Is Monero mining still possible in 2026?

Yes, you can still mine Monero (XMR) in 2026, and there is no scheduled date when mining will stop. You can use a computer’s processor to help run the network and earn rewards, but whether you earn more than you spend depends on your hardware, electricity price, and mining setup.

Why Monero mining has not ended

Monero does not have a fixed supply limit that will eventually leave miners without newly created coins. Instead, it uses tail emission: an ongoing reward of 0.6 XMR for each new block. A block is a batch of transactions added to the network’s shared record.

Tail emission began around June 2022, after the main emission of roughly 18.13 million XMR. Blocks arrive about every two minutes, so the network creates roughly 432 XMR a day. That is the total across the network—not an amount you can expect to earn yourself.

Miners can also earn transaction fees. These ongoing rewards give people a reason to keep helping secure Monero.

What you can use to mine in 2026

Monero uses RandomX, the mining method introduced on November 30, 2019. It favors CPUs—the general-purpose processors inside desktop and laptop computers—rather than specialized mining machines.

That means you do not need to buy a dedicated mining rig just to try it. However, “can run” and “runs efficiently” are different things.

For a practical starting point:

• A modern desktop CPU is usually a better choice than a phone or older laptop.
• Enough memory matters. RandomX’s fast mode uses a dataset of about 2,080 MB, plus additional memory for the mining software and your system.
• CPU cache matters too. Efficient mining generally needs about 2 MB of L3 cache per mining thread. L3 cache is a small, fast memory area inside the processor.
• Cooling matters. Mining can keep your processor busy continuously, increasing heat, fan noise, and electricity use.

Only mine on devices you own or have explicit permission to use.

Browser mining is possible, but check what is happening

If you want to mine through a website, distinguish between a browser doing the mining itself and a browser dashboard controlling mining software elsewhere.

Running Monero’s RandomX directly inside a browser faces memory and performance limits. Installed mining software is generally better suited to sustained CPU mining.

Also, receiving XMR from a browser service does not prove you are mining Monero. The service might mine another coin and convert the proceeds.

Before using one, check:

• What work your computer actually performs.
• What fees and minimum withdrawal amounts apply.
• Whether you can stop mining immediately.
• Whether its earnings claims are realistic.

Avoid services that promise guaranteed profits or demand a payment to “unlock” your withdrawal.

Possible does not mean profitable

Your earnings depend on your hashrate, meaning how much mining work your computer performs each second, and your share of the network’s total mining power. Monero adjusts mining difficulty every block to keep block times near two minutes.

Use a live mining calculator with your measured hashrate, electricity cost, and power use. Include service or pool fees. A mining pool combines participants’ work and shares rewards, making payouts less unpredictable than mining alone.

The bottom line

Monero mining remains possible in 2026 because CPU mining is still supported and block rewards continue. Start with hardware you already own, measure the actual costs, and treat browser-based earnings promises cautiously.