How to Mining Bitcoin at Home in 2025: A Realistic Guide

Key takeout

Lottery mines are cheap and fun, but don’t resort to hitting blocks. SoloASIC mining offers complete control, but it’s a long-standing game. Pool mining is the most practical way to get stable payments at home.

Bitcoin has gained its legitimacy quickly, and it was not possible to accuse him of peering behind the curtains to see how it was made.

There have been a whirlwind of institutional investment from companies, including strategies that have continued to actively accumulate Bitcoin (BTC) from 2024 to 2025, and a whirlwind from Metaplanet, a Japanese listed company that recently adopted BTC as a reserve asset for the Ministry of Finance.

Furthermore, on the regulatory front, the return of US President Donald Trump’s administration, has shown a more friendly stance towards Crypto, talking about rolling back Sec’s overreach and possibly supporting US-based mining.

Throughout the Atlantic, MICA (Crypto Asset Market) regulations are now in place in the EU, providing clearer guidelines and reducing uncertainty in regulations for retail investors and miners.

Then there’s a price. Bitcoin ultimately beat its long-standing $100,000 resistance level in early 2025, following a post-harving supply shock and increased ETF-driven demand. As agencies inject and strengthen their supply, they are reassessing how more individuals are involved.

Whatever your motivation is, there’s one thing for sure. You want to dig into the comfort of your home.

In this article, we will explain four realistic ways to mine Bitcoin at home in 2025, the gear you need, the cost of the cost, and what returns you can expect.

Did you know? Bitcoin mining has developed into a considerable industry, with revenues increasing by more than 6,700% between 2021 and 2025.

Option 1: Lottery Mining – Low power, high risk, unusual reward

If you’re working on a limited budget, but still want to try Bitcoin mining, lottery mining offers something interesting if it’s very unpredictable.

In July 2024, a solo miner using hash power for the third time (available from roughly two small USB devices) mined the entire Bitcoin block. The reward was 3.192 BTC, which was worth over $200,000 at the time. Statistically, such results should take thousands of years. But with the luck and help of the solo Ckpool platform, it actually happened.

These victories are very rare, but they happen. And that keeps it interested in some people.

Most lottery miners use small low power devices like Bitaxe Hex, an open source miner built with real ant miner chips. It runs around third, costs around $600 and is easily paired with a Raspberry PI. Another popular option is the Gekkoscience R909, a USB miner running on 1.5 Th/s, which is a favorite among enthusiasts.

These devices are not built for stable income. They are closer to digital slot machines, but still contribute to protecting the Bitcoin network.

So why do people do that?

Three main reasons:

Running independent nodes supports the health and resilience of the Bitcoin network. It’s a great way to get familiar with mining mechanisms. A single successful block is worth many.

Most of the time, it’s not about making money. It’s about challenges and curiosity, such as building custom PCs and restoring vintage radios. And yes, it also looks nice on the shelf and flashing quietly under a shining bitcoin lamp.

Next: ASICS, the sturdy hardware of a serious miner.

Did you know? Solo Ckpool is designed for independent miners who want to file their shares directly with the Bitcoin network. Unlike traditional mining pools, if you are successful here, the entire reward will be sent to you (minus the small pool fee). There are no revenue sharing or split blocks.

Option 2: ASIC Mining – Solo Mining with Actual Hardware

If lottery mining is like buying a ticket and hoping for a lucky break, solo mining with ASICs appears in small stacks. Your chances will improve, but it’s still a long shot.

ASIC – Application-specific integrated circuits – is dedicated for Bitcoin mining. In 2025, high-end models like the Antminer S21 Hydro provided impressive performance, improving energy efficiency over the previous generation, reaching around 400 terra hashtags per second.

Let’s take a look at the numbers.

The Bitcoin network currently runs at around 500 Excellashes per second. With one S21 Hydro you can control about 0.00008% of the total hashrate. This gives you the odds of about 1 in every 8.6 billion people who find a block on a given day. It’s still very unlikely, but it’s far better than what you get with a low power USB miner.

You need to scale up to make your chances meaningful.

Running 20 ASICSs will theoretically allow you to pass 8 petahashes per second, enough to find a block per year. However, its setup requires critical capital, proper ventilation or immersion cooling, and a reliable energy supply. Still, the outcome is unpredictable. Bitcoin networks may find multiple blocks in an hour or not at all.

Still, some miners go this route. It’s easy to appeal. If you find a block yourself, you currently have an entire reward and transaction fee over 3 BTC. There is no need to split your payments with others.

However, even for most people, even those with top ASICs, solo mining remains a high-risk approach with uncertain rewards.

Did you know? The cost of modern mining equipment has been significantly reduced, with prices around $16 per terrahash in 2025 at $80 per terrahash in 2022, improving mining efficiency.

That’s why many residential miners ultimately turn to more consistent and scalable models.

Participate in the mining pool.

Option 3: Pool Mining – Number Strength

If solo mining is a long shot, pool mining is a practical option. That’s how most residential miners approach Bitcoin mining in 2025, and for good reason.

Combine hashrates with thousands of other participants by participating in the mining pool. When the pool successfully mines the block, the rewards are split based on the contributions of each miner. You will no longer chase the unusual solo victory, but you are earning smaller and steady payments. It is more predictable, less risky and less dependent on luck.

For example, if you are running Antminer S21 Hydro at 400 Th/s, that hash power will gain a proportional share of the pool’s reward. You will probably see consistent daily income that is directly linked to your contributions.

The biggest pools of the day – Foundry USA, Antpool, Viabtc, F2pool – handle thousands of blocks each month. Many people offer FPP (full per share) models. On this day, you will be paid for all valid shares you submit, regardless of whether or not a block was found on that day.

Others use PPLN (payment per last n share). This only pays when the block is discovered, but can result in a slightly higher return over time. The choice depends on the amount of payout variation you’re comfortable with.

Setting up things is easy:

Create an account in the selected pool. Point the ASIC miner to the server in the pool. Add a Bitcoin Payout address. Create statistics from the pool’s web dashboard.

The returns are not large, but they are consistent and for many miners, that’s exactly the goal.

But what if you want to skip your hardware, setup and power costs completely? What if I want to touch mining without running the machine?

That’s where cloud mining comes in.

Option 4: Cloud Mining – Mining without Machines

Cloud mining allows you to rent hash power from a remote provider running the hardware by targeting it. No need to manage equipment, deal with heat and noise, or worry about electricity costs. Simply buy a contract and if everything goes well, you’ll receive a portion of your mining rewards.

It sounds easy on paper. Select your provider, choose the amount of hash power to rent, and pay either in advance or via subscription. The provider handles the infrastructure, including maintenance and cooling. In return, you will gain a share of mined Bitcoin in proportion to your rental electricity.

However, there are trade-offs and risks.

Cloud mining has gained a complex reputation. For years, the space has been flooded with suspicious operators, unrealistic promises of returns, and total fraud. Many contracts can prove impossible to adopt if they increase service charges, maintenance costs and mining difficulty. You effectively trust third parties to operate machines that you will never see.

That said, there are a few well-reputed providers. Platforms like NiceHash, BitDeer and ECO continue to operate in this space, offering flexible and transparent options. Some people can choose a specific coin or pool. Still, even with these more established names, the margins tend to be very thin. Especially when the bear market and global hashrates skyrocket.

Cloud mining may be worth considering:

Access to cheap electricity and space for equipment is limited. Looking for a low efort method to be exposed to mining. We see it as a more speculative bet than a reliable revenue stream.

However, if your goal is a consistent return or hands-on experience, you may be able to use your resources better by simply running your own gear or buying and holding Bitcoin.

Conclusion

There is no correct way to mine Bitcoin at home in 2025. It comes down to what you want. Lottery mining is fun and cheap, but the odds are long. Going solo with ASIC gives you complete control and complete risk. Mining pools are your go-to for stable and reliable payments. Cloud mining offers convenience, but not so sure.

If you’re there to slowly stack up SATs over time, there’s a set up that fits you. Know what you’re into and why you’re doing it.