How to Mine Cryptocurrency [Mining Methods, FAQs and More]

There’s been a lot of talk lately surrounding cryptocurrency and how you can acquire it. One option is to buy it on one of the numerous crypto exchanges. The other, more appealing option is to mine it. There are questions about how to mine cryptocurrency, the different ways of mining, and the legal ramifications of the mining process.

What Is Cryptocurrency Mining?

Cryptocurrency has become popular in the past few years because (among other reasons) it’s immune to government interference. But this also means that the currency can be used for illegal activities, such as money laundering and tax evasion, which is why governments are beginning to impose regulations on cryptocurrencies. (Some are trying to acquire cryptocurrencies while they still can.)

Most people have heard that it’s possible to obtain cryptocurrencies by mining them, which is long and complex but can pay off in the end. The first step towards cryptocurrency mining is to understand how the process works. The mining process is conducted by crypto miners who verify transactions and then add them to a public online ledger, providing transparency for anyone who has access to the network.

During this mining process, new coins are produced and introduced into circulation. The most effective miners receive these coins as compensation for their work. But not all cryptocurrencies on the market can be mined. Bitcoin (the first cryptocurrency) introduced the process of mining based on a proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm.

How Does Bitcoin Mining Work? 

The work of a bitcoin miner is essentially to audit, preventing bitcoin users from double-spending (spend the same coin twice). After verifying the unique nature of the bitcoin and the legitimacy of the transaction, the miner inputs the information into an online ledger.

Once a miner has verified 1MB of transactions, they are eligible to earn coins. But not everyone who’s mining for digital currency and has verified the required number of transactions will be compensated in the end. After the verification process, the miner has to be the first one to find the correct answer to a 64-digit hexadecimal number that’s equal to or less than the target ‘hash’ (a fixed-length number). The first winning miner that solves the equation can earn a newly born cryptocurrency coin.

How to Mine Cryptocurrency More Effectively

This whole process is conducted through computers and relies on guesswork, as there is no formula to enhance the chances of attaining the right number. The only strategy to improve your chances of obtaining bitcoins by mining is to join a mining pool—a group of miners connected by a network who share their processing power and divide the reward equally among everyone in the pool.

If you’re wondering how to start mining cryptocurrency, you’ll need adequate computer software and additional equipment.

How to Mine Cryptocurrencies

How do you mine cryptocurrency? There are four major methods used for crypto mining before cashing in tokens of cryptocurrency.

1. Nodes: These are devices or units that verify transactions, connected to a cryptocurrency network that receives at least one input and releases a specific output. They allow a cryptocurrency to be used as a decentralized, peer-to-peer (P2P) digital currency.
2. Blocks: These add transactions on a list to form blocks. Cryptocurrency production is based on blockchain technology, consisting of blocks connected in a chain. A block is where new bitcoin transactions are recorded. When a block is completed (or full of data), it attaches to a new block in the blockchain.
3. Adding Hash Data: To get to the 64-digit hexadecimal number, you need to add data to your cryptocurrency mining software so it will be able to produce a fixed-length numerical value.
4. Verifying Hash Value: This is done by comparing the hash value to a previously calculated value. If the value of a block doesn’t match the hash value of another one, it means that the value is authentic.

What Is the Easiest Cryptocurrency to Mine?

Bitcoin is currently the most difficult and expensive currency to mine. If you’re looking for alternative digital currencies to mine, you might consider Ravencoin, Ethereum, Monero, Dogecoin, AEON, or other altcoins, which are significantly easier to mine than bitcoins.

How to Mine Bitcoin

Bitcoin mining is no longer recommended because the process has become increasingly difficult and energy-consuming. This is due to the limited number of coins that can be produced to provide inflation resistance for the currency. If you still decide to mine for it, you’ll need costly equipment. And even if you join a mining pool, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to acquire any bitcoins.

How to Mine Ethereum

Ethereum is a blockchain-based cryptocurrency and Bitcoin’s biggest rival, following second place in terms of market value—although it’s subjected to constant fluctuations. You can acquire Ethereum by buying or mining it. The Ethereum mining process requires a custom mining rig built with one or more powerful graphics cards. You’ll need to install the necessary software and drivers for the graphics card and download the Ethereum blockchain. The last step is to join a mining pool.

How to Farm Cryptocurrency

If you want to farm cryptocurrency, you’ll first need to build a farm, which consists of multiple powerful rigs that are constantly mining. You’ll need a lot of storage for these rigs because they consume huge amounts of energy. Building a mining farm is a complex and expensive process, and there are no guarantees that you’ll be successful in your mining venture.

How to Mine Cryptocurrency on iPhone

It’s possible to mine for cryptocurrency from your iPhone by simply installing an app. Apple, however, has stated that you shouldn’t use your phone to mine for cryptocurrency, as it quickly drains the phone’s battery and generates excessive heat, which might cause the device to malfunction.

How to Mine Cryptocurrency on Android

You can install an app on your Android device that will automatically connect you to a mining pool; the mining process then can begin. Your phone app then will do its work in the background while you use your phone for other purposes. The mining process, however, will affect the overall performance of your Android.

Key Takeaways

Ways of Cryptocurrency Mining

There are several methods of mining cryptocurrency, each with advantages and disadvantages. Mining requires a powerful computer. You might consider learning how to mine cryptocurrency on a PC rather than a laptop to ensure more power.

CPU Mining

This process utilizes computer processors to mine coins. You can use any PC and a few additional programs to mine. This, however, may not be the most cost-effective method, since it requires a lot of power and proper cooling.

GPU Mining

This method uses the graphics of a gaming computer to mine for cryptocurrency. Special rigs are constructed for this purpose, with one rig constructed out of a processor, motherboard, cooling system, rig frame, and several (2-8) graphics cards. This is an efficient mining method and more cost-effective than CPU mining.

Cloud Mining

During this process of cryptocurrency mining, you pay a company and rent their mining rig, as well as the mining process itself. All the earnings (minus costs) your rented rig makes during the agreed-upon period are transferred to your crypto wallet.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Mining

This is specifically customized for crypto mining. In comparison to other methods of mining, this produces multiple cryptocurrencies, making it the best way to mine cryptocurrency. Miners fear, however, that ASIC mining will assume a monopoly over the mining market.

Is Cryptocurrency Mining Legal?

Not all countries have regulations regarding this practice. In the US (the largest cryptocurrency market), cryptocurrency is considered a digital asset; therefore, crypto mining is legal. Although each US state has different laws regarding buying, trading, and using virtual currency, all states allow mining for virtual coins.

Other countries have their own laws concerning crypto mining. The majority of countries allow mining cryptocurrency, even if they don’t allow their distribution and commercial use. Russia, Canada, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia are countries where you can legally mine for bitcoins, but it’s illegal to use them. Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Nepal are the only countries in the world that have completely outlawed the mining and use of bitcoin.

Before deciding to mine, check your country’s specific laws and regulations regarding the mining of cryptocurrencies.

Conclusion

If you’re wondering how to start mining cryptocurrency, you should consider all the steps required to complete the process, as well as regulations in your country or state. You also need the right equipment and decide on which cryptocurrency is best for you.