No, for the most part.
Long gone are the days when you could mine Bitcoin on your computer using a GPU and, before that, a CPU.
Since early 2014, the only practical way to directly mine BTC has been through specialised hardware with an application-specific integrated circuit, known as ASIC miners, which were launched the year before.
But what about other cryptocurrencies?
Services have emerged over the years, enabling average users to utilise GPU power to earn small amounts of cryptocurrency daily.
We’ll explore various ways to earn cryptocurrency without the need for expensive hardware or storage space, with a focus on GPU mining. I will also discuss ways to indirectly mine crypto, specifically Bitcoin, towards the end of this piece.
Main considerations before mining crypto on your computer
Interference with anti-virus software
You’ll almost certainly need to grant an exemption to the mining software via your AV provider.
From my experience, approximately every 10-14 days, the mining program would automatically shut off without notice because there’s something the AV software doesn’t like.
It was a pain in the backside to move away from the computer, only to find out my Internet security software decided to be a party pooper and abruptly stop the mining program a few minutes after heading off.
Yes, you could buy a spare computer solely dedicated to mining cryptocurrency, not install antivirus software and turn off any pre-installed equivalents.
However, when you review the specs provided through NiceHash’s profitability calculator, you’ll likely see a net profit of less than a dollar per day.
Adjust the specs accordingly and use the information as a guide, not as anything definitive.
Seasonal and climatic advantages
It’s more profitable to mine cryptocurrency during the cooler months of the year than during the warmer times, whether for GPU or ASIC mining.
The heat released from the hardware will add a few degrees Fahrenheit to the room, simultaneously warming it and making it far more productive in winter than in summer.
* This is subjective, as I didn’t use a thermometer to measure the temperature change accurately.
During hot conditions, you’ll need to cool the unit, as it’ll otherwise switch off automatically as a safety precaution. Touch your laptop, and you’ll see how hot it gets when the GPU is mining crypto.
As a bare minimum, angle it to ensure increased airflow, preferably with a cooling pad or mini fans.
If this is something you’re enthusiastic about, I recommend getting a proper PC with a computer tower that can potentially accommodate at least two GPUs, provided the motherboard has two or more PCIe x16 slots.
High-end options (often designed for gamers) typically feature a liquid coolant, radiator, and fan; more information about air vs. liquid cooling can be found here.
Complying with local laws
While most developed countries permit their residents to use cryptocurrency, I recommend researching the legality of mining digital assets within your country (or even your specific state, if applicable), especially when using ASIC miners.
Common sense isn’t always so common, and in many places, vested corporate interests often take precedence over what is best for a country’s citizens. Therefore, it’s always best to double-check the rules before proceeding.
The Merge and its impact on GPU mining profitability
The Merge, fully deployed in September 2022, resulted in a nearly 99.95% reduction in Ethereum’s energy requirements by transitioning from Ethash, the former proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm that involved mining to secure Ethereum’s network, to a new proof-of-stake (PoS) mechanism called the Beacon Chain.
Once Ethash moved away from the world’s second-largest blockchain, it created an abrupt and vast oversupply of mining rigs, thus leading to a massive slump in profitability.
Mind you, former Ethereum miners had years to prepare for this event.
They were forced to switch to other, albeit far less popular, compatible networks, notably Ethereum Classic (ETC).
However, to make matters worse, Ethash mining is more efficient with an ASIC miner (in joules per megahash) rather than GPUs. ASIC Miner Value displays all the current options available for various POW networks.
However, GPUs are far more versatile and can be utilised to mine other cryptocurrencies such as Monero (XMR), Dogecoin (DOGE) and even Litecoin (LTC).
In some cases, you can program a CPU and GPU to run simultaneously and mine two different cryptos. For example, when I mined using NiceHash in early 2022, I would mine Monero (using the RandomX algorithm) with the CPU and Ethereum (using Ethash) with the GPU.
From there, its marketplace would automatically convert the profits into BTC, which I could subsequently swap into other crypto through its in-house exchange.
————————————————————————————————————————
In brief, the golden days of GPU mining are behind us. Most new projects rely on staking to secure their networks, and ASIC miners often excel at mining specific cryptocurrencies, some of which can mine two different types simultaneously.
The most popular examples are DOGE and LTC, both of which use the Scrypt algorithm.
To justify it nowadays, you need to be very savvy and selective about what you mine. This also depends on when you earn it (during a bear market, bull cycle, or accumulation phase), opportunity costs, and, most importantly, selling at local peaks to maximise profits.
Services such as Minerstat can reportedly help optimise the performance of your GPUs to boost profitability. I haven’t used this service, so DYOR before proceeding.
Energy considerations
If you live in regions with an abundance of reliable renewable energy sources – such as parts of the Nordic countries, New Zealand, Australia, the USA, northern Chile, Paraguay, and Bhutan – it may be worthwhile to mine cryptocurrencies or, if you have the means, to purchase a Bitcoin ASIC miner.
The same applies to places with lots of nuclear power, particularly France.
While these nations don’t have the cheapest electricity (USD per kWh), others across the developing world enjoy more affordable prices due to massive state subsidies.
Bear in mind that it’s one thing to have cheaper electricity; it’s another for it to be reliable.
The key is to exploit periods of overabundant renewable energy when it is sent to the grid (or when there is less demand, e.g., at night) to take advantage of lower prices. This also concerns those who are off-grid, harnessing surplus energy (notably solar and wind) that would otherwise go to waste due to inadequate battery storage and periods of oversupply.
The verdict
Is it worth it?
In short, no.
I prefer non-POW cryptos: ETH, XRP, SOL, ADA, ONDO, RENDER, ENA, LINK, HBAR, etc. Where staking is involved, I delegate my assets to earn passive income.
Even for those that aren’t eligible for staking, notably XRP, I opt to lend a portion of my holdings (Bitstamp offers this) to boost my rewards.
The long(er) answer: It depends, but I’m still leaning towards no. It’s primarily based on the factors I listed earlier, i.e., hardware (and AV software), local climate, cost of electricity and its sources, and willingness to participate in this long-term endeavour.
Before continuing, I haven’t mined crypto on my laptop in over two years. I gave up constantly battling with my AV software; to its defence, keeping my computer and data safe from hackers is more important than earning some extra money from crypto mining.
Although I no longer do it, most of the information featured above remains relevant.
There is another major difference between GPU mining now and up until 2-3 years ago: the implementation of mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks.
Most reputable hash rate marketplaces require their clients to submit KYC documentation and provide additional personal details.
I’m not willing to provide my information to mine a small amount of cryptocurrency. I have already completed numerous KYC and AML submissions to access various cryptocurrency services (mostly exchanges) over the years, so I don’t want my information to be shared with even more companies and third parties.
However, if you’re comfortable with this process and want to earn some additional income, it might be worthwhile, particularly if you hold for the long term or make a string of wise trading decisions and patience to turn $100 into a few thousand.
But the latter point isn’t directly attributed to crypto mining. Rather, it’s about successful trading and timing the market.
What about indirect methods for mining BTC and PoW altcoins?
Purchasing shares in publicly-listed Bitcoin mining companies
I first mentioned companies such as CleanSpark (NASDAQ: CLSK), Riot Platforms (RIOT), Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), and Iren** (IREN) in January 2023, during the depths of the bear market.
**Formerly Iris Energy Limited. IREN invests in AI infrastructure, not just Bitcoin mining hardware and operations.
Many of these have delivered returns similar to those of Bitcoin, especially when comparing the returns on investment (ROIs) between local peaks and troughs for BTC versus a particular share.
Based on my observations, these stocks tend to be more volatile than Bitcoin.
Before I forget, there’s also MicroStrategy (MSTR), now known as Strategy, which has gone gangbusters since Michael Saylor announced it would rapidly accumulate vast amounts of BTC. The corporation currently holds 499,226 Bitcoin, presently valued at ~$42.94 billion.
Strictly speaking, the company doesn’t mine BTC, nor is it a major component of its exposure to the flagship cryptocurrency.
Cloud mining
With this setup, you can contribute to Bitcoin mining without purchasing ASIC miners and other equipment.
You can purchase a specific amount of hash rate, and you’ll receive variable returns depending on mining efficiency, operating costs, the network’s total hash rate (closely related to the Bitcoin mining difficulty), and the BTC price.
I have never used cloud mining, so I have no firsthand experience in this area. This resource from Investopedia helps you decide whether this is worth it, and this piece from Koinly features what it claims to be the ‘Best Bitcoin Cloud Mining Platforms of 2025’.
https://bitcoinist.com/how-to-mine-dogecoin-in-2025-a-step-by-step-guide/
Do you opt for GPU mining? If so, which cryptocurrencies do you focus on? Comment below.
Affiliate link
If you’d like to purchase a Ledger or Trezor product, please use the following link to help support my channel. I receive a small commission per sale at no additional cost.
https://shop.ledger.com/?r=a1b3ac23d773
https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=169&aff_id=35611
Disclaimers
- N.B. None of this is financial advice; I am not a financial advisor. You are ultimately responsible for your investments.
- My opinions in this piece may not reflect those of any news outlet, person, organisation, or other entity listed here.
- Please do your due diligence before investing in any crypto assets, staking, NFTs, or other products associated with this space.
- BTC and ETH account for approximately half of my crypto portfolio. ADA and XRP represent another 25%.
The document discusses the feasibility and considerations of mining cryptocurrency on personal computers, including the impact of recent advancements in mining technology and its implications for profitability.
Featured image by GreenBelka at Shutterstock.