Want to mine Monero?
Monero is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that has been popular with privacy-minded miners. It's one of the last coins that's still possible to mine using consumer-grade hardware by everyday people. So, if you're looking to get into cryptocurrency mining, Monero could be a good place to start.
But is it profitable?
The simple answer is: it depends. Monero mining is much more difficult now than in the early days of the currency. But even today, it is possible to mine Monero and profit from it.
Here is what you’ll discover:
- Unique features of Monero mining
- The truth about Monero mining profitability
- The cost of mining XMR
- CPU vs GPU mining for Monero
Unique features of Monero mining
Monero cryptocurrency is unique because it uses a special mining algorithm called RandomX.
This algorithm was specifically designed to be resistant to ASIC mining rigs. ASIC stands for application-specific integrated circuit. They are expensive, specialized machines designed for one task (mining a specific cryptocurrency).
Why is this a good thing?
RandomX is designed to favor CPU mining over GPU mining. This keeps the Monero network decentralized and allows everyday people to have a chance at mining. For those serious about securing their crypto, using a 안전한 모네로지갑 will help to keep your mined XMR safe and secure from potential security risks.
Monero mining is special because you can start with hardware that you likely already own. Just about anyone has a computer with a decent CPU these days.
So all you need to do is set up a computer and you're ready to mine Monero. But before you get too excited…
The truth about Monero mining profitability
Mining cryptocurrencies is all about making a profit. But is Monero mining profitable?
As of right now, it can be, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to make a profit mining Monero. Mining one coin XMR currently requires 165.3 days of mining at current difficulty levels with a typical mining system. That's over five months of mining for one coin!
What does this mean for you?
It means that most miners right now are earning between $0.45-$1.00 per day for each mining system they operate. And don't forget electricity costs!
In fact, for those using top-end CPUs like the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, you can expect between $0.12-$0.18 per day in profit after paying for electricity. That's right. You read that correctly, cents.
The cost of mining XMR
Mining cryptocurrencies comes with some costs. And these costs must be factored into your profitability calculations.
Here are some of the things you will need to budget for:
- Electricity cost (this is the biggest expense)
- Hardware depreciation and maintenance
- Mining pool fees (if not solo mining)
- Cooling costs to prevent overheating, etc.
Electricity is the biggest killer of mining profitability. If your cost per kWh is above $0.05 then it will be difficult to justify mining Monero from a financial perspective.
You'll find miners using creative ways to reduce their electricity costs. Some mines where electricity rates are low. Others use solar panels to offset electricity costs. You'll also find miners that mine in the winter months as they can use the heat from the rigs as a heating source.
CPU vs GPU mining for Monero
When it comes to Monero mining you have two choices of hardware: CPU or GPU?
The answer is CPU. This is different from most cryptocurrencies where you mine with a GPU. Monero cryptocurrency is best mined with a CPU.
The RandomX algorithm uses random code execution, which is very memory-intensive. This makes it ideal for modern CPUs with large L3 caches.
The top CPUs for mining Monero are:
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (28-32 kH/s)
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Intel Core i9-14900K
- AMD EPYC Server CPUs
Older CPUs, such as an i5 or i7 from 2017, are no longer good enough. The hash rates are too low to be competitive.
Mining pools or solo mining
A common question from most beginners is: Should I solo mine or join a pool?
Solo mining Monero is like playing the lottery. Your chances of actually successfully mining a block are extremely small unless you have vast amounts of hash power.
That's why most miners join mining pools.
Mining pools are groups of miners who pool their hash power together. When a miner in the pool successfully mines a block, then the rewards are split among all the miners in the pool based on their individual contributions.
This means more regular, but smaller payouts. Popular Monero mining pools include MineXMR, SupportXMR, and Nanopool. Each charge small fees of between 0% and 2% of your mining rewards.
Monero: "Tail Emission"
Monero has a tail emission.
Bitcoin will only ever have 21 million BTC in circulation. There's a hard cap in place. Monero doesn't have that cap. Monero is guaranteed to continue producing 0.6 XMR per block forever. No halving, no sudden reward reduction.
Why does this matter?
The tail emission creates predictable long-term incentives for miners. This is because the block reward never changes. You can calculate future profitability much more easily since there are no future halvings or other reward changes to worry about.
Network statistics as of writing
There are a few Monero network stats you should be aware of to understand the level of competition miners face today.
The network hashrate is currently at about 4.18 GH/s. That's the total amount of hash power from all the miners on the network combined trying to secure the blockchain. The network difficulty will increase and decrease over time based on this.
Block time: 2 minutes per block
Challenges of mining Monero
Monero mining is not always easy and comes with some challenges.
Regulatory risk is one of the biggest hurdles that Monero miners face. Most exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken have delisted Monero, citing regulatory pressure. This makes it difficult to sell your mined XMR and drives down the coin's liquidity and demand.
Another issue is the increased competition from other miners. RandomX is specifically designed to prevent ASIC mining farms from dominating. However, the fact that RandomX is CPU-friendly has meant that many server-grade CPUs are being added to the Monero network from large mining operations.
Monero mining in 2025: still profitable?
The honest answer is, it depends on your individual situation.
If you have access to cheap electricity (below $0.05 per kWh) and own the proper CPU hardware then it is possible to at least break even mining Monero. Or even possibly earn some small profits.
But in general, you're probably better off just buying Monero directly.
For the average person, the costs of mining (electricity and hardware depreciation) will likely exceed any potential rewards. Monero mining is not always profitable for everyday people.
But some miners are not mining purely for profit. They mine to help with decentralization of the network. Others mine to acquire Monero without using exchanges.
Getting started with Monero
Mining Monero is not too difficult to get started. Here's a checklist of things you will need:
- A modern CPU with a large L3 cache
- Monero mining software (XMRig is the most popular)
- A Monero wallet to receive the mined coins
- Join a mining pool (recommended for beginners)
Setup is pretty straightforward. Download the XMRig miner and enter your pool details and wallet address. Then start mining. Most Monero mining pools have detailed instructions on their website.
Conclusion
Monero mining is not always easy and comes with some challenges.
Don't believe articles touting huge profits. They are either outdated or outright scams. The truth is that it can be difficult to mine Monero profitably in 2025.
Calculate your costs up front.
Do your research and run the numbers with a mining profitability calculator. Use your actual electricity rates and potential hardware, not some best-case-scenario hardware or rates.
Monero is one of the last cryptocurrencies left that's still possible for everyday people to mine using consumer-grade hardware. But just because it's accessible, doesn't automatically make it profitable. The only way to mine Monero profitably is to have cheap electricity, efficient mining hardware, and realistic expectations.
Don't quit your day job though.