Mining
TL;DR
Mining is the process where specialised computers consume energy to find new Bitcoin blocks, verify transactions, and secure the network.
Mining combines two functions: transaction validation and new BTC issuance. Miners run specialised hardware (ASICs) computing cryptographic hashes. The first miner to find a hash below a difficulty threshold wins the right to add the next block — and receives the block reward plus all transaction fees.
Example
A small mining operation runs 100 Antminer S21 Hydros (~22 MW). Average yield: ~0.18 BTC/day at current difficulty and price, minus ~€2,400/day electricity costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is mining still profitable?
Depends on electricity costs (< €0.05/kWh), hardware generation and BTC price. Well-managed: yes. For consumers without cheap power, usually not.
Related terms
Further reading
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