Chia Network FAQ: Understanding Pools, Proofs, and Farming Efficiency

Chia (XCH) has emerged as a groundbreaking blockchain project that replaces energy-intensive mining with eco-friendly "farming" using disk space. As more users join the network, understanding how pools like XCHPool operate becomes essential for maximizing rewards and optimizing performance. This comprehensive guide dives into frequently asked questions about Chia farming, pool mechanics, synchronization tips, and reward distribution—delivering clear, actionable insights for both beginners and experienced participants.

How Does XCHPool Enhance Your Chia Farming Experience?

Joining a mining pool like XCHPool significantly increases your chances of earning consistent rewards. For individual farmers with smaller storage capacity, it might take months to win a block independently. By pooling resources, participants combine their total space to increase the frequency of block wins.

XCHPool offers several key benefits:

• Low and transparent fees
• Fully anonymous participation
• Instant payout processing

Pooling allows even small-scale farmers to receive regular income instead of waiting indefinitely for solo rewards.

👉 Discover how joining a high-performance Chia pool can boost your daily returns

Understanding Network Size and Performance Tracking

Is There a Public Leaderboard?

Yes—XCHPool maintains a real-time ranking system accessible through its explorer page. Here, you can monitor:

• Top-performing farmers
• Pool-wide reward statistics
• Individual contribution history
• Payment records

This transparency helps users verify their performance and trust the fairness of the system.

Can I Use Existing Plots for Pool Participation?

No. To join any official Chia pool—including XCHPool—you must create portable plots. These are specifically formatted to support pooled farming and allow seamless verification between your node and the pool server.

Legacy non-portable plots cannot be used in pooled environments and require replotting.

Optimizing Sync Speed and Database Management

Synchronizing with the Chia blockchain can be time-consuming, especially on first setup. However, you can drastically reduce sync times by reusing an existing .sqlite database file.

How to Accelerate Sync Using an Existing SQLite File

1. Stop the Chia farmer service:

   chia stop farmer

2. Locate the database directory:

   • Windows: C:\Users\{username}\.chia\mainnet\db
   • Linux: ~/.chia/mainnet/db/
3. Backup your current blockchain file:
   Rename blockchain_v1_mainnet.sqlite to something like blockchain_backup.sqlite.
4. Replace with a fresh or updated SQLite file:
   Copy the new blockchain_v1_mainnet.sqlite into the same folder.

5. Restart the farmer:

   chia start farmer

6. Allow the client to catch up:
   The node will sync only the missing blocks, which is much faster than starting from scratch.

Connecting to the Chia Testnet (Windows & Linux)

Testing configurations before going live is crucial. Here’s how to connect to the Chia testnet:

On Windows:

1. Install Chia Blockchain software.

2. Open PowerShell and navigate to:

   cd C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\chia-blockchain

3. Initialize:

   .\chia.exe init

4. Enable testnet mode:

   .\chia.exe configure -t true

5. Force fast sync:

   .\chia.exe show -a testnet-node.chia.net:58444

On Linux:

1. Initialize:

   chia init

2. Enable testnet:

   chia configure -t true

3. Start synchronization:

   chia show -a testnet-node.chia.net:58444

This setup allows developers and farmers to test plot validity, connectivity, and reward mechanics without risking mainnet assets.

Why Does My Network Space Appear Lower Than Expected?

Your displayed network space in the XCHPool explorer may appear lower due to several factors:

• You joined the pool less than 24 hours ago.
• Your farm was offline during part of the rolling 24-hour window.
• You're still generating new plots, so total space hasn't stabilized.
• The system calculates space based on proof submissions over time, not raw disk size.

Space metrics use a 24-hour rolling average, meaning fluctuations are normal until consistent uptime is achieved.

XCHPool Fees, Discounts, and Reward Distribution

What Are the Pool Fees?

XCHPool charges a base fee of 1%, but offers tiered discounts based on farm size and loyalty:

Volume-Based Discounts:

• 0.05% for farms > 100 TB
• 0.10% for farms > 250 TB
• 0.15% for farms > 500 TB
• 0.20% for farms > 1 PB

Loyalty Discounts:

• 0.05% after 6 months of continuous participation
• 0.10% after 12 months
• 0.15% after 18 months

These incentives encourage long-term commitment and reward scaling operations.

How Payments Work: The Role of PPLNS and Scoring

What Is PPLNS?

PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) is the method XCHPool uses to distribute rewards. When a block is found:

• The winning farmer receives 0.25 XCH.
• The remaining 1.75 XCH is distributed among all participants based on their recent contribution (shares).

The system looks back at the last N valid proofs submitted before the block was won—this is called the "time window." Only those who contributed within this window receive a portion of the reward.

👉 Learn how PPLNS rewards consistency over short-term hopping

How Are Points Calculated?

Points are earned by submitting valid proofs to the pool server. Three main factors influence scoring:

1. Proof difficulty (adjusted based on your farm size)
2. Number of proofs submitted
3. Uptime during the payout cycle

On average, each K32 plot should qualify for about 10 challenges per day.

Example Scenarios:

• 500 proofs at difficulty 1 = 500 points → 50 plot-equivalents
• 100 proofs at difficulty 5 = 500 points → 50 plot-equivalents
• 20 proofs at difficulty 25 = 500 points → 50 plot-equivalents

All point totals are reset after each payout, ensuring fair redistribution in every cycle.

Payouts occur daily at 12:00 UTC, though blockchain processing delays may cause slight variations in wallet receipt times.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need to register to join XCHPool?
A: No registration is required. You join via a smart contract on the Chia network—only your wallet address is needed.

Q: Can I leave XCHPool anytime?
A: Yes, but doing so forfeits any loyalty-based fee discounts you’ve earned.

Q: How is my network space calculated?
A: Based on valid proof submissions over a 24-hour rolling period, adjusted for challenge difficulty and uptime.

Q: What is Proof of Space and Time (PoST)?
A: PoST combines unused disk space (Proof of Space) with verifiable time intervals (Proof of Time) to secure the Chia blockchain without high energy consumption.

Q: Who created Chia?
A: Bram Cohen, the inventor of BitTorrent, founded Chia Network to introduce a more sustainable consensus model.

Q: Where can I ask more questions?
A: Community forums, official documentation at chia.net, and pool-specific explorers are excellent resources.

Core Keywords Integrated:

• Chia farming
• XCHPool
• Proof of Space and Time
• PPLNS
• Portable plots
• Chia testnet
• Blockchain sync
• Pool fees

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your operation, understanding these fundamentals ensures you make informed decisions in the evolving world of green crypto farming.

👉 Start optimizing your Chia farming strategy today with proven tools and insights