7 Best Cryptos to Mine in February 2025
Editor’s Note: This article is archived and exists for reference and historical context. It may contain outdated information or practices that no longer reflect current editorial standards. Please keep that in mind while reading.

Mining allows you to earn crypto tokens when providing blockchain networks with computational power. This keeps crypto networks safe, decentralized, and operational. But what’s the best crypto to mine in 2025?
Read on, we discuss 10 crypto assets to consider mining today. We’ll compare mining coins based on profitability, difficulty, required equipment, and other important metrics.
The Best Cryptocurrencies to Mine in 2025
Let’s start with a list of the best crypto to mine right now:
Crypto | Mining Algorithm | Hardware Required | Current Block Reward | Average Block Time | Hardware Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bitcoin (BTC) | Proof-of-Work (SHA-256) | ASIC | 3.125 BTC | 10 minutes | $5,000 – $10,000+ |
Monero (XMR) | Proof-of-Work (RandomX) | CPUs or GPUs (ASIC-resistant) | 0.6 XMR | 2 minutes | $500 – $1,500 |
Dogecoin (DOGE) | Proof-of-Work (Scrypt) | GPUs | 10,000 DOGE | 1 minute | $10,000 – $15,000 |
Bitcoin Gold (BTG) | Proof-of-Work (Equihash) | GPUs | 3.125 BTG | 10 minutes | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Zcash (ZEC) | Proof-of-Work (Equihash) | GPUs or ASICs | 3.125 ZEC | 75 seconds | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Litecoin (LTC) | Proof-of-Work (Scrypt) | GPUs or ASICs | 6.25 LTC | 2.5 minutes | $10,000 – $15,000 |
Ravencoin (RVN) | Proof-of-Work (KawPow) | GPUs | 5,000 RVN | 1 minute | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Vertcoin (VTC) | Proof-of-Work (Lyra2R3v3) | CPUs or GPUs | 12.5 VTC | 2.5 minutes | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Electroneum (ETN) | Proof-of-Responsibility | Smartphone | Variable | 2 minutes | Minimal ($100+) |
Ethereum Classic (ETC) | Proof-of-Work (Ethash) | GPUs | 2.56 ETC | 13-14 seconds | $1,000 – $3,000 |
The Best Cryptocurrencies to Mine – In-Depth Guide
We’ll now take a closer look at the best cryptocurrencies to mine, including their mining rewards and algorithms, the required devices for mining, average block times, estimated profitability, and more.
1. Bitcoin (BTC) – Overall Best Crypto to Mine in 2025
Although Bitcoin (BTC) is the most difficult crypto to mine, it still takes our number one spot. After all, Bitcoin is the de-facto cryptocurrency. It has the most holders and the largest market capitalization. Therefore, mining Bitcoin is worth exploring – if you have the financial means.
To mine Bitcoin at home, you must have a good Bitcoin mining rig. You’ll need some powerful Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). These are a minimum requirement to mine Bitcoin in 2025. Expect to pay several thousand dollars for the most efficient models. You’ll also need some cooling devices; ASICs generate significant amounts of heat.
Due to its proof-of-work mechanism, Bitcoin mining is also energy-intensive. This means you’ll need to dedicate vast sums to energy consumption. If you don’t have the financial means, you could try joining a mining pool. This means sharing your resources with other miners.
In turn, this will give you the best chance possible of earning Bitcoin mining rewards. The average block duration is 10 minutes. The Bitcoin mining reward was reduced to 3.125 BTC in April 2024.
2. Monero (XMR) – Easiest Crypto to Mine
Consider Monero (XMR) if you’re looking for the easiest crypto to mine. Launched in 2014, Monero is one of the earliest altcoins to enter the market. Its unique selling point is privacy. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are 100% anonymous. What’s more, the Monero blockchain is trustless, decentralized, and cost-effective.
Monero leverages the proof-of-work consensus mechanism. However, it uses a variation known as RandomX. Put simply, RandomX ensures that everyone has a fair chance of mining. It specifically discourages the use of expensive, energy-intensive ASIC devices.
As a result, Monero can be mined with Central Processing Unit (CPUs). Put otherwise, you can mine Monero without needing to buy any equipment. On the contrary, you can use the CPU stored within your desktop device. A new Monero block is mined every 2 minutes. The mining reward is currently at 0.6 XMR.
3. Dogecoin (DOGE) – Most Profitable Coin to Mine
Some experts claim that Dogecoin (DOGE) is the most profitable crypto to mine due to factors such as lower GPU requirements and tiny network transaction fees. Moreover, Dogecoin’s legendary status as a meme coin suggests that it’s price has good future potential.
More specifically, Dogecoin uses a branch of proof-of-work called Scrypt. Not only is Scrypt energy efficient but it’s considerably faster than SHA-256. Dogecoin transactions take just 1 minute to confirm. In contrast, Bitcoin’s SHA-256 structure is 10 times slower.
What’s more, you can even mine Dogecoin with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). These are an affordable alternative to ASICs, often costing under $100. The Dogecoin block reward is 10,000 DOGE. Based on current Dogecoin prices, that’s worth over $900.
4. Bitcoin Gold (BTG) – Best Crypto to Mine with GPU
We found that Bitcoin Gold (BTG) is also the best crypto to mine with a GPU. In fact, Bitcoin Gold was created specifically for this purpose. Launched in 2017, Bitcoin Gold is an offshoot of the original Bitcoin. It created a hard form of Bitcoin’s code but without the original SHA-25 mechanism.
Instead, Bitcoin Gold opted for the Equihash function. In a nutshell, Equihash is ASIC-resistant. This helps Bitcoin Gold achieve its goal of democratizing Bitcoin. As such, anyone can mine Bitcoin Gold with a basic GPU. Moreover, the Equihash mining process is a lot more energy efficient. This means you won’t be hit with huge electricity bills.
Similar to Bitcoin, the Bitcoin Gold block confirmation time is approximately 10 minutes. The block reward is currently at 3.125 BTG. This was reduced by 50% on the previous Bitcoin halving event in April 24. Bitcoin Gold has a market capitalization of nearly $480 million. BTG is up 60% in the prior 12 months.
5. Zcash (ZEC) – Great Option for Privacy-Focused Miners
Zcash (ZEC) is an established cryptocurrency that was launched in 2016. Similar to Monero, it’s considered one of the best altcoins for privacy. It enables users to send and receive funds in complete anonymity. Unlike other blockchains, transactions aren’t tied to a public wallet address.
Although Zcash is loosely based on the original Bitcoin code, it leverages the Equihash consensus mechanism. This makes it a lot easier to mine. The most effective way of mining Zcash is with an ASIC device. This will help you outperform miners with GPU setups. You won’t need an entire farm of ASICs like you do when mining Bitcoin.
This makes Zcash an affordable alternative. Zcash is also the best crypto to mine if you want to retain your privacy. Any mining rewards you earn aren’t associated with your real-world identity. Zcash is currently valued at over $475 million. ZEC is down almost 35% over the past year.
6. Litecoin (LTC) – Established PoW Coin With Plenty of Liquidity
Litecoin (LTC) is one of the best cryptocurrencies to mine for stability. Created in 2011, Litecoin was originally referred to as the silver to Bitcoin’s gold. While Litecoin isn’t as valuable as it once was, it’s still a respected crypto project, and a lot of people buy Litecoin as an investment. After all, it commands a market capitalization of $5.5 billion.
In addition, Litecoin attracts solid liquidity levels. This makes Litecoin ideal for miners who want to cash their rewards out immediately. In terms of specifics, Litecoin uses the Scrypt consensus mechanism.
This sits within the proof-of-work framework. The average block confirmation time is 2.5 minutes, making Litecoin four times faster than Bitcoin. The block mining reward is currently 6.25 LTC. This is halved every four years but on a different schedule than Bitcoin. Although GPU mining is possible, Litecoin is best mined with ASICs.
7. Ravencoin (RVN) – KawPow Mining Coin With ASIC-Resistance
Launched in 2018, Ravencoin (RVN) is an established blockchain network network. It was created as a fork from the original Bitcoin network but with some clear improvements. For instance, it leverages a proof-of-work mechanism called KawPow. Not only is KawPow more efficient than SHA-256 but it’s resistant to ASICs.
This means Ravencoin mining can’t be dominated by centralized mining pools. Instead, anyone can use a GPU mining rig, which is simple and affordable to set up. Ravencoin has a fast block confirmation time of just 1 minute. What’s more, the block mining reward is 5,000 RVN.
Based on current Ravencoin prices, that’s about $130. This translates to over $7,800 per hour. Or more than $187,000 per day. In terms of performance, Ravencoin is up 40% in the prior month. This converts to a market capitalization of almost $350 million. That said, Ravencoin trades 90% below its all-time high.
8. Vertcoin (VTC) – One-Click Mining Software for Beginners
Vertcoin (VTC) is the best crypto to mine for beginners. This crypto project was launched in early 2014. Like many new projects during this period, Vertcoin was created to improve Bitcoin’s deficiencies. More specifically, Vertcoin ensures that anyone can mine VTC coins from the comforts of home.
All you need is a basic desktop device. Both CPUs and GPUs are compatible. Best of all, Vertcoin offers one of the easiest set-up processes. First, download the native Vertcoin mining software for your operating system. Then, simply click the ‘Start Mining’ button. And that’s it, your desktop device will begin mining VTC around the clock.
Crucially, Vertcoin is ASIC-resistant. This ensures that everyone has a fair chance of mining a block, rather than those with the greatest resources. Vertcoin offers a block reward of 12.5 VTC. A new block is mined every 2.5 minutes. Vetcoin uses the Lyra2REv3 mining mechanism, which is an offshoot of proof-of-work.
9. Electroneum (ETN) – Mine ETN Coins on a Smartphone Device
If you’re looking to mine on a smartphone device, Electroneum (ETN) could be the best crypto to mine. This crypto project was launched in 2017 after raising $40 million in ICO funding. At the time, this made Electroneum one of the best crypto ICOs to invest in. Electroneum aims to help the unbanked with fast and cheap global transactions.
It also revolutionized the crypto mining space; Electroneum enables users to mine ETN coins on a smartphone device. It has developed a proprietary app for this purpose. The Electroneum app can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the App Store. Simply activate the app to begin mining.
A new Electroneum block is mined approximately every 2 minutes. However, this can vary depending on how busy the network is. In addition, Electroneum mining rewards are not fixed like other blockchain standards. The specific reward depends on how much input each miner contributes. This is due to the proof-of-responsibility mining model.
10. Ethereum Classic (ETC) – GPU-Supported Ethash Mining
Ethereum Classic (ETC) is the final option on this list of cryptocurrencies to mine. Ethereum Classic split with the original Ethereum in 2015. Citing ‘Code is Law’, this is because the original Ethereum blockchain reversed a series of transactions. This was linked to a large-scale hack of Ethereum’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).
Just like the original Ethereum, Ethereum Classic supports smart contracts and dApps. While Ethereum has since merged to profe-of-stake and can no longer be mined, Ethereum Classic remains in the Ethash mining mechanism. This is a more efficient and scalable branch than SHA-256. Ethereum Classic is a large-cap crypto, currently valued at over $4 billion.
That said, Ethereum Classic can still be mined with GPUs. This is because the Ethash function is ASIC-resistant. Ethereum Classic has an average block confirmation time of 13-14 seconds. Each mined block pays 2.56 ETC. The mining reward is reduced by 20% every 5 million blocks.
Is Crypto Mining Still Profitable in 2025?
In 2025, the profitability of crypto mining, especially Bitcoin mining, is increasingly challenging. Rising energy costs and fluctuating cryptocurrency prices significantly impact profits. For example, while Bitcoin hit a new all-time high in early 2024, the high cost of electricity and advanced mining equipment reduces net gains.
Efficiency is crucial; miners using less energy-intensive methods or operating in regions with lower electricity costs tend to be more profitable. The market has also seen a drop in equipment prices, which could improve margins. However, only the most efficient operations are likely to see significant profits due to the competitive and volatile nature of the market.
What Is the Most Profitable Crypto to Mine?
Methodology: How We Picked The Best Coins to Mine
Still wondering “What is the best crypto to mine?” We’ll now explain our methodology for ranking the best mining coins. We placed a particularly strong emphasis on potential profitability.
Mining Profitability
Mining profitability directly impacts the return on investment for miners. To assess this, we looked into the potential earnings from mining each coin, also considering the costs of energy and equipment.
Data on mining difficulty and hash rates is used to determine how much miners can earn from specific coins. For example, while Bitcoin offers higher rewards per block, the intense competition and high energy costs might lower net profits compared to less popular but more energy-efficient cryptocurrencies like Litecoin.
We also considered changes in the price of cryptocurrencies, which can significantly influence profitability. This dynamic approach ensures our picks are theoretically profitable.
Low Mining Difficulty and High Rewards
When searching for the best coin to mine, we initially focused on the perfect balance between mining difficulty and high rewards. In other words, how easy or difficult is it to successfully mine a block? And what is the correlation between mining value and output?
Ideally, you’ll want to mine crypto coins with a low difficulty ratio. This ensures you have the best chance possible of earning rewards. However, the rewards mined should reflect the inputted effort. Otherwise, you could be losing money.
For instance, Bitcoin offers the highest mining rewards. Each 10-minute block yields 3.125 BTC. That’s currently worth over $184,000. But Bitcoin is also the most difficult coin to mine, considering how much competition there is.
Coin Credibility and Development
When choosing what to mine, we also prioritized mining coins with a solid reputation for credibility and development. This way, you can accumulate coins over time, allowing them to appreciate in value.
For example, those mining Dogecoin between 2013 and 2020 would have had little competition. After all, Dogecoin was a worthless meme coin, so the mining difficulty was minute. Fast forward to late 2020 and Dogecoin became mainstream. By May 2023, Dogecoin had surpassed a market capitalization of $80 billion. This means early miners could have cashed out their rewards for significant amounts.
Other credible mining coins with an established track record include Monero, Zcash, Litecoin, and Ethereum Classic. These mining ecosystems have gone through many bear markets. But are still here today with loyal communities.
Network Hash Rate and Competition
The network hash rate determines how much computational power is being supplied to a blockchain. When there’s more competition in the market, the hash rate increases. This makes it more difficult to mine, as you’re competing against a larger number of miners.
Conversely, lower hash rates mean less competition. This means you have a greater chance of success, as the network difficulty declines accordingly. The key issue is that the price of a cryptocurrency can influence the hash rate. When prices are high, more miners are motivated to mine.
Cost of Required Hardware and Operation
The cost to mine crypto will vary widely depending on the network and mining algorithm. Our methodology covered all budgets, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of mining.
For example, Bitcoin is the best crypto to mine if you have the financial means. You’ll need to invest substantial amounts into ASICs, cooling devices, and electricity consumption.
Not everyone can afford to mine Bitcoin. That’s why we also included mining coins that support CPUs and GPUs. We also included Electroneum, which enables you to mine on a smartphone device.
Staking and Passive Income
Some cryptocurrencies, such as Qtum and Decred, use a hybrid mining mechanism. This combines segments of the proof-of-work and proof-of-stake systems. This means mining coins can be staked for passive rewards.
However, we found that the correlation between effort and rewards was on the low side, which is why these projects didn’t make our list. What’s more, the best crypto staking platforms allow you to stake proof-of-work coins effortlessly.
What Is the Best Way to Mine Crypto?
There are several different ways to mine crypto. The best option will depend on your available resources. Let’s take a closer look at the best ways to mine in 2025.
Pool Mining: Easiest Way to Mine Crypto
The easiest way to mine crypto is via a ‘mining pool,’ especially if you’re a beginner. Put simply, you’ll be combining your resources with other miners. Collectively, this gives you a better chance of winning mining rewards. This is because you’re pooling your computational power.
Any mining rewards you earn will be split proportionately. The main drawback is that mining pools are often centralized. This means you need to trust that the mining pool is credible.
ASICs: Best Way to Mine Crypto
ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) are the most powerful devices to use when mining crypto. They generate significantly more hashing power than GPUs and CPUs. This is why ASICs are a minimum requirement when mining Bitcoin. Unfortunately, the best ASICs are costly. You should expect to pay thousands of dollars per device.
And even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll successfully mine a Bitcoin block. With this in mind, ASICs are better used on other mining coins. For example, ASICs are ideal for mining Litecoin. While the competition is significantly weaker than Bitcoin, Litecoin is still a large-cap crypto. This means your LTC mining rewards can be cashed out with ease.
What Is the Most Powerful ASIC?
- According to CoinCodex, the most powerful ASIC is the Bitmain Antminer S19 XP Hyd.
- It can generate a hash rate of 255 TH/s.
- This ASIC device will set you back over $6,000.
CPUs and GPUs: Most Convenient but Limited
When Bitcoin was first launched in 2009, it was possible to mine with CPUs. These are the small processing units found within laptops and basic personal computers. As competition increased, miners had to upgrade to GPUs. This is because GPUs generate a lot more power than CPUs.
Today, neither CPUs nor GPUs can be used to mine Bitcoin. They simply don’t generate enough hashing power. They can, however, be used on less popular mining coins. For example, Bitcoin Gold, Ravencoin, and Vertcoin all support GPU mining. These mining networks are specifically resistant to ASICs, making them more inclusive.
What Is The Easiest Crypto to Mine?
If you’re searching for the ‘easiest’ crypto to mine, you’ll need to consider the following:
- Hardware: Forget ASIC devices, these are expensive to buy, operate, and maintain. Instead, the easiest coins to mine are compatible with CPUs, GPUs, and even smartphones.
- Mining Algorithm: The mining algorithm will also play a role. Bitcoin’s SHA-256 model is considered the most difficult. This is why it requires an entire farm of ASICs just to solve the mining equation. Scrypt, Equihash, and Ethash are considered a lot easier.
- Network Difficulty: The network difficulty will rise and fall constantly. This helps networks retain their desired block confirmation time. Mining coins with a lower difficulty are easier to mine.
- Efficiency: Some mining mechanisms are more efficient than others. Bitcoin is the least efficient, due to the required computational power for each mined block.
- Liquidity: If you’re mining crypto to make money, ensure the coin has sufficient liquidity. If not, you might struggle to sell your mining coins on public exchanges.
Taking the above factors into account, we found that Monero is the easiest coin to mine. While Monero uses proof-of-stake, it leverages the RandomX variant. This discourages ASIC devices, meaning that CPUs can still be used.
Moreover, new blocks are created every 2 minutes, so there are plenty of opportunities to succeed. In addition, Monero was launched in 2014 and has a market capitalization of over $2.2 billion, so there are no concerns with liquidity.
Conclusion: What’s the Best Profitable Crypto to Mine in 2025?
Bitcoin remains the best crypto to mine due to its high market value and widespread recognition. Despite high competition and energy costs, the potential rewards from Bitcoin blocks are substantial, offering significant returns when Bitcoin’s price is favorable.
Additionally, Bitcoin’s mature network provides greater liquidity and stability compared to other cryptocurrencies, making it a preferred choice for large-scale miners looking for reliable profitability.
Best Coin to Mine FAQs
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References
- Mining Profitability Historical Charts (BitInfoCharts)
- Bitcoin mines could be used for energy storage (Financial Times)
- Dogecoin’s $80 billion valuation now makes it bigger than these 10 well-known companies (Business Insider)
- Understanding a revolutionary and flawed grand experiment in blockchain: The DAO attack (Journal of Cases on Information Technology)






