The Stratum Reference Implementation (SRI) team has unveiled SRI 1.0.0, a new step in its journey to decentralize and optimize Bitcoin mining, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. This latest version is now available for immediate testing and seamless integration.
Here are some highlights of SRI 1.0.0:
- Miners can connect to SV2 pools without upgrading existing SV1 firmware via the translation proxy or directly using an SV2 firmware device such as BraiinsOS.
- Miners have the ability to run their Bitcoin nodes, create templates and declare them to the SV2 pool.
- Implementing the pool fallback feature ensures that mining activities continue even if a pool decides to censor transactions, thereby incentivizing pools to prioritize the interests of miners.
This new release is the culmination of enhancements to the Stratum V2 specification achieved through collaboration within the working group and rigorous testing with the interoperability suite to ensure seamless compatibility between implementations of the Stratum V2 protocol.
The release allows miners using SV1 or SV2 firmware to connect directly to an SV2 pool or through a translation proxy. Miners can create their block templates using a locally hosted statement of work client and a patched version of Bitcoin Core Node, allowing them to send their templates to the statement of work server operated by the pool SV2. Importantly, this update also allows independent third parties to run the node and JDC, expanding operational capabilities.
The new pool fallback feature ensures miners can maintain their mining activity by automatically switching to alternative pools in case a pool rejects their models. This mechanism strongly incentivizes pools to act in the best interests of miners, ensuring that miners' hashing power remains safe and competitive.
SRI's pool-friendly setup and upcoming improvements make it an attractive option for miners and pools looking for streamlined mining experiences. The project states that it welcomes contributions and support from individuals and companies interested in providing grants to help accelerate development, research and innovation in Bitcoin mining technology.