How long until solo-mined block rewards are spendable?

Your solo-mined Monero block reward is locked for 60 blocks, so you normally wait about two hours before you can spend it. That assumes your block stays in the accepted chain; the wait follows the number of blocks added, not a fixed timer.

Why the wait is about two hours

Monero aims for one new block roughly every two minutes. A block is a batch of transactions that the network accepts into its shared record, called the blockchain.

Newly mined coins have a special 60-block lock:

• 60 blocks × about 2 minutes = about 120 minutes.
• Blocks arrive at uneven intervals, so your actual wait can be shorter or longer.
• The lock is a network rule. Your wallet cannot skip it.

You may see the reward in your wallet before you can use it. That is normal: your wallet can recognize coins that belong to you while still marking them as locked.

When your reward becomes spendable

Your reward must first come from a block that the network accepts. Your wallet then needs to follow the chain until the reward reaches its required maturity—the point where the network allows you to spend it.

To check your progress:

• Make sure your node is synchronized. A node is software that checks blocks and keeps up with the network.
• Let your wallet finish synchronizing too, so it has scanned the latest blocks for your funds.
• Look for your wallet’s unlocked balance, meaning the amount available to spend.

Wallets may label confirmations or blocks remaining differently. The unlocked balance is generally more useful than calculating an exact unlock time from the clock.

If your node or wallet is behind, it may still show the reward as locked even after the live network has moved far enough ahead. Catching up updates that display; it does not make the network’s lock shorter.

What happens if your block is orphaned?

Finding a block does not always mean you keep its reward. Occasionally, two miners find competing blocks close together. The network eventually continues with one chain, leaving the other block out.

That excluded block is often called an orphaned block. Its mining reward does not become spendable just because two hours pass.

If a reward appears and then disappears, check whether the block remains in the accepted chain. Your synchronized node or a block explorer—a tool for viewing blockchain records—can help you verify this.

How this differs from other payments

The 60-block rule applies to newly mined coins, not ordinary transfers. Normal received Monero funds need 10 confirmations before they are spendable, typically around 20 minutes.

If you use P2Pool, a decentralized mining pool, its direct mining payouts also carry the 60-block lock. P2Pool does not turn newly mined rewards into ordinary transfers or bypass their maturity requirement.

Running your own node does not change either rule. It helps you verify your reward yourself, but it cannot unlock coins early. Be wary of anyone offering a paid “instant unlock.”

The bottom line

Once your solo-mined block is accepted, expect roughly two hours for its reward to mature. Keep your node and wallet synchronized, confirm the block remains in the chain, and wait until the reward appears in your unlocked balance.