How much you can earn with Bitcoin mining

In recent years, many have written off Bitcoin mining as doomed. The launch of Ethereum’s The Merge, soaring energy costs, and increasing computational complexity have dampened the enthusiasm of individual miners. But declaring mining a non-viable business model would be premature, and with Bitcoin having surpassed $123,000, an all-time high, interest has also been rekindled among small investors, those thinking of dusting off an old PC or purchasing an ASIC in the hopes of converting energy consumption into Bitcoin returns.

But have we really returned to the golden days of home mining? Or is the game no longer worth the effort? In 2025, mining is still a viable activity, but it has radically changed compared to the past. It has become increasingly expensive and technologically demanding.

In this article, we’ll explore how Bitcoin mining works today, the options available even to small miners, how much you can actually earn, and, most importantly, whether it’s still worthwhile, with concrete examples and simulations.

How to earn money with Bitcoin mining

Mining is the system that allows transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain to be validated. In practice, extremely powerful computers are used to solve complex calculations and, as a reward for their work, miners receive BTC rewards. All this happens thanks to the proof-of-work mechanism, which regulates the creation of a new block approximately every 10 minutes.

But what are the most popular (and potentially profitable) methods for earning money with mining today?

1) Individual Mining

In the past, a home PC was enough for mining. Today, it’s a whole different story.

To mine independently, you need powerful and specialized machines, such as ASIC miners or, in some cases, high-end GPUs. Although hardware prices have depreciated since their 2022 highs, the best-performing models easily exceed €10,000. And to that point, we must also add the costs of electricity and cooling, which are by no means negligible.

One of the most advanced devices on the market today is the Bitmain Antminer S21 XP: it has a processing power of 270 TH/s and an energy efficiency of 13.5 J/TH. Under optimal conditions, it consumes approximately 3,645 watts and can produce around 0.00013 BTC per day. Not a lot, considering the capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating costs.

The point is this: individual mining today is not for everyone. It requires initial capital, consistent maintenance, and access to competitive energy rates (for example, in countries like Kazakhstan or Texas).

2) Mining Pool

To reduce costs and increase your chances of receiving a reward, many miners choose to join a mining pool. This creates a sort of team in which everyone contributes their computing power to work together to mine blocks.

If the pool manages to solve a block, the BTC reward is divided among all participants, based on the amount of computing power each contributed.

Advantages? Earnings become more stable, risk exposure is reduced, and you rely on platforms that handle the technical side of things, without having to touch the hardware. Disadvantages? Returns are reduced due to profit sharing, and management fees, which can range between 1% and 3%, must be considered.

If we consider a hash power of around 200 TH/s, the gross revenue is around €150-300 per month, from which energy costs and management fees must be subtracted.

3) Cloud mining

cloud mining promises to let you earn money from home without hardware, expensive bills, or deafening fans. Essentially, you rent computing power from companies that manage professional systems.

A convenient solution, but not without pitfalls.

Cloud mining contracts vary in length (from 6 months to 3 years), hash power, and fees. On average, for 100 TH/s of rented power, you can pay between €1,200 and €2,000 per year, with a monthly profit that, at current prices, can range between €40 and €80 gross. After deducting (often hidden) fees, net returns can drop as low as €20-30 per month.

Furthermore, cloud mining exposes additional risks: scams, opaque contracts, and zero technical control over the infrastructure. Some providers suspend operations if BTC drops below a certain threshold.

This solution makes sense only for diversification purposes or for those who want to gain market exposure without direct commitment.

How much can you earn from Bitcoin mining?

The profitability of Bitcoin mining depends on several factors. Currently, the mining of a Bitcoin block is rewarded with 3.125 BTC, which corresponds to a block reward valued at approximately $368,750 based on the current price. Added to this are the rewards from transactions recorded for each block created. However, every four years, the rewards are halved through the halving. The next one is in 2028.

Furthermore, mining profitability is also influenced by the volatility of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin. If Bitcoin were to suddenly lose value, those who have invested thousands of euros in mining infrastructure and hardware risk not recouping their capital investment. This is a real possibility, which should be considered before embarking on mining: returns are not assured, and the risks, especially with this volatility, are far from negligible.

Then, you need to factor in the operating costs related to hardware, electricity, technical maintenance and system management required for mining. In 2025, the cost of mining equipment has decreased and is around $16 per terahash. Therefore, an ASIC miner with a hashrate of 270 TH/s can cost around $4,300. These costs can impact the overall profitability of the operation.

Original article published on Money.it Italy 2025-07-24 10:11:31. Original title: Come e quanto si guadagna con il mining Bitcoin