Cryptocurrency mining entails using computer processing power to verify transactions and securing the blockchain network by solving specific and complex mathematical equations. For this, a set amount of digital tokens or coins is awarded to miners.

When mining on the Bitcoin network first started, users were able to mine bitcoin using their laptops and home computers. However, as the Bitcoin network grew and its mining difficulty increased, mining using simply a PC was no longer profitable as specialised bitcoin mining hardware was developed. These machines are called Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and came to be used by large-scale mining operations, which ended up dominating the bitcoin mining market and, in turn, pushed out the individual home miner.

Fortunately, for cryptocurrency users who still want to get involved in mining, there are still cryptocurrencies out there that can be mined on a PC. In this guide, you will discover the best cryptocurrencies to mine using your home computer.

Monero (XMR)

Monero (XMR) is considered to be the top among anonymous digital currencies, designed to provide financial privacy and transactional anonymity to its users. Moreover, Monero is relatively easy to mine on your PC. All you need to do is download a Monero mining software application, such as MultiMiner and Guiminer, join a Monero mining pool, and you are ready to start mining.

Monero is based on the CryptoNight proof-of-work algorithm. The CryptoNight protocol is specifically designed to resist the development of Monero-specific ASICs. Additionally, the team behind the altcoin is committed to ensuring the network stays up to date with ASIC development to prevent its coin from being “hijacked” and subsequently centralised by large-scale mining operations. For example, in April 2017, the Monero developer team initiated a hard fork in response to Bitmain’s Monero-specific ASIC to keep the anonymous digital currency ASIC-resistant. These factors mean that large mining operations cannot take over the ecosystem as it has been the case with bitcoin.

If you wish to increase your Monero mining earnings, you will need to purchase and install graphics cards to boost your processing power. For Monero GPU mining, AMD graphics cards are considered most suitable.

Vertcoin (VTC)

Vertcoin (VTC) is well suited for small home mining operations. Like Monero, Vertcoin is also resistant to the development of ASICs, which is one of its key features as “the people’s coin”.

The highly user-friendly Vertcoin mining software, One-Click Miner, is available for download from Vertcoin’s website, and supports both CPU and GPU mining.

The process to mine Vertcoin using the One-Click Miner is uncomplicated and easy to start. After downloading the software, you simply need to choose a mining pool that suits your computer’s processing power and you are ready to start mining Vertcoin from home.

It is important to note you can only use AMD and Nvidia graphics cards to mine Vertcoin. The team also publishes additional information to help you calculate the profitability of your mining operation based on the metrics relevant to you.

Dogecoin (DOGE)

The meme culture has expanded significantly in the last few years, so much so that a digital currency that was based on a meme was launched. That digital currency is Dogecoin (DOGE). While initially considered somewhat of a joke, the altcoin has managed to establish itself with a significant and committed community and boasts one of the highest transaction volumes in the crypto asset market.

Dogecoin employs the Scrypt proof-of-work algorithm, which enables the Dogecoin network to use less energy in its mining process than, for example, bitcoin, and its block time is only one minute to miners gain new coins as rewards faster than in other networks.

To start mining DOGE from home, you will first need to download a Dogecoin wallet in which you can store your mined coins.

Then, you will need to decide between the two possible ways to mine Dogecoin at home, via CPU or GPU. While using your CPU, the mining software, CPU miner, runs in the background. It is designed such that when you are not using your PC, it will not slow down your device.

Using AMD or Nvidia graphics cards can increase the speed at which your computer engages in the mining process. For GPU mining, you will need to use either cgminer or cudaminer as they are compatible with the graphics cards. However, to maximise the chances of acquiring a block reward, it is advisable to join a mining pool, such as CoinEx and MultiPool. This allows you to leverage the greater collective processing power and speed for higher returns from mining Dogecoin.

Things to Consider When Mining Cryptocurrencies

Whichever coin you choose to mine, it is advisable that you research the pros and cons of each digital currency’s ecosystem before you launch your home mining operation. For example, you do not want to get involved in mining a coin that is easily susceptible to a 51 percent attack or one that shows little potential to increase in value in the future.

In addition, you need to bear in mind that you will need to protect your computer from overheating while you are mining, ideally by purchasing extra fans for cooling. It is also vital to keep up to date with the latest software updates as not being on the latest version could mean an interruption to your mining operation, which will affect profitability. Moreover, updating your ledger means that you are able to reap the benefits of any security patches included in the new versions of the software. This is an especially important consideration.

Furthermore, you need to keep an eye on local regulation covering cryptocurrency mining and on any potential new taxes that may require you to pay income tax on your mining profits. Lastly, consider the costs of electricity in your area. If energy is expensive then your mining operation may not be as profitable as you had originally estimated it to be.