Can you solo mine Monero?

Yes, you can solo mine Monero using your own computer and a Monero node, which is software that checks and shares the network’s transactions and blocks. If you find a valid block, you receive its mining reward instead of sharing it with a pool—but with a typical home computer, you may wait a very long time and earn nothing along the way.

What solo mining actually means

When you solo mine, your computer works independently to find a block: a new batch of transactions added to Monero’s shared record, called the blockchain.

Monero uses RandomX, a mining method designed to favor CPUs—the main processors in ordinary computers. You do not need a specialized mining machine to participate.

The network finds a block roughly every two minutes. That does not mean your computer earns a reward every two minutes. You compete with all the other miners, and your chance depends on your share of the total mining power.

As of 2026, the base reward is 0.6 XMR per block, plus transaction fees. If you solo mine a valid block that becomes part of the blockchain, that reward goes to you.

What you need to get started

For a straightforward setup, you need:

• A computer you own or have permission to use. A modern CPU is a practical choice.
• A Monero wallet address. This tells the mining software where to send your reward. Keep your wallet’s recovery words private.
• A fully synchronized Monero node. It must catch up with the network before you start mining.
• Mining software. Monero’s node software includes a miner. You can also use a separate CPU miner, such as XMRig, configured for solo mining through your node.

Running the node alone does not earn XMR. You must also turn on mining.

Allow for storage, internet use, electricity, and cooling. A pruned node, which keeps less historical data while still checking the blockchain, can reduce storage needs. Download software from its official source, and do not expose your node’s control interface openly to the internet.

How long might you wait for a reward?

Your hashrate is the number of mining attempts your computer makes each second. A rough estimate is:

Average time to find a block = two minutes × network hashrate ÷ your hashrate.

Use matching units for both hashrates. Check a live explorer or mining calculator for current network figures; mining difficulty—the measure of how hard finding a block is—adjusts every block.

Most importantly, an average is not a deadline. You could find a block sooner, much later, or never during the time you mine. Your previous unsuccessful attempts do not make your next attempt more likely to succeed.

Newly mined Monero stays locked for 60 blocks, roughly two hours, before you can spend it.

Where pools and browser mining fit

A conventional pool combines miners’ work and shares rewards, making smaller payouts more frequent. P2Pool also combines work, but without a central pool operator holding your mining balance. Neither is pure solo mining.

Mining through a website is not automatically solo mining, either. Browser services may route your work elsewhere. Check how rewards are earned, who controls payouts, and whether the setup genuinely mines Monero. Guaranteed solo-mining income is a warning sign.

The bottom line

You can solo mine Monero, and it can be a useful learning project. Just budget for electricity and long stretches without rewards—not a steady income.