How To Mine Crypto on My Phone and How Does it Work

Cryptocurrency mining is adding new digital coins into circulation by validating transactions on the underlying blockchain. Miners earn the minted coins as rewards for their services to the blockchain. When miners connect to the blockchain network via a smartphone, it is known as mobile crypto mining. The network treats desktop and mobile nodes the same way.

As mentioned above, for the network, every validator node is equal. However, mining is a competitive process, and only the miner who validates a block first is rewarded. Since a standalone mobile device has much lower computing power than the high-end multiprocessor computer systems, joining mining pools could be a good idea when mining crypto with mobile phones. These pools combine the computing power of all members, thus improving the probability of validation success, which increases the chances of earning tokens. Members receive mining rewards in proportion to the work done.

At Coin Hint we believe that to enhance your chances of succeeding at mobile crypto mining, you will need:

Learn the basics of cryptocurrency mining to understand the technicalities and make better choices in selecting the cryptocurrency, mining pool and crypto wallet.

The first requirement is a mobile phone – the more powerful, the better. Keeping one dedicated for mining purposes helps save on battery life and improves mining performance. In fact, mobile phones designed for use in mining cryptocurrency are also available, although not mandatory. Finally, the phone will need to be kept always charged because transactions can take place at any time.

Cryptocurrency mining is a 24×7, competitive activity. Therefore, uninterrupted, high-speed internet connectivity is a must. Get a backup if possible, since the connection might slow down once the daily upper limits on data is reached.

The lifespan of hardware depends on how rigorous its usage is. A cooling mechanism is required to prevent the mobile device from overheating while mining. Overheating could lead to the hardware of the device being compromised.

You will also need to download a cryptocurrency mining mobile application. Many apps allow the mining of diverse cryptocurrencies for free or on subscription. Make sure to research the app deeply before choosing. Consider its fee, performance, and its drawbacks, if any. Caution is necessary as some apps could be malware-spreading agents.

Remember!

Choose a cryptocurrency that is reliable and trusted. Crypto coins designed to be mined only on mobile phones are a red flag. There could be some underlying malicious intent.

If you plan to mine Bitcoin with a phone, it will take years to earn a fraction of what mining farms do. However, you could mine other cryptocurrencies and exchange them for BTC instead. Once you have the set-up ready, it’s time to dive in:

1. Pick a mining pool.

The choice of pools is limited by the mobile application you download. Consider the pool size, devices used by other members and the cryptocurrencies they mine when selecting a pool.

2. Understand their payment system. 

Different mining pools may have different pay-out systems. Ask about how the transaction fee is distributed, the frequency of pay-outs and the distribution scheme of the block reward.

The most common ones are pay-per-share pools that pay-out a fixed amount every time they submit a crypto block. Others are score-based pools, where the pay-out depends on the miner’s score. The mining time and hashing power of each miner are used to calculate the “scoring hash rate” score. The longer a miner stays with the pool, the greater their score is likely to be and therefore, the higher the rewards they receive. The divisibility of the crypto coin mined and the block incentive mechanism can also affect the pool pay-out.

Did you know?

Mobile crypto miners can also choose cloud-based mining or USB-mining options.

3. Register your crypto wallet.

Crypto payments are disbursed only to a digital wallet address. Therefore, you need to register your wallet address before you can start mining. Ensure that the pool is reliable, and your assets are secure. Additionally, use at least 2-factor authentication wallets to maintain security.

Apple’s App Store has a strict entry screening process for mobile apps. Therefore, the chances of downloading a malicious crypto-mining app are low but not zero. Due diligence at the miners’ end is essential.

1. Choose a mining pool.

Choose one of the mining pools available on the crypto mining app you have downloaded by taking into account the pool size, processors used and their pay out mechanism.

2. Register your wallet.

Register your crypto wallet address with the mobile app to receive payments.

Although Google banned cryptocurrency mining apps in 2018, there are some “games” that facilitate cryptocurrency mining. In its endeavour to protect users against fraud, Google’s Play Store also evicted 8 fraudulent apps in August 2022.

Did you know?

Regulations of the country of residence of the miner greatly impact the profitability if phones are used to mine cryptocurrencies, since legal and tax implications need to be accounted for.

There are hundreds of mobile applications to mine cryptocurrencies. Here’s a list of the top 5 iPhone and Android apps to mine cryptocurrencies:

1. Bitdeer
2. CryptoTab
3. ECOS Mining
4. ByteBus
5. SHAMINING

Cryptocurrency mining can be profitable in the long run. However, if using a smartphone, the profitability depends on the cryptocurrency mined. For instance, mining BTC will probably be inefficient, but choosing one of the altcoins might not be. Additionally, joining mining pools might be a better choice for stable earnings.

An analysis of the cost of the smartphone, cooling set-up, electricity, and internet subscription, along with compliance and taxes, may give an insight into the profitability of mining cryptocurrency.

Increasing concerns regarding the unsustainability of mining practices, due to the requirement of high computational power, are making way for innovation in mining technology and blockchain consensus mechanisms. The future is bound to bring more sustainable and profitable ways to make the most of this emerging industry in a mobile-first world.

Mining crypto with a mobile phone may soon become a side hustle for the digital-first generation. However, cost-benefit analysis of the expenditure and judiciary considerations can help evaluate if mobile crypto mining is worthwhile for you. Profitably mining crypto with a mobile phone is a challenging task, and your best chances of success are likely to depend on selecting the right altcoin to mine.