How to Mine Bitcoin in 2026

From "Can I mine?" to your first satoshi — a no-BS guide in 6 steps.

STEP 01

Check If Mining Is Profitable

Use our calculator to see if mining makes sense at your electricity rate. If you pay more than $0.10/kWh, home mining may be unprofitable — but hosting at $0.04-$0.06/kWh changes everything.

Use Calculator
STEP 02

Choose Your ASIC Miner

Compare current-gen miners by profitability, efficiency, and price. The most expensive miner isn't always the best ROI — use our side-by-side comparison to find your best match.

Compare Miners
STEP 03

Buy From a Trusted Vendor

The ASIC market is full of scams. Only buy from verified vendors. We recommend Escrow.com buyer protection for any purchase over $1,000 — it's the industry standard for safe transactions.

View Vendors
STEP 04

Set Up Your Mining Operation

You'll need: a 240V outlet (most miners won't run on 120V), adequate ventilation (75+ dB noise, significant heat output), and a stable internet connection. Consider hosting if home isn't practical.

STEP 05

Join a Mining Pool

Solo mining is impractical for almost everyone. Join Foundry USA, F2Pool, or Antpool for steady payouts proportional to your hashrate. Pool fees are typically 1-2% of revenue.

STEP 06

Monitor and Optimize

Track performance, electricity costs, and BTC earnings. Difficulty adjusts every ~2 weeks, affecting profitability. Use CanYouMineIt to stay updated on whether your operation remains profitable.

Track Profitability

Ready to Start?

Check if mining is profitable at your electricity rate in seconds.

Calculate Profitability