Monero CPU Mining in 2025: An Honest “Is It Profitable?” Guide + Step-by-Step Setup (From a Veteran Who Survived RandomX)

Hey crypto enthusiast! You’ve probably heard rumors that Monero (XMR) is the coin you can still mine with a regular CPU, without investing in expensive ASICs or GPU rigs. And supposedly, the RandomX algorithm launched back in 2019 is specifically designed for CPUs.

Honestly? It’s not as rosy as those 2020-era articles claim. I was once amazed by the simplicity too, but then nearly went gray from electricity bills. In this guide, I won’t feed you fairy tales about “easy money.” We’ll honestly break down:

• Is RandomX still alive? (Spoiler: yes, but nuances!).
• Can you realistically profit with a home CPU in 2025? (Spoiler: poorly, but chances exist… if you have a very powerful chip and cheap power).
• Step-by-step mining setup (2025 software, not ancient XMR-Stak which is long dead).
• How to avoid frying your CPU and getting scammed (trusted pools, security, monitoring).

Ready? Let’s go! This will be long but valuable.

Part 1: RandomX in 2025 – Did It Survive the ASIC Onslaught? Or Did We Try for Nothing?

Remember the uproar in 2019 when ASICs for the old Cryptonight algorithm started dominating the Monero network? Centralization = threat to XMR’s core privacy. The solution – a hard fork to RandomX. Its genius is simple: it uses random code execution and is extremely memory-hungry. This was meant to make ASIC development unprofitable.

Where are we in 2025? Turns out, the Monero devs were right. RandomX proved tough to crack. ASIC presence in the network is minimal and unofficial if it exists at all. Key players now:

• High-end server CPUs (AMD EPYC, Intel Xeon – heavily used in pools).
• Top-tier desktop CPUs (AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D/7950X, Intel Core i9-14900K – profitability questionable).
• GPUs are nearly extinct for XMR. Their hash rate on RandomX is laughable compared to a good CPU.

So, victory? Overall, yes. The network remains decentralized, ASICs aren’t dominant. But… (there’s always a “but”!) mining difficulty has skyrocketed. Mining on weak hardware or with expensive electricity is essentially subsidizing the network from your own pocket.

My 2025 verdict: RandomX works as intended. ASICs haven’t taken over. But CPU mining profitability is FAR harder than in the first years post-fork. Now it’s a game for those with cheap power and/or top-tier hardware.

Part 2: The Hard Truth: Is CPU Mining Monero Worth It in 2025? (Crunching the Numbers!)

Straight talk: don’t trust articles screaming “CPU Mining XMR is Easy & Profitable!” without calculations. That’s either outdated nonsense or deliberate deception.

Why is 2025 so harsh?

1. Monero (XMR) Price: It fluctuates, obviously. But if the price doesn’t moon, profits will be modest.
2. Electricity Cost (YOUR MAIN PROBLEM!): This is the kicker. If your rate is $0.08-$0.12/kWh (or equivalent), forget it. A CPU under load consumes like a small heater. Power bills will devour profits.
3. Network Difficulty: Constantly rising as more miners (especially server CPU users) join. Your slice of the pie shrinks.
4. Your CPU’s Hash Rate: The more powerful the chip, the better your odds. Older i5/i7s (even top models of their era) are junk now. You need monsters.
5. Pool Fees: Typically 0.5-1%. Seems small, but noticeable against slim profits.

“Okay, but SPECIFICALLY what will I earn?”

Here’s the gospel: PROFITABILITY CALCULATORS. Spend 5 minutes before downloading anything.

• WhatToMine: Select Coin -> Monero. Enter your CPU’s expected hash rate (see table below), power draw (Watts), and electricity cost. Click Calculate. It shows profit/loss per day/month.
• MinerStat: Similarly visual and clear.

Example (highly approximate – XMR price & electricity costs vary!):

• CPU: Ryzen 9 7950X3D (~28-32 kH/s, ~150W under load)
• Electricity: $0.06/kWh
• Calculator Result (June 2025): Maybe $0.12-$0.18 daily NET profit (after electricity). Yes, you read that right. And this is on one of the best mining CPUs!

My honest advice: If you DON’T have:

• A very powerful modern CPU (latest Ryzen 9/Core i9 or server-grade),
• VERY cheap electricity (< $0.05/kWh),
• Willingness to tolerate fan noise, extra heat, and hardware wear…

…then CPU mining XMR in 2025 is likely unprofitable or break-even. Seriously, just buy XMR on an exchange. If you meet the conditions – read on for proper setup.

Part 3: Okay, I’m Stubborn/I Have the Setup! What Hardware is Needed in 2025? (Table Inside)

Forget old Intel i5-7600s or i7-8700Ks from ancient guides. Their hash rate today is pitiful (1-3 kH/s). 2020’s top CPUs are mid-range now. Key RandomX factors for 2025:

1. MASSIVE L3 Cache: Critical! RandomX loves fast on-chip memory. More L3 cache = better.
2. High Core Count & Clock Speeds: Helpful, but cache is king. 16 cores with small cache lose to 12 cores with huge cache.
3. Power Efficiency: Vital for profitability. Slightly lower hash rate with significantly lower power draw is better.

Top CPUs for Monero Mining in 2025 (Approximate):

Hardware Nuances:

• RAM: Minimum 16GB (32GB better). Dual-Channel (2 sticks) is MANDATORY.
• Motherboard: Must handle CPU load stably (good VRM).
• PSU: Reliable unit with power headroom (CPU + system draw).
• Cooling: NO STOCK COOLER! Serious tower cooler or AIO. Target temps < 80°C under 100% load.

Part 4: Preparation: Wallet & Choosing a Pool (Where Does the Money Go?)

Before mining, you need an address for your hard-earned piconeros (XMR).

1. Wallet:
   • GUI Wallet (Official): Download from getmonero.org. Secure but slow blockchain sync.
   • Feather Wallet: Lightweight, fast. featherwallet.org. My top pick for beginners.
   • Hardware (Ledger, Trezor): Maximum security for large sums. (Ledger, Trezor)
   • Mobile (Cake Wallet, Monerujo): Convenient for small checks/payments. (Cake Wallet, Monerujo)

   My advice: Start with Feather Wallet on PC. Fast, easy, secure. NEVER mine directly to an exchange wallet! Funds may get frozen.

2. Pool: Your Mining “Team”Solo mining on CPU is like digging through the Alps with a spoon. Finding a block solo is near-zero chance. Pools combine hash power. Blocks found = rewards split proportionally.

   Pool Selection Criteria (2025):

   • Fee: Usually 0.5%-1%. Lower is better (but prioritize reliability!).
   • Minimum Payout: XMR needed before payment. Ranges 0.001-0.1 XMR. Avoid pools where payouts take months.
   • Ping: Connection latency. Closer servers = fewer rejected shares.
   • Reliability & Reputation: Check reviews, uptime history. Avoid “0% fee” pools – often scams.
   • Interface: User-friendly stats/worker monitoring.
   • Reward Method: PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) is the most popular & fair.

   Popular & Trusted Monero (CPU) Pools in 2025:

   Pool Name	Fee	Min. Payout	Server Regions	Link	Pros/Cons (My Take)
   supportXMR	0.6%	0.001	EU, US, Asia	supportxmr.com	Huge, reliable, low payout. My main pool.
   mineXMR	1.0%	0.004	Global	minexmr.com	Very large, low ping. Slightly higher fee.
   Nanopool	1.0%	0.004	EU, US, Asia	xmr.nanopool.org	Stable, years proven. Decent interface.
   MoneroOcean	0.5%	0.003	Global	moneroocean.stream	Auto-switching! Mines most profitable coin & auto-converts to XMR. Slightly complex for beginners.
   p2pool (Decentralized)	0%	~0.0003	Global (You run the node)	p2pool.io	Perfectly aligns with Monero’s ideology! Harder setup (requires full Monero node). Tiny frequent payouts.

   My advice: Start with supportXMR or mineXMR. Simple, reliable, low payout threshold. Explore MoneroOcean or P2Pool later.

Part 5: Setup, Configure, Mine! XMRig (v6.22+) – THE ONLY CHOICE! (2025 Edition)

Forget XMR-Stak-Rx. It’s dead, buried, and its sites may be infected. The only viable, maintained, and secure option in 2025 is XMRig. Yes, it has a dev fee (developer donation), but it’s configurable down to 1% (not 5% like old guides!), fair for its quality and updates.

Step-by-Step Guide (Windows):

1. Download SAFELY:
   • Go ONLY to the official GitHub: github.com/xmrig/xmrig/releases
   • Download the latest version (June 2025: v6.22.x). File: xmrig-6.22.0-msvc-win64.zip.
   • Warning: Antiviruses often flag miners (false positive). Add the folder to exclusions. Verify the SHA256 hash of the downloaded file against GitHub! Critical to avoid trojans.
2. Unpack & Prepare:
   • Unzip to a dedicated folder (e.g., C:\xmrig).
   • Find the file config.json. This is your config.
3. Configure config.json (The Heart):
   • Right-click config.json -> Open With -> Notepad/Notepad++. NOT Word!
   • Find the "pools" block. Inside its array [], edit the pool object {}:

     "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:5555",  // Pool address & port! CHECK POOL'S SITE FOR CPU ADDRESS/PORT!
     "user": "YOUR_MONERO_WALLET_ADDRESS.OrWorkerName", // Insert YOUR wallet address!
     "pass": "x",                        // Usually 'x' or worker name (e.g., 'rig-1')
     "algo": "rx/0",                     // Algorithm. For 2025 RandomX usually 'rx' or 'randomx'. CHECK POOL'S SITE!
     "coin": null,                       // Usually null. Sometimes 'monero'.
     "tls": false,                       // Use encryption? If pool supports & low ping - true. Often false.
     "rig-id": "MyComputer"            // Optional: Your rig name (visible in pool stats).

   • Example for supportXMR:

     "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:5555",
     "user": "48zUfYf...your_address...fHdK3gW",
     "pass": "x",
     "algo": "rx",  // Note: Often 'rx' instead of 'rx/0' in 2025!
     "coin": null,
     "tls": false,
     "rig-id": "HomePC"

   • Critical Note on algo: Pools in 2025 often use "rx" or "randomx" instead of old "rx/0". CONFIRM the algorithm on your pool’s “Help” or “Ports” page!
   • Dev Fee: Find "donate-level": 1. 1 means 1% dev donation. This is the minimum. Setting to 0 may default to 5%. 1 is fair.
   • Save the file (Ctrl+S).
4. Launch & Monitor:
   • Run xmrig.exe (xmrig on Linux).
   • A console window appears. It checks config, connects to pool, and starts.
   • Key console lines:
     • miner speed: xx.x H/s – Your current hash rate!
     • CPU temp: xxC – CPU temperature! Keep below 85-90°C.
     • shares... accepted / rejected – Accepted/rejected shares. High rejected? Bad ping or instability.
     • net new job... – Miner gets tasks from pool.
   • Go to your pool’s website (“Dashboard”, “Workers”). Enter your wallet address. You’ll see:
     • Your current hash rate (should match console).
     • Unpaid balance (accumulated XMR awaiting payout).
     • Worker status (online/offline).
     • Accepted/rejected shares count.

Congratulations! You’re mining Monero in 2025! Now watch those piconeros accumulate… very, very slowly.

Part 6: Crucial! Safety & Optimization – How Not to Fry Your Expensive Toy

Mining stresses hardware. Follow this to avoid regrets:

1. Temperature Monitoring – YOUR MANTRA:
   • Download HWInfo or Core Temp. Run them ALWAYS while mining.
   • Goal: Keep CPU temp consistently below 80-85°C under 100% load. Brief spikes to 90°C happen, but not sustained!
   • If overheating: Stop the miner! Check:
     • Is thermal paste sufficient? (Replace every 1-2 years).
     • Is the heatsink dust-clogged?
     • Is the cooler installed properly? Powerful enough? (Stock coolers fail!).
     • Is case airflow good? (Intake + exhaust fans).
2. Optimization (For Experienced Users):
   • Undervolting: Reducing CPU voltage while stable. POWERFUL OPTIMIZATION! Less heat, less power, sometimes higher performance (less throttling). Find guides for your exact CPU/motherboard. Caution! Small steps, test stability. Use Ryzen Master (AMD) or ThrottleStop (Intel).
   • BIOS Settings: Enable XMP/DOCP for RAM, disable unneeded power-saving features (C-states).
   • XMRig Tuning: Tweak "threads", ensure "huge-pages": true, "hw-aes": null (auto). Check mining forums for your CPU.
3. Security (Don’t Get Hacked):
   • Download ONLY from OFFICIAL sources (GitHub)! Verify SHA256 hashes!
   • Use a dedicated mining wallet. Not your main storage.
   • Configure Firewall: Only allow xmrig.exe internet access to your pool’s IP:Port.
   • Avoid shady “super-optimized” binaries. Often trojans stealing your hash rate.
   • Beware of “0% fee” pools. Often scams or hidden catches.

Part 7: Conclusion: Was the Juice Worth the Squeeze? (Author’s Honest Take)

Look, friend. After all the setup hassle, temperature monitoring, power bills, and undervolting videos… CPU Mining Monero in 2025 is NOT a get-rich scheme. It’s a hobby for privacy/tech enthusiasts. Or a way to offset costs of a powerful gaming/work PC if you have extremely cheap power.

If you expect passive income – this likely isn’t it. Those $0.12-$0.30/day (or less) on a top Ryzen 9 barely justify the time, hardware wear, and noise. The 2025 reality.

But! If you:

• Believe in Monero and want to support the network,
• Have a powerful server/PC sitting idle often,
• Enjoy tinkering with optimization (undervolting rocks!),
• Truly have CHEAP power (or it’s free)…

…then why not? Configure XMRig, monitor temps, and let your CPU power private transactions.

Alternative? Buy XMR on exchanges (Kraken, Binance, Bybit – check local legality) and hold. Far less hassle.

Either way, you now know the inside story. The choice is yours! Good luck, and may cheap kilowatts be with you!