Auxiliary Proof of Work (AuxPoW), often called merged mining, lets a miner submit work produced for a parent blockchain as proof of work for a connected auxiliary blockchain. Dogecoin uses AuxPoW to let compatible Scrypt miners produce work that can be accepted by both Dogecoin and another chain, such as Litecoin. Dogecoin remains a separate blockchain: its nodes validate the auxiliary proof and Dogecoin block rules themselves.
| Protocol documentation | Dogecoin Core protocol features |
|---|---|
| Directories | Dogecoin Directory |
How merged mining works
AuxPoW packages proof-of-work data with a reference that binds it to a block on the auxiliary chain. A Dogecoin node checks that proof against Dogecoin’s AuxPoW rules and difficulty target. When the same mining effort is submitted correctly to more than one chain, miners can support both without splitting the underlying hash work into separate attempts.
What AuxPoW does not mean
Dogecoin does not become part of Litecoin, inherit Litecoin’s transaction history, or outsource all validation to another network. Each chain keeps its own blocks, transactions, and consensus rules. Merged mining also does not guarantee a particular level of security: that depends on miners actually submitting valid work and nodes enforcing the relevant rules.
Use in Dogecoin
Dogecoin Core lists AuxPoW as an implemented protocol feature. Its source code contains the chain identifiers, activation parameters, and validation logic used by Dogecoin nodes. The feature works alongside Dogecoin’s Scrypt proof of work and its own difficulty-adjustment rules.
Related Terms
See Also
Sources
- Dogecoin Core: Implemented protocol features — Lists merged mining (AuxPoW) among features accepted by Dogecoin Core.
- Dogecoin Core: Chain parameters — Shows Dogecoin’s AuxPoW chain identifier, activation settings, and relationship to DigiShield.
- Dogecoin Dogepedia: What is a miner? — Explains Dogecoin mining and merged mining in the project’s educational documentation.