
- Exclusive benefits for large-scale miners
- Teasers about upcoming product launches
With the gun pool entering final testing phases, Huobi is positioning itself as one of the most aggressive innovators in the space—not just following trends but setting them.
👉 See how top-tier mining platforms are using algorithmic switching to outperform static pools.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is an auto-switching mining pool?
A: It's a mining pool that automatically directs your hashpower to the most profitable cryptocurrency (with the same algorithm) at any given time, maximizing returns without manual intervention.
Q: Does Huobi Pool charge extra for using the gun pool feature?
A: No official fee structure has been announced yet, but early indications suggest it will be available at no additional cost beyond the standard 2.5% mining fee.
Q: How does BTC-denominated settlement work?
A: Even if you're mining BCH or BSV, your earnings are calculated in equivalent BTC value based on real-time prices and paid out in BTC the next day.
Q: Is there risk of loss with auto-switching?
A: Huobi’s model uses real-time hedging to prevent losses due to price drops after mining. As long as the hedging mechanism functions correctly, miners should not experience negative returns.
Q: Can I opt out of auto-switching and mine only one coin?
A: Yes—most pools offering gun pool features allow users to choose between fixed-coin mining and dynamic switching modes.
Q: When will Huobi’s gun pool launch publicly?
A: While no official date has been confirmed, internal testing is underway with select large clients. A public rollout is expected within weeks.
As the mining industry matures, adaptability is becoming the new standard. Huobi Pool’s upcoming auto-switching feature isn't just about chasing higher profits—it's about building a smarter, more resilient mining infrastructure.
For miners seeking consistent returns in volatile markets, this evolution could be a game-changer.
👉 Stay ahead of the curve—explore how intelligent mining solutions are reshaping crypto profitability.