Mining on smartphone

During the life of the cryptocurrency industry, a variety of earning methods have appeared. Mobile mining is considered one option for making a profit. In this article, we will take a closer look at mining from a phone: how this process works, and what advantages and disadvantages this earning method has.

What is mining?
Mining is the process by which cryptocurrency is extracted. This is done using various digital devices.

Cryptocurrency is obtained by solving network problems. Users who mine are called miners, and they receive cryptocurrency from the network in which they operate. This can then be exchanged for fiat money, such as US dollars.

To mine, you need a device capable of extracting coins. It should have significant computing power and the right software.

A key factor in mining is hash rate. Hash rate measures how quickly a device can perform calculations—this greatly impacts cryptocurrency mining efficiency.

For example, modern ASICs such as the ICERIVER KAS KS3 have a hash rate of 8 Th/s, which means they can perform about eight trillion calculations per second. One popular GPU— the 8GB RX570—has different hash rates depending on the cryptocurrency being mined; its maximum hash rate is 31 MH/s (31 million operations per second), which is significantly less than that of ASICs.

Real mining on a phone is feasible only with cryptocurrencies that use the Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithm or similar protocols. Good examples of such coins are Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Litecoin (LTC).

What is needed for mining?

This is a common question among beginners interested in earning through cryptocurrency. To get started with mining, it’s necessary to set up certain conditions, which require a significant investment of time and money. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need for mining.

Equipment

• GPU graphics card. It should be powerful and modern, preferably from the latest generation. For example, the AMD Fury X graphics card has high performance and is a good option for mining, but it’s better to use several GPUs.
• Mining rig. A mining rig is typically a computer with a good cooling system and a motherboard with many available slots.
• Internet connection with low ping.

Choosing a mining pool

Nowadays, there are many mining pools available. When choosing one, pay attention to security, power, the ease of miner setup, whether monitoring is possible, and the pool’s commission. In addition, you should consider the withdrawal commission that will be charged when transferring coins to your wallet.

Choosing a cryptocurrency

The choice of cryptocurrency depends on the graphics card you plan to use for mining. Some of the most popular coins include Monero, Zcash, and Ethereum. For example, it is impossible to mine Bitcoin with graphics cards; different equipment is required for that.

Graphics cards commonly used for mining:

• AMD Radeon RX470/480, 570/580;
• Nvidia GeForce GTX1050 Ti/1050 (models 1060, 1070, 1080 Ti/1080).

To start mining, you typically need 5–6 graphics cards, which is not cheap. It is also important to consider electricity costs, as mining rigs run continuously, around the clock.

Choosing a fork

Bitcoin has open-source code, and its technology is widely known. Because of this, many digital assets have appeared that are modeled after it. Any digital asset based on Bitcoin’s code is called a fork.

When choosing a fork, it’s important to listen to the opinions of mining experts and use trusted sources. Otherwise, you may lose the money you invested in this activity.

Choosing an exchange

It’s best to choose an exchange that is reliable and popular among users, and also pay attention to user reviews. When selecting an exchange, we recommend considering the following factors:

• Which cryptocurrencies you are interested in buying;
• Which cryptocurrency you have chosen for mining;
• What fees the exchange charges for its services;
• How quickly various operations are processed;
• What currency you will receive your earnings in.

Choosing a wallet

This step requires special attention. Let’s list the types of wallets miners can use:

• Full (thick) wallet. It downloads all blocks with transactions and constantly updates as new information appears.
• Light (thin) wallet. This wallet stores data using servers and takes up less disk space than a full wallet.
• Online wallets. These work via web resources. They are easy to start using—just sign up and you’re ready to go.

How is mining done on a phone?

Mobile mining is possible thanks to special apps that use the device’s processing power to solve network tasks. For this, the phone owner gets paid in tokens.

Additionally, mining on your phone can be done via cloud mining services. In this case, you rent processing power and set it up to mine the cryptocurrency of your choice. Your phone is then used just for remote monitoring.

How mobile mining differs from classic mining

In classic mining, coins are mined using the processing power of computers or specialized devices. Mining with a phone is somewhat different. Let’s look at these distinctions in more detail.

You won’t make a lot of money mining on a phone. Smartphones lack powerful graphics cards and processors, which automatically rules out significant profits.

There are difficulties mining on iPhones. Most mining apps are developed for Android, so mining on an iPhone is challenging. However, you can still earn small amounts through Bitcoin faucets. Some games also allow iPhone users to earn a bit, but most such games are developed for Android.

This method of mining should not be treated too seriously, as it is unlikely to yield substantial returns—expenditures will probably exceed income. For example, even using a high-end modern smartphone, you are unlikely to achieve more than 15–20% profit.

Mining apps for smartphones

In 2018, there were many changes in the Google Play Store regarding mining apps; many were removed from the marketplace, including some popular ones. Miner Gate, Coinhive Monero Miner, and NeoNeonMiner were all taken down. However, it’s worth noting that the necessary apps can still sometimes be installed using alternative methods.

Currently, there are several worthwhile apps for mining on mobile devices that can yield some results. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Bitcoin mining play

This app was designed for experienced cryptocurrency investors, as well as for those just trying to earn in this field. Advantages of the app:

• User-friendly interface;
• Features tools for real cryptocurrency mining;
• Includes an interesting game storyline;
• It has a referral program. You can receive bonuses for inviting new users.

In addition, the app uses cloud server technologies, allowing it to operate in the background without putting a heavy load on your device while mining.
To launch the simulator, simply press the appropriate touch button. After this, the app will work on its own, and the user will earn passively. To speed up the process, users can utilize daily boosters.

The program can be installed for free, and the developers promise users confidentiality and support. However, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t expect significant profits from such apps.

Although Google has removed Bitcoin Mining Play from its store, the app can still easily be installed via an APK file. To avoid downloading a virus, only download the app from trusted sources.

Andromine

This app allows you to mine Litecoin. It can be installed on any device based on Android. The app uses the stratum protocol, with optimizations for ARM and x86 architectures.

Although the app recommends several popular sites, keep in mind that it was created in 2014, when mining Litecoin was much easier.

When this app is running, it uses all the device’s processor power, not distributing it across cores. Therefore, your device will be fully engaged in the process. To mine coins with this app, the phone should be used solely for mining. If this approach does not suit you, it’s better to use other options.

CryptoGalaxy

This is a full-fledged gaming universe with many virtual planets where you can mine digital resources. The app is available to users worldwide.

Let’s take a closer look at its features:

• In-game, you can upgrade planets to increase your cryptocurrency mining;
• The app has an exchange where you can trade;
• You can develop locations by renting spaceships;
• You can create your own nations.

What risks can you encounter when installing mining apps?

Currently, many mining apps have been banned and removed from the market. However, there are alternative ways to download the necessary programs.

It is important to be able to distinguish what you are downloading to avoid apps created by scammers. Cybercriminals have not missed the opportunity to profit from this trend. Let's look in detail at several types of malicious software:

• Games. Some games only simulate mining but don't actually mine anything and simply damage your device.
• Data collectors. These programs ask for your bank card and personal information. After entering your data, you realize the app doesn’t have mining functions—your data is stolen and used against you.
• Viruses. After installing the app, your phone is infected, and all its valuable resources are siphoned off to its creator.
• Ponzi schemes. Here, users are promised tokens after depositing money into an account. The stated purposes vary, but ultimately you cannot withdraw your funds.

Modern smartphones do have the resources to allow mining, but this process should be viewed as little more than a lottery. Phones lack the power to mine high-demand cryptocurrencies. With phone mining, you’ll only receive little-known crypto, for which price growth and profit are far from guaranteed. There’s also a risk you could fall victim to hackers and lose your phone.

If you want to try phone mining out of curiosity, we recommend being very careful when choosing an app, and not installing it on your primary smartphone—the one where your personal information is stored.

Given all the above, we advise thoroughly researching any app before downloading, especially those promising fast earnings. Most often, these apps are run by scammers. We also recommend installing such apps only on a device without any important personal data, so as not to risk losing it to cybercriminals.

What is cloud mining? Popular cloud mining services

Cloud mining is the process of mining cryptocurrencies using rented hardware located in remote data centers. The owners of these servers lease out their computing power for a fee, and the users who rent them receive a share of the mined cryptocurrency. Let’s take a closer look at the services that offer this opportunity.

Where to host the equipment?

Pi Network

Pi Network allows its users to earn Pi cryptocurrency through its mobile app. However, Pi Network uses the term “mining” in a somewhat unconventional way because the Pi coin does not operate on a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which underlies popular coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Monero, and others.

Instead, Pi Network is based on a modified version of the Stellar Consensus Protocol. This allows users to participate in the consensus process even if their devices have low computational power. As a result, Pi mining consumes about as much energy as a standard Android app.

To start mining, you need to download and install the Pi Network app. One of its main advantages is that you can mine tokens even when the app is closed, which is convenient for users. You can also adjust the mining speed.

The Pi coin functions within the Pi Network in the same way other cryptocurrencies operate in their respective networks.

The ecosystem also uses halving, which helps control inflation. Halving is an event where mining rewards are reduced, leading to a potential increase in the coin’s value. In Pi’s case, the reward was halved when the network reached 100,000 users. The next halving occurred at 1 million users, reducing the reward to 0.4 Pi per hour. After reaching 10 million users, the reward dropped to 0.2 Pi. As of today, the reward is just 0.01 Pi per hour. Halving will continue until the user base hits 1 billion, at which point the reward will become zero.

In 2022, Pi Network was listed on several crypto exchanges with an initial price of 0.01 PI/USDT. Currently, it trades around 31 PI/USDT.

CryptoTab

CryptoTab is a browser that allows users to earn income in Bitcoin. It mines Monero (XMR) and then converts it into Bitcoin to pay out rewards. On smartphones, the company uses a method called Cloud.Boost, which is essentially cloud mining. CryptoTab is available for both Android and iOS users.

Pros and cons of cloud mining

In cloud mining, users rent computing power to mine coins. The hardware is not located at the user’s home but is managed by a dedicated service. Earnings from cloud mining depend on the power and quality of the equipment used.

Pros:

• A convenient method for beginners who don’t know how to assemble or configure hardware. It's also useful for those who don’t want to set up physical mining rigs.
• It’s not practical to install multiple mining rigs at home due to overheating, but this is possible in the cloud.
• Minimal investment required — some services offer contracts starting from as little as $1.
• More powerful than home mining equipment.
• You can mine several different coins simultaneously through cloud services.

Cons:

• Risk of scams and fraudulent platforms.
• Services may get hacked, and users could lose all their earnings.
• You have to pay a fee on your mining profits.
• Cloud mining often resembles a financial pyramid, as many services reward users for referring new participants.

Mobile mining: pros and cons

To be honest, mobile mining is not considered very promising due to several disadvantages. But let’s start with the positives:

Pros:

• Convenient, as your smartphone is always with you and easy to monitor.
• Simple app installations with user-friendly interfaces make them accessible to a wide audience.
• Doesn’t require large financial investments.
• No need to buy expensive GPUs or CPUs — a regular phone is sufficient for basic earnings.
• However, there are more downsides to mobile mining:

Cons:

• Smartphones lack strong computing power, and you can’t upgrade them, so the mining income will be small.
• Slow block generation affects profitability.
• An increasing number of users reduces the reward share.
• High-performing mining apps are often paid.
• Many fake apps may harm your device.
• Mining causes your phone to overheat and drain quickly.
• It puts a heavy load on the processor, damaging the operating system.
• Apps can shorten the phone’s lifespan significantly.
• During mining, you can’t take calls, reply to messages, or use other apps effectively.

Mining on a smartphone without investments

Many people today are interested in mining without any financial investment. As we’ve seen, you can mine even with just a phone. Here’s how:

• Create a crypto wallet to receive your earnings.
• Decide on a mining method.
• Find faucets with favorable conditions — ideally, those that pay out automatically.
• Don’t forget to regularly transfer your earnings to your wallet.
• Learn how to convert crypto into fiat currency.

We recommend using licensed and verified software from well-known developers in the crypto industry.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored what mining is, how mobile mining works, and the pros and cons of earning crypto this way.

Based on everything mentioned, we can conclude that mobile mining isn’t highly profitable, and you’re unlikely to earn much using just a phone. However, there is a chance that smartphones will become more powerful in the near future, which could make mining more viable.

For now, significant earnings require more powerful hardware. Still, it’s possible to earn cryptocurrency this way if you choose the right method and stay cautious of scams. Always assess risks carefully when selecting a mining strategy.