How to Mine Monero in 2025: A Beginner’s Guide

Monero remains one of the most privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. If you want to contribute to the network and earn XMR, this article explains how to mine Monero in 2025. You will learn the basics, the two main approaches (solo and pool mining), how to set up XMRig, why RandomX matters, and how to estimate costs and earnings.

This is practical, hands-on guidance, not a promise of profit. Mining conditions change with hardware, electricity prices, and network difficulty, so treat this as a starting point.

What changed for Monero miners and why RandomX matters

Monero uses the RandomX proof-of-work algorithm. RandomX is designed to favour general-purpose processors (CPUs) and avoid specialized mining hardware like ASICs. That means anyone with a decent CPU can participate without buying expensive rigs. RandomX has been the protocol’s backbone for CPU-friendly mining and remains the canonical reason many mine Monero today. 

Bottom line: if you want to mine Monero in 2025, the typical path starts with your computer CPU, though GPUs can still be used in some setups.

Step 1: Choose a wallet and get your address

Before you mine, set up a Monero wallet to receive rewards. You can use the official Monero GUI wallet or a command-line wallet. Write down your 25-word seed and keep it safe. Many miners set up a dedicated wallet address for mining payouts to keep accounting clean. Get the official wallet and installation instructions from Monero’s download pages.

Step 2: Understand solo versus pool mining (which is right for you?)

Solo mining

You run a full node, your miner tries to solve blocks by itself, and if you find a block you get the whole reward. This requires time, patience, and typically more consistent uptime. Solo mining is possible with Monero’s GUI wallet and is a learning experience for those who want control.

Pool mining

You join a group of miners through a pool. Payouts are smaller and more frequent, proportional to the work you contribute. For most beginners and small-hardware miners, pool mining gives steadier returns and is easier to manage. Popular pools include SupportXMR and others listed on MiningPoolStats.

If you are getting started today, pool mining is usually the practical route.

Step 3: Pick the right hardware

Monero is CPU friendly. Here’s a rough guide:

• Best for beginners and low power: Modern multi-core CPUs (recent Intel i5/i7, AMD Ryzen 5/7).
  
• Higher performance: High-core-count CPUs such as Ryzen 9 Threadripper or server-grade AMD EPYC usually give much higher hash rates.
  
• GPU mining: XMRig provides GPU support via OpenCL or CUDA for certain AMD and NVIDIA cards, but GPUs are typically less cost-effective for RandomX than CPUs. GPU support exists but the clear CPU advantage remains.

Consider electricity cost and noise. Mining on a laptop is generally discouraged, throttling and heat shorten lifespan.

Step 4: Download and configure XMRig

XMRig is the most widely used miner for RandomX. Download the official binary for your OS from the XMRig website or GitHub, verify checksums, and read the docs.

Basic steps:

1. Download and unpack the correct XMRig release for your OS.
   
2. Edit config.json or use the command line to set the pool address, your wallet address, and worker name.
   
3. For Linux, set huge pages and permissions for best performance: sudo sysctl -w vm.nr_hugepages=1168 (value varies by CPU and cores).
   
4. Start the miner and monitor the console. Green messages mean you are hashing.

If you prefer Windows, XMRig provides a simple bat file you can edit to point to the pool and wallet.

Step 5: Join a pool or solo mine

If you choose a pool: pick a reliable one and check fees, min payout, and payout method. SupportXMR is a popular choice and supports PPLNS payouts. MiningPoolStats is a good place to compare pools.

If you choose solo: run a full Monero node, sync the blockchain (this can take time), then point your miner to the local node. Solo mining rewards are infrequent and unpredictable but give full block rewards when you find a block.

Step 6: Tuning and safety tips

• Monitoring: Most pools have dashboards; use them to check hash rate and payout history. XMRig also exposes a local web dashboard.
  
• Temperature and power management: Keep CPU temps under safe manufacturer limits. Use stress tests and then test real mining load.
  
• Security: Download miners only from the official sites and verify signatures. Many malware campaigns disguise cryptominers, so double-check sources.

Calculating profitability

Profitability depends on hash rate, electricity cost, pool fees, and XMR price. Sites such as MiningPoolStats and pool dashboards provide approximate earnings per hash rate, but run your own numbers before committing hardware. Keep in mind network difficulty and coin price change daily.

Quick example: CPU setup checklist

1. Choose a wallet and note address.
2. Download XMRig and verify checksum. 
3. Pick a pool like SupportXMR and get the pool URL.
4. Edit XMRig config to include wallet and pool.
5. Start miner, monitor temps and hash rate.
6. Check pool dashboard for shares and payouts.

Regulatory and ethical notes

Monero’s privacy features have led to regulatory scrutiny in some jurisdictions. Before mining or transacting, check local laws and exchange policies. Privacy coins are legal in many places, but exchanges may restrict listings or deposits. Stay informed and always follow local regulations. 

Final tips for beginners

• Start small. Test on one machine before expanding.
• Track electricity costs. Mining profitability is sensitive to power price.
• Join community channels for troubleshooting: Monero forums, subreddit, and official docs are invaluable.