Pay Per Share Plus (PPS+)
PPS+ guarantees block reward payment per share while sharing transaction fees only when blocks are found. A middle ground between FPPS and PPLNS.
What is PPS+?
Pay Per Share Plus (PPS+) is a hybrid mining pool payout method that combines elements of both PPS and PPLNS. The block reward portion (subsidy) is guaranteed per share like PPS, while the transaction fee portion is distributed only when the pool finds a block, similar to PPLNS.
How PPS+ Works
- For each valid share, miners receive guaranteed payment based on the current block subsidy (3.125 BTC)
- The guaranteed portion is calculated using current network difficulty, just like FPPS
- When the pool finds a block, the transaction fees from that block are distributed among contributing miners
- The transaction fee distribution typically follows a PPLNS-like window
This creates a two-component payout: a steady base income from the guaranteed subsidy plus a variable bonus from transaction fees when blocks are found.
PPS+ vs FPPS vs PPLNS
| Aspect | PPS+ | FPPS | PPLNS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block subsidy | Guaranteed | Guaranteed | On block found |
| Transaction fees | On block found | Guaranteed (estimated) | On block found |
| Variance | Low-Medium | Lowest | Highest |
| Typical pool fee | 2-3% | 3-4% | 1-2% |
| Risk split | Shared | Pool bears all | Miner bears all |
When to Choose PPS+
PPS+ is ideal for miners who want the stability of guaranteed block subsidy payments but are willing to accept some variance on the transaction fee component in exchange for lower pool fees than FPPS. As transaction fees have grown as a proportion of total block rewards, the variable component of PPS+ has become more significant.
During periods of high transaction fees (like during Ordinals or Runes activity), PPS+ miners can earn more than FPPS miners because they receive actual transaction fees rather than estimated averages. Conversely, during low-fee periods, FPPS provides more consistent total payouts.
Popular PPS+ Pools
AntPool and Binance Pool are among the major pools offering PPS+ as their primary payout method. PPS+ has become increasingly popular as it offers a balanced approach that suits a wide range of miners.