So you want to mine cryptocurrencies with a home PC but don't know where to start. Good news: although Bitcoin is no longer viable on a regular machine, there are several interesting options that still work. The key is choosing the right crypto.

Dogecoin remains popular. Although it started as a meme, DOGE is around $0.11 with a respectable market cap. You can mine it with your CPU or GPU, though the GPU is much faster. The important thing is to have a wallet to store your earnings, download software like CPU miner or cgminer, and if you want real profits, join a mining pool. Most exchanges trade DOGE, so selling won't be a problem.

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is another solid option now that ETH has switched to proof of stake. It’s around $9.20, and you can mine it with normal desktop equipment. The process is more technical but feasible if you have AMD or Nvidia GPUs.

Monero (XMR) at $406.37 is interesting because its network was specifically designed to resist ASICs, so your home PC has a real chance. The same goes for Zcash (ZEC) at $560.85: it uses the Equihash algorithm, which is ASIC-resistant. Both require downloading a wallet, syncing the blockchain, and mining software, but mining cryptocurrencies with a PC without specialized hardware is completely viable.

If you're looking for something more experimental, Ravencoin (RVN) at $0.01, Bitcoin Gold (BTG) at $2.76, Horizen (ZEN) at $7.30, Grin (GRIN) at $0.03, and other altcoins also work. Each has its own specifics, but all allow mining with consumer GPUs.

Now, how much do you really earn? It depends on your hardware, the electricity cost in your area, and the current price of the coin. A decent GPU like an RTX 3080 can generate between $5-20 daily depending on the crypto, but electricity costs you $3-5 daily. In a bull market, it’s profitable; in a bear market, marginal.

My advice: start with Monero or Zcash if you want something simple. Download the official wallet, mining software, join a pool to speed up earnings, and you're set. Mining cryptocurrencies with a PC is totally possible in 2026, just don’t expect to get rich. It’s more of a hobby that can earn some extra money, especially if your electricity is cheap.

One important thing: forget about cloud mining. All the offers we've seen are pure scams. Only real home mining works.