P2Pool has two releases that miners should distinguish. Version 4.18.1, released on September 22, 2026, remains the latest stable version at our November 2 check. Version 5.0-beta, published on October 1, is restricted to the FCMP++ and Carrot beta stressnet.
The stable update repairs Tari merge mining and requires Tari node version 6.0.0 or newer for that feature. It also changes sidechain validation so a missing parent or uncle block does not immediately make a block invalid. Private IP addresses are excluded from peer lists.
P2Pool 5.0 beta uses test coins
The beta adds FCMP++, Carrot and RandomX v2 support, alongside a revised reward split. It refuses to run on the regular main, mini and nano chains. Installing this beta is therefore not an upgrade path for a miner earning XMR on those chains. The test setup requires a separate testnet wallet, the specified beta Monero daemon and XMRig 6.26.0 or newer. The maintainer asks testers to use one CPU thread. Testnet mining produces no real XMR.
Before running a mining update
Use the stable release for ordinary mining and verify its signed checksum file before running downloaded software. P2Pool also recommends a dedicated mining wallet because its payout addresses are public. A wallet used for private payments should not double as your public mining identity.