Mining ZCoin (XZC) in 2025: Complete Guide for Beginners (Who Don’t Want to Screw Up)

Hey! If you’re considering mining ZCoin (XZC) in 2025 – you’re either brave or optimistic (or both). I once went down this rabbit hole myself, and honestly, some aspects blew my mind with their complexity. But! ZCoin with its MTP algorithm remains intriguing for those with proper hardware and cheap electricity. We’ll break this down step-by-step: how to do it, what you actually need in 2025, and whether it’s worth it. Spoiler: You won’t buy a yacht overnight, but as a hobby or experiment – why not?

Quick Overview of ZCoin and MTP (or “Why Bother?”)

ZCoin (XZC) – isn’t just another cryptocurrency. It was one of the first major projects genuinely fighting for anonymity via the Zerocoin protocol. Cool? Absolutely. But for us miners, the key is its MTP (Merkle Tree Proof) algorithm.

Why is MTP important? Apparently, it was invented to combat ASICs – those mining monsters that hog farms and leave regular folks empty-handed. MTP consumes HUGE amounts of RAM, making ASICs for it expensive and unprofitable. In theory – it’s a chance for GPU miners. But! That was in 2018… Now in 2025, it’s trickier. Let’s break it down step by step.

Hardware: What You Actually Need in 2025? (Spoiler: Your Old Laptop Won’t Cut It)

Forget minimum requirements like “8 GB RAM”. With today’s network difficulty – that’s like digging a foundation pit with a toy sand shovel. Seriously:

• Graphics Card (GPU): The workhorse. Minimum 6 GB VRAM, but 8+ GB is better. Why? MTP hogs memory like crazy. Cards with 4 GB will simply fail to start or crash within minutes. Learned this the hard way.
  • NVIDIA: RTX 3060 (12 GB – solid choice!), RTX 3070/3080, RTX 4060 Ti (16 GB). Veterans like the GTX 1080 Ti (11 GB) can still manage, but efficiency lags.
  • AMD: RX 6700 XT (12 GB), RX 6800/6900 XT (16 GB). Cards with HBM memory (like the older Vega 56/64) also work but run notoriously hot.
• RAM: 16 GB – absolute bare minimum. Preferably DDR4 or DDR5. Why so much? The MTP algorithm itself requires massive memory. Insufficient RAM causes system lag or miner crashes. Witnessed it – sad sight.
• CPU: Simpler, but still demanding. MTP loads the CPU too. Minimum one core, but 4+ threads recommended. A trusty i5 or Ryzen 5 will do. i3 or weak Athlons become bottlenecks.
• Power Supply (PSU): Don’t cheap out! Get one with power headroom and high efficiency (80+ Gold). MTP is power-hungry. Calculate total component draw and add 20-30%. A fried PSU means lost money and risks damaging everything else. Don’t go there.

Golden Rule of 2025: Mining ZCoin on weak or unprepared hardware is a path to disappointment and potential hardware failure. Better to use a gaming/workstation rig during downtime than build a farm specifically for XZC now. Economics discussion below.

Step by Step: How to Start Mining ZCoin (Windows Guide)

Alright, hardware settled (or considered). Now to practice. Linux users can adapt, but Mac owners… well, you’ll likely need a Windows machine or VM. Functional MTP miners for macOS are practically sci-fi right now. Honestly, I found no working options.

Step 0: Get a Wallet! No Wallet, No Coins.

Where will your hard-mined XZC go?

1. Official Wallet: Download from ZCoin/Firo’s site (project rebranded to Firo, but coin is XZC!). Warning! Get the latest version (at time of writing, e.g., v0.16.x). Older versions might not sync! Install, run, and let it fully synchronize with the blockchain. This can take hours, even a day depending on internet speed. Patience! You can read on if mining in a pool. For solo mining, sync must complete before starting.
2. Exchange Wallets (Caution!): Some exchanges (verify support!) might accept XZC. NOT RECOMMENDED for mining! Why? Withdrawal fees, exchange hack risks, and “not your keys, not your coins”. Stick with the official wallet or trusted software wallets (like Exodus – but confirm XZC support!).

Step 1: Choose & Download a Miner

Options exist. The most reliable is the battle-tested:

• NVIDIA GPU: djm34’s ccminer (often called ccminer-mtp). Officially recommended by ZCoin/Firo. Find recent builds on GitHub. Download and unpack the archive (e.g., to C:\miners\ccminer-mtp).

Alternatives (Use at Your Own Risk!):

• TT-Miner: Closed source, charges 1% dev fee. Sometimes gives better hashrate on certain cards.
• lolMiner: Supports NVIDIA & AMD, frequent updates. Verify MTP support in latest versions!
• WildRig (AMD): For AMD cards. Closed source, 2% dev fee.

My advice: Start with ccminer-mtp. It’s proven and stable. Experiment later.

Step 2: Choose a Pool. Hopefully, You’re Not a Solo Hero?

Mining solo in 2025 with one GPU is like trying to win the lottery jackpot. Chances are tiny. A pool is your friend. It combines miners’ power and distributes rewards based on contribution. Here are some time-tested or relevant pools (but DOUBLE-CHECK ADDRESSES/PORTS ON THEIR SITES! Things change):

• 2Miners: xzc.2miners.com:8080 (Stability & good interface)
• Zergpool: mtp.mine.zergpool.com:3000 (Supports many algos, including MTP)
• MiningPoolHub: hub.miningpoolhub.com:20607 (Look for ZCoin) – verify port!
• F2Pool: xzc.f2pool.com:5780 (Major Chinese pool) – confirm port!

How to choose? Check ping (lower = better), pool fee (usually 0.5-1%), minimum payout, and interface ease. Try a few.

Step 3: Craft the Magic .bat File

This configures your miner. Open Notepad and write the command. Attention to detail!

For ccminer-mtp (example for 2Miners):

ccminer-x64.exe -a mtp -o stratum+tcp://xzc.2miners.com:8080 -u YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS.YOUR_WORKER_NAME -p x
pause

• -a mtp: Tells the miner the algorithm is MTP.
• -o stratum+tcp://...: Pool address and port. Replace with yours!
• -u YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS.YOUR_WORKER_NAME: Two key parts:
  • YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS: Your wallet! From your official wallet (File -> Receiving Addresses). Copy carefully!
  • .YOUR_WORKER_NAME: Your “worker” name (e.g., rig1, gpu1, my_pc). Helps you and the pool track rigs. You can skip the name (-u YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS), but names are clearer.
• -p x: Password. Usually x or c=XZC. Check the pool’s site! Some require an email.
• pause: Prevents the window from closing instantly on error so you can read the message. Crucial!

For lolMiner (example):

lolMiner.exe --algo FIROPOOW --pool POOL_ADDRESS:PORT --user WALLET_ADDRESS.WORKER_NAME --pass x
pause

(Check lolMiner documentation for current parameters!)

Saving the file:

1. In Notepad: File -> Save As…
2. Select the folder where you unpacked the miner.
3. File type: “All files” (*.*)
4. File name: Something clear, e.g., start_mining_XZC.bat
5. Save.

Step 4: Launch and Observe!

Found your start_mining_XZC.bat? Double-click! A black command window opens. If configured correctly, you’ll see:

• Connection messages to the pool.
• Lines like accepted, yes!, diff – means your “shares” are accepted! You’re mining!
• A line showing your hashrate (in H/s, kH/s, MH/s) – your mining speed. This is your performance! Note this number.

First minutes: Hashrate may fluctuate; some shares might be rejected (stale). Normal. Let it run for 10-15 minutes. If the window stays open without errors and shares are accepted – you’re golden!

Will You Earn? The Harsh Truth About Profitability in 2025

The big question, right? Honestly, the situation now… well, it’s rough. Not great. You must calculate this before upgrading hardware or running it for weeks:

1. Your Hashrate: What does your specific card achieve on MTP? Search for tests ([Card Model] MTP mining hashrate 2025). Example: RTX 3060 (12 GB) ~ 700-800 kH/s. Old GTX 1080 Ti ~ 500-600 kH/s.
2. Power Consumption: How many Watts does your entire PC use while mining? Buy a wattmeter (plug-in) – a miner’s best friend! Say, 250W.
3. Electricity Cost: What do you pay per 1 kWh? E.g., $0.10 (may be cheaper in some regions, more expensive in others like the EU).
4. XZC Price: What’s the current price? Check CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko. Say, $1.20 (hypothetical – check real-time!).
5. Pool Fee: Usually 0.5-1%.

Calculator – Your Judge: Plug these numbers into a mining calculator. Top tools for 2025:

• WhatToMine.com: The legend. Select coin (ZCoin/XZC/Firo), enter hashrate & power.
• MinerStat: Excellent alternative.

What will it tell you? Likely something like this (HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE):

• Daily Revenue: ~0.5 XZC ($0.60)
• Daily Electricity Cost: ~0.6 kW * 24h * $0.10 = $1.44
• Result: Daily loss of $0.84.

Why so bleak?

• XZC Price: Dropped significantly from past highs.
• Network Difficulty: Increased as the algorithm was optimized and farms were still built (albeit more expensively).
• Electricity: Rising costs globally.

When it MIGHT be justified:

• You have extremely cheap/free electricity (solar panels, dorm with included utilities).
• You already own powerful hardware (gaming PC/workstation) and mine only during downtime (nights, when not gaming/working). Then electricity costs are partially offset or losses minimized.
• You believe in a strong future price surge for XZC and are willing to mine long-term, accumulating coins.

Conclusion: Is It Worth the Effort?

Large-scale ZCoin GPU mining in 2025 as a business is highly questionable for most. Risks are high; profitability is dubious.

But!

• If you’re a tech enthusiast wanting to understand MTP, cryptography, and miner setup – it’s fantastic hands-on experience! Knowledge beats short-term profit.
• If you have suitable hardware and nearly free power – why not try? Set it up, run it, see what happens. At least for the “I mined anonymous crypto!” badge.
• If you believe in Firo’s (ex-ZCoin) future and its tech – mining supports the network and gets you coins “first-hand”.

My personal take: Mining ZCoin today is more of an educational project or hobby for geeks with the right gear than a get-rich-quick scheme. Be smart, calculate electricity costs down to the penny, don’t expect miracles. But if you dive in – hope this guide helps you avoid my mistakes! Good luck in the mines!