How You Can Use Your Old Computers to Mine Cryptocurrency From Home (2024)

Don't let your old computers go to waste.

Mining crypto has become more difficult, but there are still opportunities to use an old desktop or laptop to mine a crypto such as Shiba Inu. Created in 2020, it is an Etherum-based alternative to Dogecoin (DOGE), the meme coin made popular by Elon Musk.

After its launch, the SHIB coin ranked as one of the biggest crypto in the world in October 2021. Shib appreciated close to a whopping 49,000,000% in 2021. If you had bought just $2.05 worth of SHIB on January 1, 2022, by the end of the year you would have been a millionaire!

Shiba Inu has, like most cryptocurrencies, taken a beating this year, but it is still up over 16,000,000% since the beginning of 2021. While mining Bitcoin now requires large warehouses of powerful mining machines, you can still use the processing power of your personal computer's CPU or GPU to generate smaller cryptos like Shiba Inu.

Get a cryptocurrency wallet address

The first step is to set up a crypto wallet. Crypto wallets don't actually store crypto. They keep your private key -- password that gives you access to your crypto -- safe and accessible. The crypto you own is on the blockchain and your key is proof that you own your crypto and allow you to make transactions.

It is important you don't lose your wallet or else you lose complete access to your crypto. Your wallet can be a USB stick or software programs such as Coinbase or Crypto.com. To start mining SHIB, you will need a crypto wallet to collect your rewards once you have reached the payout threshold.

Crypto mining on your computer

unMineable is a well-known crypto mining software program. It has an easy-to-understand user interface for beginner miners. The program lets you mine certain coins not typically mineable with GPUs such as Shiba Inu, Aave, Cardano, Digibyte, Dogecoin, etc.

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You can download the program to your PC and it is free to use. Currently there is no iOS version. It has a standard mining fee between 0.75% to 1% and your computer will need to be on in order for the program to run. Once you download the program, it will detect your computer's hardware.

You then choose the coin you want to mine and input your wallet address. A window pops up showing your balance, the crypto you are mining, and your current hashrate. How much your computer will mine, your current hashrate, depends on your GPU.

Is it worth it?

After learning about this I downloaded the program onto my current laptop to test it out. I had to disable my antivirus program on my computer to download and run unMineable. I found that the website was a little difficult to understand so I watched some youtube videos to help me complete the setup.

My laptop can mine at 45 megahashes per second (MH/s). Hash rates essentially measure the computing power to mine crypto and measure the number of calculations per second, which can be as high as the quintillions. In comparison, the best Bitcoin miner has a hashrate of 10 terahashes per second (TH/s) which is about 200,000 times more powerful than my laptop. I tested the program on my older laptop and could only mine about 400 kilohashes per second (kH/s).

Based on current rates, I can mine about 39,800 Shiba Inu a day or 1.2 million a month. My laptop would need to be running 24/7. This comes out to $0.48 a day or $14 a month. When Shiba Inu was at its height in October 2021, this would have been about 7 times more, or $100 a month. If you take into account my power consumption of 105 watts, the cost per KWh at $0.25 and the 1% pool fee, the profit drops to $0.43 per month, or $5.27 per year.

It doesn't seem like much given the wear and tear of my laptop and the amount of electricity I am using. However, if you live in an area where electricity is cheaper and believe that SHIB will continue to grow in popularity, then it may be worth it. For now, unMineable seems to be safe to mine crypto, but it is important to be aware of the market. Utility prices have been rising due to global events and cryptocurrencies across the board have dropped in value. Crypto is still quite volatile, and the value of your returns are far less unpredictable, especially with smaller coins such as SHIB.

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How You Can Use Your Old Computers to Mine Cryptocurrency From Home (2024)

FAQs

How can I use my PC to mine cryptocurrency? ›

To mine Bitcoin on a PC, one will need to follow these steps:
  1. Get a Bitcoin wallet: One will need a place to store the Bitcoin that they mine, so they'll need to get a Bitcoin wallet. ...
  2. Download mining software: Users will also need to download mining software that is compatible with their computer's operating system.
Jan 26, 2023

How good of a computer do you need to mine Bitcoin? ›

You'll need a PC with a powerful GPU as a minimum, but the reality is to be competitive you'll likely need a dedicated Bitcoin mining rig, also known as an ASIC miner (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit).

How do I turn my laptop into a mining rig? ›

  1. Download Bitcoin Mining Software on your Computer: To monitor and control your equipment's crypto mining, you must need bitcoin mining software. ...
  2. Join a Cryptocurrency Mining Pool: ...
  3. Use GPU of your Computer: ...
  4. Go for CPU and GPU mineable Cryptocurrencies:
Dec 16, 2022

How are computers used to mine Bitcoin? ›

Each block on the blockchain has a mathematical puzzle encrypted within it. Crypto miners compete to solve the puzzle. Crypto miners use specialized, high-energy computers, aka nodes. These computers use trial and error, guessing repeatedly until they find a solution.

How to mine cryptocurrency on PC for free? ›

BetterHash is a free crypto mining software that mines multiple cryptocurrencies with your computer. You can download and install the software on your Windows PC and start mining automatically. The software will select the most profitable coin based on your hardware specifications and market conditions.

What is the best crypto miner for beginners? ›

MultiMiner is the best option for beginners, with an easy-to-use GUI and quick-start mining feature. Novices can get started with MultiMiner—no technical skills required. MultiMiner allows users to easily connect to a pool and begin mining.

What is the easiest crypto to mine on PC? ›

Top 9 Easiest Cryptocurrencies to Mine at Home in 2023
NameHashing AlgorithmMining Hardware
Litecoin (LTC)Read MoreScryptCPUs and GPUs
Ethereum Classic (ETC)Read MoreEtc HashGPUs
Monero (XMR)Read MoreRandomXCPUs and GPUs
ZCash (ZEC)Read MoreEquihashCPUs and GPUs
5 more rows
Feb 29, 2024

What is the best crypto to mine on PC? ›

Top Cryptocurrencies for Mining in 2024
  1. Bitcoin (BTC) Bitcoin is undoubtedly the best crypto to mine. ...
  2. Ethereum (ETH) Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). ...
  3. Vertcoin (VTC) ...
  4. Cardano (ADA) ...
  5. Litecoin (LTC) ...
  6. Ravencoin (RVN) ...
  7. Monero (XMR) ...
  8. Grin (GRIN)
Feb 21, 2024

How many computers do you need to mine Bitcoin? ›

The resources required for mining Bitcoin include: At least one specialized computer (called an Application-specific Integrated Circuit or ASIC miner) designed to compete for and support a particular cryptocurrency. A reliable and inexpensive energy supply. A dependable internet connection.

Can you mine crypto on any laptop? ›

So, can you mine cryptocurrency on a laptop? Yes, you can, but you have to keep a couple of things in mind. Firstly,mining on an old PC or laptop won't bring any noticeable income. Secondly, laptops, by design, are not suitable for crypto mining, and prolonged mining will cause damage to the device.

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