Monero is one of the few major coins you can still mine with an ordinary CPU. Thanks to its RandomX algorithm, you don't need warehouses of specialised hardware — a regular computer can contribute. Here's a beginner's guide to how it works, how to start with P2Pool, and whether it's worth it.
Why Monero mining is different
Monero uses RandomX, a proof-of-work algorithm deliberately optimised for general-purpose CPUs and resistant to ASICs (the specialised chips that centralised Bitcoin mining). The goal is egalitarian: keep mining accessible so the network stays decentralised. RandomX is memory-hard, which is exactly why custom hardware can't dominate it.
Solo, pool, or P2Pool?
- Solo mining: you keep the whole block reward but may wait a very long time to find a block. Viable only with serious hash power.
- Traditional pools: steady payouts, but a central operator coordinates miners — a centralisation point.
- P2Pool: a decentralised pool with no operator and 0% fees that pays rewards directly to your wallet. It combines steady payouts with decentralisation, which is why privacy-minded miners favour it.
How to start (the simple path)
- Get a wallet and your Monero address (see our best wallets guide).
- Run a node (or connect to P2Pool's setup) — running your own node supports the network and improves privacy.
- Use XMRig, the standard open-source RandomX miner, pointed at P2Pool.
- Tune modestly: enable large pages for RandomX where possible; watch temperatures and power.
- Receive payouts directly to your wallet as your shares accumulate.
Is it profitable?
Be realistic. On a single CPU, earnings are modest and depend on your hardware, electricity cost and the XMR price. Many hobbyists mine to support and decentralise the network and to acquire small amounts of XMR with no KYC — not to get rich. Calculate your power cost first; if electricity is expensive, you may spend more than you earn. The non-financial payoff is real, though: CPU mining keeps Monero's issuance distributed and censorship-resistant.
Privacy and heat
Mined coins arrive directly in your wallet — a clean, no-KYC way to obtain XMR. Just account for the practicalities: sustained mining means heat, fan noise and power draw, so don't run a laptop flat-out indefinitely.
FAQ
Can you mine Monero on a laptop or CPU?
Yes. RandomX is CPU-friendly, so any modern processor can mine — though a desktop CPU with good cooling performs better than a thin laptop.
What is P2Pool?
A decentralised Monero mining pool with no central operator and 0% fees that pays rewards straight to your wallet.
Is Monero mining profitable in 2026?
For most hobbyists it yields small amounts; profitability hinges on electricity costs and XMR's price. Many mine mainly to support decentralisation.
Explore mining tools and pools in the NoKYC mining directory.