Cryptocurrency Mining Calculator

Calculate crypto mining profitability based on hash rate, power consumption, and electricity costs.

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Crypto Mining: The Reality Check

Bitcoin mining in 2024 is an industrial operation. A single Antminer S21 costs $5,000-7,000, consumes 3,500W (like running 35 computers), and generates $8-15/day before electricity. At $0.12/kWh power, you're paying $10/day just for electricity—meaning you lose money.

Profitable mining requires: sub-$0.06/kWh electricity, latest ASIC hardware, proper cooling/ventilation, and understanding that difficulty adjusts every 2 weeks as more miners join. GPU mining altcoins (Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin) can still work at small scale, but profitability is thin and volatile.

Mining Hardware Options

ASIC Miners

Best for: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin

Examples: Antminer S21 (200 TH/s), Whatsminer M60 (172 TH/s)

Cost: $3,000-8,000

Pro/Con: Efficient but loud, single-purpose, obsolete quickly

GPU Mining Rigs

Best for: Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, Ergo

Examples: RTX 4090 (120 MH/s ETH), RX 6800 XT

Cost: $2,000-5,000 per rig (6 GPUs)

Pro/Con: Can switch coins, resellable, but less efficient than ASICs

Profitability Factors

Factor Impact Your Control
Electricity Cost Biggest expense (60-80% of revenue) High
Hardware Efficiency Newer = more hash per watt Medium
Network Difficulty Rises with more miners joining None
Crypto Price Higher price = more revenue None
Pool Fees Typically 1-2% of earnings High

Real Mining Scenarios (2024)

Bitcoin - Home Mining

Unprofitable

Setup: Antminer S21, $0.12/kWh

Daily Revenue: $12

Daily Power Cost: $10

Net Profit: $2/day ($60/month)

Reality: Doesn't cover hardware cost or cooling

Bitcoin - Industrial

Profitable

Setup: 100 Antminers, $0.04/kWh

Daily Revenue: $1,200

Daily Power Cost: $336

Net Profit: $864/day ($26K/month)

Reality: Requires $500K+ setup, warehouse space

GPU Mining - Home

Break-even

Setup: 6x RTX 3070, $0.12/kWh

Daily Revenue: $8

Daily Power Cost: $6

Net Profit: $2/day ($60/month)

Reality: Takes 3+ years to ROI on $4K rig

Cloud Mining

Avoid

Setup: "Rent" hash power online

Problem: Most are scams or Ponzi schemes

Red Flags: Guaranteed returns, no hardware proof

Reality: If it was profitable, why would they rent to you?

Verdict: 90%+ of services are fraudulent

Mining Pool vs Solo Mining

Pool Mining (Recommended)

How it works: Combine hash power with thousands of miners, share rewards proportionally

Pros: Steady daily payouts, predictable income

Cons: 1-2% pool fee

Example: With 100 TH/s on Bitcoin, earn ~$6/day consistently

Solo Mining (Lottery)

How it works: Mine alone, keep full block reward if you find one

Pros: No pool fees, full 6.25 BTC reward (~$270K)

Cons: May never find a block in your lifetime

Example: With 100 TH/s on Bitcoin, 1 in 12,000 chance per day to find block

Getting Started Checklist

Before You Buy Hardware

  • Calculate true electricity cost (include cooling/ventilation)
  • Check local noise ordinances (ASICs are 70+ decibels)
  • Verify electrical capacity (mining uses 3-4kW per machine)
  • Factor in hardware depreciation (2-3 years useful life)
  • Consider heat—miners generate 3,500W of heat per unit

Critical Warnings

  • Don't expect to get rich: Industrial operations control 95% of Bitcoin mining
  • Hardware becomes obsolete: New models make yours unprofitable within 2-3 years
  • Avoid cloud mining: 90%+ are scams with no real mining happening
  • Price volatility matters: Profitable at $60K Bitcoin, unprofitable at $30K
  • Tax implications: Mined crypto is taxable income at market value when received

Frequently Asked Questions

For most people: No.

Requires industrial scale, sub-$0.05/kWh electricity, and latest hardware. Home mining barely breaks even at best electricity rates.

Minimum: $5,000-7,000 for one ASIC miner

Plus: $200-300/month electricity, cooling setup, noise mitigation

Realistic profitable setup: $50K+ for multiple units with cheap power

Bitcoin: No. ASICs are 100,000x more efficient than GPUs for Bitcoin

Altcoins: Maybe. GPU mining works for Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, but profits are thin ($1-3/day per card)

Changes daily based on difficulty and price. Check sites like WhatToMine.com

ASIC: Bitcoin, Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin

GPU: Ethereum Classic (ETC), Ravencoin (RVN), Ergo

Current market: 2-4 years for ASIC, 3-5 years for GPU rig

Problem: Hardware often obsolete before ROI. Difficulty rises, newer miners make yours unprofitable.

Yes, absolutely. Solo mining is like buying lottery tickets

Pools provide steady daily income vs. 1-in-10,000+ chance of finding a block solo

Pool fee: 1-2% is worth the predictability

Avoid 90%+ of them. Most are Ponzi schemes

If mining was profitable, why would they rent hash power to you instead of keeping profits?

Red flags: Guaranteed returns, no proof of hardware, anonymous operators

Bitcoin ASIC: 3,000-3,500W (like running 3 ovens 24/7)

GPU rig (6 cards): 1,000-1,500W

At $0.12/kWh, one ASIC costs $8-10/day in electricity alone

Yes. ASICs generate massive heat—3,500W of thermal output

Requires dedicated space with ventilation, cannot run in living areas. Garage/basement ideal.

  • Check local regulations—some cities restrict high power usage
  • Mined crypto is taxable income at market value
  • Noise ordinances may apply (ASICs are 70+ dB)
  • Residential electricity rates may increase with heavy usage