5 Ways to Mine Cryptocurrency at Home with Your PC in 2025

In the early days of Bitcoin, mining from home with a personal computer was relatively straightforward. You would download and install software to set up a node, launch it, and soon enough you'd have accumulated sufficient Bitcoin to support a luxurious lifestyle well into your retirement (at today's prices, anyway).

Satoshi Nakamoto reportedly earned 50 coins per hour when first mining BTC. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible. As Bitcoin grew in value and popularity, mining through its Proof of Work consensus algorithm became so difficult that ordinary PCs simply can't compete. Today, successful Bitcoin mining operations fill entire warehouses with powerful ASIC equipment to process calculations and earn block rewards, leaving the average home miner with a modest PC far behind.

Fortunately, alternative methods exist for mining cryptocurrency at home, and it can still be profitable—just not in BTC form.

Monero (XMR)

This leading privacy coin has gained popularity because its transactions are designed to be anonymous, with addresses and values hidden from view. What makes it even better for home miners is that Monero's consensus mechanism was specifically designed to resist the overwhelming computing power of ASIC mining equipment, allowing regular PCs to compete for rewards.

To begin mining Monero, you'll need a wallet such as the Monero GUI client. After setup, download the MultiMiner mining software, known for its user-friendly interface.

Monero's CryptoNote protocol utilizes the RandomX hash function to create complex mathematical problems for miners to solve. Miners can work independently or join Monero mining pools where their computing resources combine with others to mine XMR. Pool mining requires fees but typically results in more frequent payments. Monero can be mined using either CPU or GPU-powered PCs, though GPUs offer greater efficiency.

Technical Specifications:

• Algorithm: RandomX (ASIC-resistant)
• Average hashrate with modern CPU: 4,000-8,000 H/s
• Power consumption: 65-95W (depending on processor)
• Estimated daily rewards: Variable based on network difficulty

Spacemesh (SMH)

Spacemesh's recent network launch was specifically designed for low-power mining operations to ensure highly decentralized network participation. One of Bitcoin's issues is that its network has become relatively centralized, with a few mining operations dominating and crowding out smaller operators. While still technically "decentralized," many worry miners have too much influence.

To ensure home computers can compete, Spacemesh created a Proof of Space-Time consensus algorithm that uses storage resources rather than CPU for cryptocurrency mining. This requires significantly less energy to power the network, making it more environmentally friendly. Its "non-competitive" technology prevents powerful servers from hijacking the network. All miners receive rewards in each EPOCH regardless of how much CPU resource they commit to mining. Instead, rewards depend on how much storage space users are willing to dedicate. In this way, the network favors small machines with simple CPUs and just a few GB of storage.

To start mining SMH tokens with Spacemesh, download the Smapp application, compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, ensuring everyone can participate.

Technical Specifications:

• Consensus: Proof of Space-Time
• Storage requirement: 100GB-2TB (adjustable)
• CPU requirement: Minimal (1-2 cores)
• Power usage: ~10-30W (significantly lower than PoW systems)
• Reward structure: Based on storage commitment, not processing power

Zcash (ZEC)

Another popular privacy coin, Zcash is best known as a pioneer of ZK-Snarks, a cryptographic technique that can prove transactions occurred without revealing any information. Zcash uses the ASIC-resistant Equihash algorithm, making it well-suited for home miners with GPUs.

To start, users must download the software needed to run the Zcash blockchain on their machine and set up a wallet supporting ZEC to collect rewards. Since Zcash has existed since 2016, its blockchain is quite large and may take several hours to download. You'll also need to download appropriate drivers for your GPU. While CPU-based machines can be used, they're unlikely to be powerful enough to earn meaningful rewards.

As with Monero, users can mine solo or join mining pools. For solo mining, you'll need to download the EWBF Zcash Miner software, while joining a pool is simpler. When mining with a pool, you can use Shielded Coinbase to protect your ZEC earnings, enhancing privacy and allowing immediate transfers to your wallet.

Zcash benefits from wide acceptance across trading platforms, including many major exchanges like leading CEX platforms and global trading services.

Technical Specifications:

• Algorithm: Equihash (ASIC-resistant)
• GPU hashrate: 30-70 Sol/s (mid-range GPU)
• Power consumption: 100-250W (depending on GPU model)
• Block time: 75 seconds
• Block reward: 3.125 ZEC (shared among miners)

Ravencoin (RVN)

Established in 2018 as a Bitcoin fork, Ravencoin claims to improve upon the world's first cryptocurrency with its asset-aware protocol-level system. With it, anyone can issue, transfer, and track crypto assets.

Ravencoin implements a one-minute block reward time and adjusts the weighted distribution scheme while adding the ability to develop digital assets like NFTs.

Starting to mine Ravencoin is simple. Just download a Ravencoin wallet and any mining software supporting the KAWPOW script, another anti-ASIC mining algorithm ensuring consumer-grade PCs can compete and earn RVN rewards.

Users can mine RVN using either GPU or CPU, with mining pool options available. While RVN tokens aren't as widely known, they are supported by several major trading platforms.

Technical Specifications:

• Algorithm: KAWPOW (fork of ProgPoW)
• Average GPU hashrate: 10-30 MH/s
• Power consumption: 120-200W
• Block time: 1 minute
• Recommended GPU VRAM: 6GB+
• Halving schedule: Approximately every 4 years

MetatimeCoin (MTC)

A relatively newer cryptocurrency supporting home mining is MetatimeCoin (MTC), the native token of the Metatime blockchain project.

Metatime's MetaChain network employs a novel hybrid mining system and Meta AntHill technology involving three types of miners and three different consensus mechanisms, allowing it to accommodate various categories of miners. MetaMiners use the Meta Proof of Stake algorithm, while MacroMiners must run the Meta Proof of Hash consensus mechanism, and MicroMiners run Meta Proof of Social Work.

To become a MetaMiner and confirm and archive transactions, you need a fairly powerful server or ASIC device and must pay fees to run a node and stake a specified amount of MTC. The best option for home miners is to become a MacroMiner, responsible for expanding MetaChain's decentralized and distributed structure, checking signatures, and backing up the blockchain. Such tasks can be performed using ordinary consumer computers and will earn MTC rewards. Alternatively, one can become a MicroMiner or mobile node using a smartphone or tablet, facilitating "social contributions" to the MetaChain network. MicroMiners help manage the Metatime ecosystem and participate in the protocol's governance. All you need to do to join is download the Metatime mobile application and activate the MicroMiner feature from it, and your device will automatically start earning small amounts of MTC.

Technical Specifications:

• Consensus: Triple-layered (Meta PoS, PoH, and PoSW)
• Hardware requirements for MacroMiners: Standard consumer PC
• Power consumption: 50-100W (home mining setup)
• Mobile mining option: Yes (MicroMiners)
• Reward distribution: Based on contribution level and mining category