Just a few years ago mining was the hottest thing in the crypto world. Bigger than trading even. You could easily mine most types of coins using just a GPU and a PC. These days, the best coin for CPU mining isn’t what it used to be. Things changed rapidly, making it impossible to mine using your home computer and a GPU.
Now, there are some coins you can mine with your CPU, although you can’t expect to make the type of income that was possible five years ago.
There are still some valuable altcoins you can mine but most of the coins are newer. However, there are also some older coins that are mineable.
But in terms of income, considering the cost of the setup and energy needs, let’s just say, don’t quit your day job.
CPU mining is a great option if you’re a beginner who doesn’t know much about the crypto market and you don’t want to invest in an expensive mining rig. While the process of CPU mining is simple enough, keep in mind that you’ll need to have a fast, powerful computer, and you may need to purchase several software mining programs, depending on the type of coins you want to mine.
What is CPU Mining?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. AMD and Intel manufacturer most CPUs. The central processing unit is basically the brains of your computer and it’s designed to quickly move from one task to another, smoothly. The CPU performs the vast majority of computer duties such as saving files. Other components in your PC are essentially there to support the computer’s CPU.
How Mining Has Changed
Back in bitcoin’s heyday, the miner was able to mine dozens of coins using their CPU only. Currently, you can’t mine certain coins, such as bitcoin, with a CPU only. The proof of work hashing required for mining involves repetitive mathematical calculations and software and hardware that can handle it. CPUs are too slow when it comes to dealing with the proof of work mathematical calculations that are required to mine most major coins including bitcoin.
However, there are still some great coins out there that can be mined with a CPU only.
The Top Three Altcoins
The following three altcoins are the hottest on the market right now. But considering the market is so volatile, that all could change in a matter of hours.
As it now stands, BCN, XMR, and ETH are the coins to mine.
BCN
This altcoin is one of the hottest coins on the market right now and has remained on top since last year. BCN is based on the Crypto Note protocol. This protocol promotes peer to peer transactions, which are anonymous. The coin is ASIC resistant, which means you’ll easily be able to mine it with a simple setup.
To mine BCN we recommend using the Xmrig software. This program is also recommended by BCN. You can choose from a few versions of the program, one that’s designed specifically for CPU mining, the second is for GPU mining when using the AMD graphic card, or you can go with the last version if you use a Nvidia graphics card.
XMR
This coin has enjoyed some impressive growth this past year, shooting up in value by two hundred percent in just four months. It’s now one of the most recognizable coins on the market. Just like with BCN, this coin also allows for anonymous transactions. Essentially, it’s impossible to track both the sender and receiver of the currency, making it very appealing to investors and traders alike. Since it’s ASIC resistant you can mine it with your home computer. If you’re CPU mining, then you’ll want to use Crypto Note. This software can be pretty pricey, but it’s a more affordable option when you compare it to the cost of a dedicated rig and large setup that’s required to mine other coins such as bitcoin or Litecoin.
ETH
Despite the fact that this coin has the second largest market capital, it’s still CPU minable. This altcoin is also considered one of the most stable compared to lesser-known coins. As ETH continues to slowly edge higher in the ranks you can expect its worth to skyrocket any day now, which is one of the reasons mining Ethereum is so hot. To mine, you’ll need to use the Ethminer program and download Geth. Geth is a program that will connect your PC to the ETH network and will send your PC info regarding newly mined blocks.
ETN
Considered a new altcoin on the market, ETN first made its appearance just last year. Unfortunately, the coin’s value hasn’t moved since its launch. However, it’s still considered an up and comer. Considering it’s minable and has a great outlook, this coin is another one the pros recommend keeping an eye on. The coin uses the Crypto Note algorithm, so it’s ASIC resistant, meaning you can mine it via CPU. Additionally, the coin can be mined via an app on your smartphone.
To mine, you’ll need the XMR Stak miner program. It can be used for any type of graphics card and CPU.
ZEN
Utilizing the Zcash encryption protocol, ZEN allows anonymous transactions. In the last six months the coin has appreciated by eight hundred percent, which has miners scrambling to get as much as possible before the market shifts. This coin can be mined by either GPU or CPU. If you’re mining on your PC you’ll want to use Nice Hash.
Check out our full Guide on the best places to buy and trade cryptocurrencies today.
The best coin for CPU mining can help you supplement your income, but you’ll never make the type of money you could have four or five years ago. As long as you have realistic expectations regarding how much you can pull in every month just from mining, you can have a great time handling the market with trades, great investments, and mining with your CPU on the side. Of course, keeping your eye on the market value for each of these altcoins will also be important and can have a major impact on your mining income.
