Miners are the backbone of Flop Network: they run the AI models that agents pay for. They also receive the largest share of new FLOP, 75% of every block reward, and their own 1.2 billion FLOP airdrop cohort. This page explains what FLOP mining involves and how to get GPU access, with or without your own hardware.
Status on September 30, 2026: the miner software is not public yet, and Flop Labs has not published final hardware requirements. Do not pay for GPU time until the testnet miner client is released.
How FLOP mining works
FLOP mining is not hashing. A miner serves AI inference sessions: an agent reserves capacity, the miner runs the requested model, and the payment settles from the agent's escrow. On top of session payments, miners share 72 of the 96 FLOP minted in every block during the first two years.
Miners must prove their work. They commit to TOPLOC fingerprints of the model's activations, validators audit samples of past sessions, and cheating is slashed. Miners with confidential-computing GPUs can also attest their hardware, which unlocks the HARD tier.
Hardware and stake requirements
| Requirement | What we know |
|---|---|
| GPU | Final requirements are not published. Early coverage mentions cards with at least 16 GB of VRAM. |
| Hardware tiers | HARD tier: GPUs with confidential computing and hardware attestation, such as NVIDIA's H100 class. SOFT tier: GPUs without it, admitted too, with rules still being finalized. |
| Stake on mainnet | At least 10,000 FLOP, plus 0.01 FLOP for each GFLOP/s of calibrated capacity. |
| Stake on testnet | Test tokens only, no real money at stake. |
| Uptime | Rewards and vesting depend on the capacity you actually deliver. Staying below 10% of your pledge for a full day can revoke a vesting grant. |
Buy or rent a GPU?
| Your own GPU | A rented GPU | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | High | None, you pay by the hour |
| Flexibility | You keep the card you bought | Switch models or stop at any time |
| VRAM | Consumer cards top out at 24 to 32 GB | Data-center cards with 80 GB or more are available |
| Uptime | Depends on your home power and connection | Data-center hosting |
| Best for | Long-term mining, if FLOP mining proves profitable | Trying the testnet without buying hardware |
For the testnet, renting is the low-risk option. You can start the day the miner client ships, measure your results, and stop without being stuck with hardware.
How to rent a GPU on Vast.ai
Vast.ai is a marketplace where you rent GPUs from data centers and independent hosts, usually for much less than the big cloud providers.
- Create an account on Vast.ai and add credit.
- Filter the offers: at least 16 GB of GPU RAM, more for large models, a high reliability score and a fast connection.
- Choose an on-demand instance, not an interruptible one. An interruption would cut the capacity you deliver, and FLOP rewards depend on it.
- Launch a CUDA or PyTorch template, then install the FLOP miner client once Flop Labs releases it.
- Destroy the instance when you are done. A stopped instance can keep billing for its storage.
Rent a GPU for the FLOP testnet
Compare GPUs by VRAM, reliability and hourly price, then pay only for the hours you use.
Apply as a miner
Flop Labs collects GPU provider applications through the miner application form on its official website. Applying early does not guarantee anything, but it puts you on the list for testnet news.
How FLOP miners are paid
- Session payments from agents, settled from their escrow.
- Block rewards: 75% of each block reward, or 72 FLOP per block during the first two years. This amount halves every 730 days.
- Transaction fees: the ratified target gives 80% to miners and 10% to validators, and burns the remaining 10%.
- The miner airdrop: 1.2 billion FLOP converted from testnet activity, with performance-locked vesting. The airdrop guide explains the rules.
Risks for miners
- FLOP has no market price until mainnet, so testnet rewards have no known value.
- The first halving, on day 730, cuts the miner block reward from 72 to 36 FLOP.
- Validators slash part or all of your stake if they catch cheating.
- GPU rental costs are real money, while testnet rewards are not guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mine FLOP today?
No. The testnet miner client has not been released yet. Apply through the official miner form and wait for the testnet announcement from Flop Labs.
Can I mine FLOP with a gaming GPU?
Probably, on the SOFT tier, as long as it has enough VRAM. Early coverage mentions 16 GB as a minimum, but Flop Labs has not published final requirements.
Do I need an H100 to mine FLOP?
No. Confidential-computing GPUs such as the H100 give access to the HARD tier with hardware attestation, but the SOFT tier is designed for GPUs without that feature.
Is renting a GPU worth it for the testnet?
It can be, because you avoid buying hardware for a network that is not live yet. Only rent once the miner client is out, and track your costs against the capacity you actually deliver.