An Ethereum miner is a participant in the Ethereum network who validates and records transactions on the blockchain. Miners use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems. When they successfully find a solution, they add a new block of transactions to the blockchain.In return for their work, miners earn rewards in the form of Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum. This process is essential for maintaining the network’s security and integrity.Miners play a crucial role in the consensus mechanism known as Proof of Work (PoW), where they compete to create new blocks. This competition requires significant computational power, and as more miners join, the difficulty of solving the problems increases.With the recent shift of Ethereum to a Proof of Stake (PoS) system, traditional mining has been replaced by validators who stake ETH to participate in block creation. However, discussions about mining often still reference Ethereum’s previous PoW structure. Overall, miners were vital in establishing Ethereum’s network before the transition.