In 2024, crypto mining will still be widespread, and Monero will be no exception. With a market cap of $3,183,596,825, with a circulation supply of 18,446,687 XMR, and given its growth signal, Monero has become a top choice for many traders and investors looking to earn passive income due to its decentralized peer-to-peer system and nature and privacy features, such as being untraceable.
Not to mention that looking at it from a broader perspective, Monero showed great resilience to the competitive and volatile market, managing to even increase by 4800% from January 2017 to January 2018.
So, if you want to join the Monero community and miners, read further. In the following chapters, we will discuss how to mine Monero solo or pool mining and what hardware and software you’ll need.
In addition, we’ll answer some of the most common questions, such as how to mine Monero on PC, how long it takes to mine 1 Monero, and others. You’ll also learn more about Monero and what experts are saying. So stay tuned and learn more!
Mining Monero: What You Need to Know
Monero is a Proof-of-Work-based cryptocurrency, meaning it uses distributed consensus. Unlike other digital currencies, it does not favor any specific pool, software, or hardware, and it is ASIC-resistant.
Therefore, Monero miners use computers to solve advanced mathematical equations, known as puzzles, to validate XMR transactions and add new coins to the network. Validated transactions are then moved on and sealed into digital files stored in Monero blocks. In exchange, Monero miners are rewarded for their hard work.
Also, before jumping in, be sure to have a crypto wallet compatible with Monero to store your cryptos, as these cryptocurrencies rely solely on their token holders. Therefore, this payout will be directly sent to your Monero wallet.
Cold wallets are usually the safest option, yet you can always research alternatives to find the best and most secure Monero wallets.
Get Started and Learn How to Mine Monero
Despite its regulatory crackdowns and challenges, Monero is still considered a pretty easy token to mine. There are several options to mine Monero on both CPUs and GPUs, but CPUs are more efficient.
Furthermore, the Monero project has 12 decimal block rewards, from piconeros, nanoneros, microneros, millineros, centineros, to decineros, meaning that anyone can transfer an amount smaller than 1 XMR.
Also, since Monero uses a unique algorithm called RandomX to begin mining, you can choose consumer-grade hardware like CPUs and GPUs and compete fairly from the start.
To learn more about Monero mining, you can join the online community from the official website and read different crypto guides and resources.
Monero Solo vs. Pool Mining Software
Miners can mine solo or join a mining pool, each with its main features and downsides. Solo mining works just as the name says it—you independently validate transactions and aim to mine the entire block alone.
Indeed, this method can be more high-yield rewarding, yet it requires more computational power and could take longer alone, making it less appropriate for beginners and more expensive in the end. Solo mining can be done using different software, such as GUI and CLI, for both Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Monero GUI allows miners to use the CPU through a straightforward setup and user-friendly interface. In contrast, Monero CLI, which uses a command-line interface, ensures more flexibility and a greater deal of control, thus being more suitable for advanced users.
When discussing pool mining, you join up with other miners and thus combine their computational power to increase your block mining chances. Therefore, the mined block rewards are shared among pool members based on their invested computational power.
When discussing the pool mining rewards, we must say that they offer more frequent payouts, thus making them a top choice for many crypto miners.
Pool mining Monero can be done through a pool operator such as P2Pool, a peer-to-peer centralized pool that offers miners full control over their nodes. Some of the greatest features of P2Pool include decentralization, permissionlessness, and trustlessness, as well as a PPLNS payout scheme with a minimum amount of 0.0004 XMR and zero fees.
Other Pool Operators:
Pay Per Share offers guaranteed payouts from the pool share in exchange for your block rewards and transaction fees, regardless of whether blocks are mined or not.
Full Pay Per Share offers lower payments than PPS, yet the miners earn the transaction fees.
Lastly, Pay Per Last N Share works as tooth for tooth, meaning the pools share only what miners earn.
Monero Hardware Mining
As stated, Monero can be mined on both CPUs and GPUs, yet CPUs have proven to be much more efficient. So, when choosing consumer-grade hardware for mining Monero, it is crucial to check the hash rate in accordance with power consumption and overall cost-effectiveness.
Therefore, multiple-core CPUs such as AMD Ryzen and Intel Core processors are the best on the Monero network. If you’re looking for GPU mining, you must be prepared for high computational power and costs. However, be sure to research the models thoroughly and compare their technical details.
To better understand, the hash rate decides how many calculations your PC can make—the higher the hash rate, the more chances you have to mine a block. When looking at the network level, the higher the hash rate, the more difficult it is for the miners.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Mining Monero
Monero Mining Pros:
XRM token rewards and the transaction fees are added bonuses;
Privacy features and XMR transactions;
XMR has shown resilience over the years, thus could be a good investment;
Monero Mining Cons:
Pool mining isn’t that rewarding and could reduce earnings;
24/7 running computers can be energy-costly;
How to Store Your Mined Monero
Securing and storing your mined Monero should be a crucial and worth-considering factor, and many wallets on the market support XMR tokens. Such options could be GUI and CLI wallets, which give you your own private key and address, or other third-party wallets, such as Trezor Wallet and Guarda Wallet.
Be sure that the chosen Monero wallet has two-factor authentication, offline private keys, and constant software updates. As always, keep your private keys only for yourself and don’t share them with anyone.
Monero Mining Alternatives
The truth is this: mining isn’t for anyone, and buying expensive equipment, finding the right hardware, having high computational power, and not to mention the tough competition, we get it.
As a result, there are other available options, such as buying shares from other big players like Riot Blockchain (RIOT), Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), and Argo Blockchain (ARB).
FAQ on How to Mine Monero Network
How long does it take to mine 1 Monero?
As a Monero block is mined once every 2 minutes and has a 0.6 XMR transaction block reward, it takes approximately 3 minutes and 20 seconds to mine one single Monero.
Is mining Monero still profitable?
Monero can still be profitable in 2024, yet it depends on different factors, such as electricity costs, mining equipment efficiency, and market conditions, which play a greater role, not only for Monero.
Is it illegal to own Monero?
Monero is not illegal in the U.S., but it is banned in several other countries, including China, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran, and others.
Is it easy to mine Monero?
In essence, mining Monero shouldn’t be complicated, as you can download mining software and run it on your computer. Yet, other influential factors, such as the electricity cost, your device, the internet connection, and others, might intervene.
Final Thoughts
Monero mining can be rewarding, but factors like electricity costs and hardware efficiency should be considered, as the cost could be higher, making it unprofitable.
Additionally, secure your XMR with a reputable wallet, and remember, the crypto market is dynamic, so staying ahead of the curve could be the best strategy.
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