Mining Monero is more accessible than mining most cryptocurrencies, because its RandomX algorithm is designed for ordinary computer processors. You can mine on a normal CPU, with no specialized hardware. To start, you need a capable computer, a Monero wallet to receive rewards, and a choice between mining on your own or joining a pool.
This guide covers the procedure, not a profit promise. What you earn depends on your hardware, the network, and your electricity cost, so treat mining as an experiment first, and a business only after you have run the numbers for yourself.
Start by getting the basics in place.
What you need before you start
Three things get you mining: a computer with a reasonably capable CPU, a Monero wallet whose address will collect your rewards, and a decision about how to mine. Because Monero uses the RandomX algorithm, which favors ordinary processors, you do not need a graphics card or specialized mining hardware to take part.
Take each in turn. The processor is what does the work. Monero is secured by proof-of-work mining, in which computers compete to validate blocks and earn newly issued coins (source: Wikipedia, Monero). What sets it apart is the algorithm: Monero's RandomX is optimized to run on the general-purpose CPUs that most people already own (source: Monero project, RandomX), which keeps mining open to individuals rather than industrial farms. In practice this means you mine with your computer's processor, not a graphics card or a specialized rig. Why the algorithm resists purpose-built hardware is the subject of how Monero mining works. Next, you need a wallet. Mining rewards are paid to a Monero address, so you need a wallet you control before you begin, and the same official wallet you would use to hold Monero works here. Finally, you choose an approach: mining on your own, called solo mining, or combining your effort with others in a pool. That decision shapes everything that follows, so it is worth understanding before you install anything.
Solo mining or pool mining: which fits you
There are two ways to mine, and the right one depends on your patience and your hardware. Solo mining means you mine to your own wallet and keep any block you find. Pool mining means you join forces with other miners and share the rewards. Each has a clear tradeoff that is worth weighing before you set anything up.
The Monero project notes that miners can decide whether to solo mine or mine in a pool, and that each method has its benefits and drawbacks (source: Monero project, mining). Solo mining is the simplest to start and the purest in spirit: you point your computer at the network, and if it finds a block, you receive the whole reward. The catch is probability. A single home CPU is a tiny fraction of the total mining power, so finding a block can take a very long time, and rewards arrive rarely and in large lumps, if at all. Pool mining smooths this out. A pool combines the power of many miners, finds blocks far more often, and splits each reward among contributors in proportion to the work they did. You receive smaller amounts, but far more often and on a more regular schedule, whatever those amounts turn out to be worth against your costs. For most people running one or two CPUs, a pool is the more practical choice, because it turns an unlikely jackpot into a steady trickle. Solo mining makes more sense if you have serious hardware or simply want to support the network directly. Either way the underlying work is identical; only how rewards are found and shared differs. One more detail separates pools: their payout method. Some pay in proportion to recent work, others in fixed amounts per share submitted, and the choice affects how steady your income feels. For a beginner it rarely matters much, so a reputable pool with reasonable fees is enough to start.
The simplest way: solo mining in the official GUI
If you want to try mining with the least fuss, the official Monero GUI wallet has a miner built in. There is no separate software to install: you open the wallet, start the miner, and it mines to that wallet using your CPU. It is the quickest way to see mining in action and to learn how the process behaves.
The Monero project describes solo mining with the GUI as very easy (source: Monero project, solo mine with the GUI). The flow is short. Open the official GUI wallet and find the mining option in its advanced settings. Start mining, and the wallet begins working on the network using your processor. You can optionally set the number of threads, which is how many of your CPU's cores it uses. More threads mean more mining power but a busier, hotter machine, so many people leave a core or two free so the computer stays usable. Because this is solo mining, any reward goes straight to the open wallet, but only if your machine finds a block, which for a single CPU is uncommon. That makes the GUI miner excellent for learning and for supporting the network, and less suited to earning a steady return. If a regular payout is your goal, pool mining, covered next, is the better fit. Even so, the GUI route is the gentlest introduction, with nothing to download beyond the wallet you already need.
Pool mining with dedicated software
For steadier rewards, most miners use a pool together with a dedicated mining program. The best known for Monero is XMRig. You pick a pool, run the software, and tell it three things: the pool's connection address, your Monero receiving address, and how many CPU threads to use. Then you let it run.
Pool mining takes a little more setup than the GUI, but it is still straightforward. First, choose a mining pool. Many exist, and the Monero project deliberately endorses none, so compare them on fees, size, and payout rules rather than any ranking. Then download a miner. XMRig is a widely used, open-source option for Monero (source: XMRig); download it only from its official repository, because fake miners are a common form of malware. Configure the miner with the pool's connection address, your own Monero address so rewards reach you, and a thread count that suits your machine. In practice you provide these values either in the miner's configuration file or through a setup wizard, which several miners including XMRig offer; the wizard asks for the coin, the pool, and your address, then writes the configuration for you. Beginners are usually better served by the wizard, because a small typo in a hand-edited config file is a common reason a miner silently fails to connect. You will also need a wallet to hold what you earn, which the official Monero wallets provide (source: Monero project, downloads). With that in place, you start the miner, and it contributes your CPU's work to the pool. The pool credits you a share of each block it finds and pays out on its own schedule, once you pass a small minimum balance. From then on, mining is mostly hands-off: the software runs quietly, and small amounts accumulate in your wallet over time, though whether they add up to more than your running costs is the question the next section takes on.
What to expect: rewards, heat, and power
Be realistic about the results. Mining rewards depend on your hardware's speed, the network's difficulty, and, in a pool, its payout scheme, so there is no fixed figure anyone can promise. Running a CPU flat out also generates heat and uses electricity. Whether mining is worth it is a calculation only you can do for your own setup.
This is the part that hype-driven guides skip. How much you earn is not a set number: it rises and falls with your CPU's speed, the total mining power competing on the network, and the reward rules of your pool. Because Monero has a small, permanent tail emission, block rewards keep flowing rather than ending, but the value of those rewards and the cost of producing them both change over time. The economics, and how the reward schedule behaves, are the subject of the companion explainer on how Monero mining works, while the block reward itself is covered in Monero's tokenomics and tail emission.
On the cost side, mining loads your processor continuously, which makes it run hot and draw more power than everyday use, so watch your temperatures and factor in your electricity rate. For a sense of the home-mining tradeoffs in general, Bitcoin home mining walks through the same kind of considerations. The honest takeaway is that mining can be a rewarding hobby and a way to support the network, but whether it pays after power costs is a sum you should run for your own hardware before you scale anything up.
Mining safely and responsibly
A few rules keep mining on the right side of safe and legal. Only mine on hardware you own or have clear permission to use. Get your mining software from official sources. Keep an eye on your machine's temperature. And send whatever you earn to a wallet only you control. Each point prevents a common and avoidable problem.
Start with consent, because it is where mining can cross into wrongdoing. Running a miner on computers you do not own, without permission, is called cryptojacking, and it is a form of malware rather than a clever shortcut; it is widely illegal, and it is not what this guide is about. Mine only your own machines, or ones whose owner has clearly agreed. Second, treat mining software like any powerful tool: download it only from the official project, because search ads and random download sites are a favorite way to spread fake miners that are really malware. Third, respect the hardware. Sustained mining pushes a CPU to full load for long stretches, which raises temperatures and can shorten a component's life if cooling is poor, so monitor temps and keep the machine well ventilated. Finally, secure the payoff. Rewards are only truly yours once they sit in a wallet you control, and keeping that wallet safe over time is its own discipline, covered in how to store Monero safely. Mine your own hardware, use trusted software, watch the heat, and protect the rewards, and mining stays a legitimate, low-drama pursuit.
Keeping your miner running
Once mining is set up, the day-to-day is light, but a few habits keep it healthy. Let the miner run, check your progress through the pool's dashboard now and then, and make sure it survives a reboot if you want to mine continuously. With a long-running task like this, patience matters more than constant tinkering.
Mining rewards accrue slowly, so the biggest adjustment is simply leaving it alone. If you pool mine, the pool usually offers a dashboard where you enter your address and see your current hashrate, your share of recent blocks, and your pending balance; checking it occasionally confirms the miner is working without your needing to watch a console. Decide how you want it to run. Some people mine only when the computer is idle or plugged in, to avoid slowing down daily work or draining a laptop battery; others dedicate a machine to it and set the miner to launch automatically after a reboot, so it recovers on its own from a power cut. Keep the software updated from its official source, since miners are refined over time and updates can improve performance or fix problems. And resist the urge to constantly change settings chasing a slightly higher hashrate, because the gains are usually small and stability matters more for something meant to run for weeks. Set it up sensibly, glance at it occasionally, and let the rewards accumulate at their own pace.
Frequently asked questions
Can you mine Monero on a normal computer?
Yes, and that is one of Monero's distinctive features. Its RandomX algorithm is designed to run efficiently on ordinary computer processors, so a regular desktop or laptop CPU can mine it. You do not need a graphics card or a specialized mining machine. Performance depends on how capable your CPU is, but almost any modern computer can take part, which is a deliberate part of Monero's design to keep mining accessible to individuals.
Do I need a GPU or an ASIC to mine Monero?
No. Monero can technically be mined with a GPU, but its CPU-focused RandomX algorithm makes ordinary processors much more efficient for the job, so a graphics card offers little advantage. Purpose-built ASIC miners, which dominate Bitcoin mining, are deliberately resisted by Monero's design, and the network updates its algorithm when needed to keep them out. A capable CPU is all you really need.
Is solo or pool mining better for a beginner?
For most beginners, pool mining is the more practical choice. A single home CPU rarely finds a block on its own, so solo mining can run a very long time with no reward at all. A pool combines many miners' power and pays out small, steady shares, which is far more predictable. Solo mining is simpler to start and worth trying to learn how it works, but expect lumpy, infrequent rewards.
What software do I use to mine Monero?
For solo mining, the official Monero GUI wallet has a built-in miner, so you need nothing else. For pool mining, you use a dedicated program; XMRig is a widely used, open-source option for Monero. Whatever you choose, download it only from its official source, because fake mining software is a common way malware spreads. The Monero project does not endorse any particular software, pool, or hardware.
Is mining Monero profitable?
It depends entirely on your situation, and this guide does not promise any earnings. Profitability comes down to your CPU's speed, the network's difficulty, your electricity cost, and, in a pool, its payout terms, all of which change over time. Mining can run at a loss if power is expensive or your hardware is modest. Treat it as a hobby or a way to support the network first, and run the numbers for your own setup before expecting a return.
Is it legal to mine Monero?
In most places, mining Monero on hardware you own is legal, the same as running any other software on your own computer. What is not legal is cryptojacking: secretly running a miner on someone else's device without permission, which is treated as malware and unauthorized use. Rules on mining and its energy use vary by country, so it is worth checking your local law, but mining your own machine is generally fine.
How do I get paid for mining Monero?
Rewards are paid in Monero to the wallet address you configure before you start. If you solo mine, you receive the full block reward on the rare occasions your machine finds a block. If you mine in a pool, the pool credits you a share of each block it finds and pays out to your address on its own schedule, usually once you pass a small minimum balance. Either way, you need a Monero wallet ready first.
Researched and written by the BloFin Academy editorial team with AI-assisted drafting. Updated July 2026. Sources: the official Monero project documentation at getmonero.org, the XMRig open-source project, and the Monero entry on Wikipedia. All steps were independently verified against the official Monero documentation current as of July 2026.
This article is educational and general in nature, not financial advice, and it makes no promise of profit; mining outcomes depend on your hardware, electricity costs, and network conditions, and mining can lose money. Only mine on hardware you own or have permission to use, and download mining software solely from official sources. Nothing in this article is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any asset. BloFin offers the XMRUSDT perpetual contract for trading; to get started, create a BloFin account, fund it with cryptocurrency, and open the XMRUSDT perpetual contract trading page.