Merged Mining?

[Barntech]

Can anyone please explain to me the deal with merged mining? Bitminter.com says that they also mine Namecoins because they come at no extra effort. What is actually going on there? Is it just as profitable to mine both at the same time?

Cheers

[caveden]

It costs the same, and you get double rewards.
See http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/273/how-does-merged-mining-work

[Barntech]

Awesome.

Thanks for that. Interesting.

So why isn't every mining pool out there doing merged ming?

[caveden]

Honestly I don't know... you should ask your pool operator directly what are his motives.

[r.freeman]

Awesome.

Thanks for that. Interesting.

So why isn't every mining pool out there doing merged ming?

I wonder if pool could do double mining covertly, e.g. give you jsut BTC and keep other profit?

[Barntech]

Good point. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

I've started mining with bitminter, which gives you namecoins as well, though they don't seem to be worth much