> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wp.qwertycoin.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wp.qwertycoin.org/network-and-consensus/consensus-and-mining.md).

# RandomX mining and chain selection

RandomX proof of work and canonical-chain behavior

Qwertycoin v2 uses RandomX (`rx/0`) proof of work. RandomX is designed around general-purpose CPUs and a memory-hard virtual machine. Mining is permissionless: the validity of a block depends on its proof, contents and parent state—not on the miner's identity or pool.

## Core parameters

| Parameter                   |         Value |
| --------------------------- | ------------: |
| Target block interval       |   120 seconds |
| Difficulty window           |    720 blocks |
| Coinbase maturity           |     60 blocks |
| Normal output spendable age |     10 blocks |
| Full-reward-zone floor      | 300,000 bytes |

Difficulty adapts from chain data. A valid block must satisfy the current difficulty, reference a valid parent and pass all transaction, EPoSE and Coinbase checks. Cumulative proof of work determines the winning branch.

## Mining and EPoSE

Miners do not decide which service identity receives a reward. For each height, Core derives the expected payee from the previously closed EPoSE qualification set. A miner may choose which valid pending EPoSE records to include, but cannot fabricate signatures or redirect a required service payment without producing an invalid block.

Reserved relay and template capacity reduce accidental starvation of enrollment and evidence records. They cannot force an adversarial miner to include a record, so sustained mining censorship remains a protocol risk.

## Pools and alternative blocks

A mining pool is an application-layer coordinator. It distributes templates, verifies shares and accounts for rewards, but it has no special consensus authority.

Two miners may find valid blocks for the same parent at nearly the same time. Only the branch with the winning cumulative work remains canonical. A valid block on the losing branch becomes an alternative/orphan block and its Coinbase is not spendable. This is normal proof-of-work behavior, not an explorer or accounting decision.

The current official pool exposes live policy and accounting data through its own API. Pool fees, PPLNS windows and payout thresholds are operator policy and are not Qwertycoin consensus parameters.