Cryptocurrency is a potentially lucrative investment, and Bitcoin is no exception. You may have heard of Bitcoin mining before... but what is it? Is it hard? Can your computer even manage it?

Bitcoin mining is a complex subject, and it's easy to get lost in all of the information available to you on the web.

Worry not! We'll walk you through everything you need to know on how to start Bitcoin mining.

What Is Bitcoin Mining?

Bitcoin against tan background

Bitcoin uses a public ledger, known as a blockchain, to track every Bitcoin transaction.

Bitcoin mining is the process of validating these transactions. Miners check transaction receipts to ensure that no user attempts to use the same Bitcoin fraudulently, like paying for multiple goods or services (double-spending).

How do you validate these transactions, and why would you want to?

Let's start with why you'd want to. For every successful block validated, the miner receives a Bitcoin block reward for the work completed. Each block is around 1MB in size, and 1MB of blockchain data can equate to thousands of transactions, with the average block containing over 2,500 transactions. The successful miner also collects the Bitcoin transaction fees for each transaction included in the block.

Bitcoin uses what's known as a proof of work algorithm. To receive the block rewards, you must be the first miner to produce this proof of work. If someone does so before you, you don't get any Bitcoin, regardless of the work you did.

Considering these points, mining Bitcoin isn't profitable for most people. On top of it all, you'll still need to factor in overhead costs like expensive hardware, power usage, maintenance, labor hours, etc. (covered in-depth later in this article).

How Does Bitcoin Mining Work: Down to Basics

"I want to have a go anyways. How do I mine Bitcoin at home?"

Your computer works to find a distinct 64-digit hash (a string of specific bits) that is less than or equal to a target hash set by each transaction in the ledger.

How is the target hash set? In other words, how do you know which hash to guess?

A cryptographic hash function—specifically SHA-256. A hash function takes in some data as an input (like a transaction history file) and provides a fixed-length string of bits or numerals (a hash).

SHA256 hash of MakeUseOf

There is exactly one output per input, meaning if you change even one character in the initial file, the resulting hash changes completely. There's no feasible way to reproduce the target hash aside from running every possible iteration until one fits. This is the computational work referred to as "Bitcoin mining."

SHA256 hash of FakeUseOf

Each hash holds the possibility for trillions of guesses, so a vast amount of computing power is a must for any chance of securing the block reward.

One or even a few computers on their own guessing trillions of hash combinations will take far too long for you to be the first miner who validates 1MB worth of transactions.

How to Mine Bitcoin

Bitcoin in dirt

Unless you have a Bitcoin mining rig built around an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) lying around, you'll need to purchase one. ASICs are energy-effective and built for one specific function only. In this case, BTC mining is one such function.

Your typical desktop computer comprised of an AMD or Intel CPU and an AMD or Nvidia GPU is capable of mining other cryptocurrencies, but they simply don't have the computing power required to mine Bitcoin efficiently. For example, there are ASIC-resistant cryptocurrencies that you can still mine at home using your regular hardware, but Bitcoin is out of the question for most people.

If you own an ASIC miner, mining Bitcoin is fairly easy.

multiminer bitcoin mining software list of hardware
Image Credit: MultiMiner
  1. Download and install Bitcoin mining software like Easyminer or MultiMiner.
  2. Start the software. Usually, you'll need to enter some preliminary information like your selected coin, mining pool (if applicable), and preferred settings.
  3. Run your software and let your computer do the work. Bitcoins earned will be held in a wallet.

You may also opt to join a mining pool, a collection of miners who pool resources to verify more transactions than individuals. The pool then divvies up the BTC earned, usually by individual contribution.

Bitcoin Mining: Can You Mine Bitcoin at Home?

The idea of mining Bitcoin at home seems appealing, but there is more to it than just plugging in your ASIC miner and waiting for the BTC to roll in. Not just anyone can mine Bitcoin these days, and you definitely won't mine Bitcoin without the proper hardware.

Bitcoin Mining Hardware

You're looking at a $200-$20,000 investment for a mining rig. The price range varies greatly based on the rig's hash rate (the speed at which the rig can solve hash sequences), as well as energy efficiency.

The mining rig you purchase depends largely on your situation. You may opt to purchase one quality unit or several cost-effective units. Some companies fill entire warehouses with mining rigs that work around the clock.

Currently, one Antminer S19 XP (capable of producing 140 TH/s, or more than one trillion hashes per second) costs between $7,000 and $19,000, depending on the retailer you purchase from. According to ASIC Miner Value, that nets you a daily return of $4 with a per-unit electricity cost of $0.12/kWh. Given electricity bills worldwide are rapidly increasing at the time of writing, your per unit charge could be higher—mine certainly is!

bitmain antminer s19 xp hash rate and daily profit

So, that sounds like an expensive outlay for crypto mining hardware that might not even turn much of a profit. If you're thinking about buying older, cheaper mining hardware, think again. An Antminer T9+ (capable of producing 10.5TH/s) costs between $500 and $700 each, but due to their comparatively low hash rate and energy consumption, you stand to lose around $3 per day.

You can purchase ASIC rigs from an assortment of accredited retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and Walmart.

Energy Cost

As per the previous section, energy cost varies by region, and energy consumption will vary by setup. First, figure out the cost of energy in your area. This is typically $0.08 to $0.30 per kilowatt-hour. Then determine the energy consumption of your mining rig(s). This can be anywhere from 900W to 4000W+.

Using these two data points, you can determine your monthly operating cost and relative net profitability. Usually, you're looking at around $100 to $1,000 a month in electricity expenses to run an ASIC mining rig.

Time

It should come as no surprise that the time to mine BTC depends on your mining setup. Companies that dedicate their resources primarily to Bitcoin mining (or a Bitcoin farm), and have ideal setups, can expect to mine around one Bitcoin per 10 to 15 minutes.

This is not at all realistic for individuals or even most full-scale operations. You can expect to pull down a fraction of a BTC every month unless you invest some serious revenue upfront.

Is Bitcoin Mining Profitable Today?

With competition at an all-time high and a low amount of BTC to be created, the reality is that mining Bitcoin as an individual likely isn't profitable when factoring in overhead costs. If you have a decent mining setup and live in a region with low energy costs, you may find luck contributing to a mining pool, however.

Take ASIC Miner Value's Miner's Profitability table as an example. With the per-unit rate still set to $0.12/kWh, there are just nine profitable ASIC mining rigs out of the tens of units out there. Obviously, if your per-unit rate is lower, you have more options, but it's clearly difficult for a single Bitcoin miner at home to run a profitable BTC mining operation.

asic miner value bitcoin asic mining table profitable

Keep Track of Bitcoins With a Wallet

Now you know how to mine Bitcoin, but what do you do with it once you've mined it? Does it just get deposited into your bank account for you to spend? Not quite.

You hold Bitcoin in a digital wallet associated with a public address and a private key. This public address allows others to send Bitcoin to your wallet, like when you're rewarded for mining. The private key is what you use to access your wallet's contents.

Without a wallet, you can't trade BTC.