I happened to see someone asking about how to mine Bitcoin, so I arranged the outline of this topic.

Speaking of mining, it’s actually miners using mining machines to keep records for the Bitcoin network, and the system rewards BTC. Simply put, it’s helping with bookkeeping, and the network pays you a salary. This salary has two parts: one is the block reward you get for completing each block, and the other is the transaction fees paid by users.

However, this industry has changed quite a bit over the years. In the early days (around 2009), you could mine with a regular computer CPU. Later, GPUs appeared, and then specialized ASIC miners dominated the market. Now, everyone uses professional equipment like Antminer and Avalon miners. At the same time, mining has evolved from individual solo mining to group mining, and eventually to the development of mining pools—centralized operation modes. F2Pool, Poolin, and other mining pools are now very well known.

By 2025, everyone is asking: can individuals still mine Bitcoin for free? Honestly, it’s very difficult now. In the early days, some people could mine a lot of BTC with their computers, but now the total network hash rate has become ridiculously high, and individual miners using just a personal computer can hardly compete for bookkeeping rights. Even if you join a mining pool and share rewards proportionally, the BTC mined daily is so small that it often can’t even cover electricity costs. So, the era of “free mining” is gone.

Will there still be a chance in 2026? Yes, but it requires investment. First, you need to understand local policies—most regions in the US and Europe allow mining, but some countries and areas prohibit it. Be sure to confirm, so your equipment isn’t confiscated later. Second, there are several ways to mine: one is buying your own mining machines and operating them yourself; another is renting mining power and having a professional team manage it; third is directly leasing hash power (usually with hosting services).

If you really want to invest, choosing the right mining machine is crucial. Currently, popular models include Antminer S19 Pro (high hash rate but expensive and consumes a lot of power), WhatsMiner M30S++ (good energy efficiency), AvalonMiner 1246 (cost-effective). When selecting a miner, look at the energy efficiency ratio—preferably below 20 J/TH—to stay competitive on electricity costs.

The general process of mining is roughly as follows: first, use online tools to estimate costs and expected returns; then purchase mining machines or lease hash power; next, choose a reliable mining pool (compare fee rates, payout cycles, decentralization); finally, start mining. When the pool finds a block, you receive BTC proportional to your hash rate.

But beware of a pitfall—don’t buy mining machines or hash power from unknown platforms, as it’s easy to get scammed. Always choose well-known, reputable products and platforms. Also, when you receive BTC rewards, be sure to securely store your private keys and mnemonic phrases—these are your only proof of ownership of the coins.

In summary, by 2026, it’s still possible to earn Bitcoin through mining, but it’s no longer a low-threshold activity. It requires some capital investment, technical knowledge, and compliant operation. For ordinary people, if you really want to participate, joining a mining pool, choosing regions with low energy costs, or exploring other ways to earn coins might be more realistic. The “free mining” dream has long been over; now it’s a real business involving real money.