Cryptocurrency Mining on Smartphones: Reality and Prospects for 2025

What Is Mobile Mining

The process of obtaining digital assets through a smartphone’s computing power differs significantly from traditional methods. In the classic approach, investments are required in specialized equipment — ASIC miners or graphics cards. The mobile option involves installing a mining app on the phone, which utilizes the device’s central processor (CPU) or, in rare cases, the graphics accelerator (GPU) to perform cryptographic calculations, followed by reward accrual.

Why Did the Popularity Boom Occur in 2023–2024

Several factors simultaneously created favorable conditions for mass adoption:

Technical Accessibility. Even in developing regions, smartphones with sufficient computing power have appeared, and internet speeds have enabled millions of users to connect to mining pools.

Wave of New Projects. Platforms designed specifically for mobile use have emerged — Pi Network, Bee Network, Electroneum — with minimal entry requirements and intuitive interfaces.

Web3 Philosophy. The emphasis on decentralization and democratization of access to cryptocurrency networks has made mobile mining an element of crypto culture and a way for newcomers to enter the ecosystem.

Alternative to Traditional Investment. For many, mining on a mobile device presents a less risky way to accumulate tokens without significant financial costs.

Which Coins Can Be Mined with a Smartphone

Not all cryptocurrencies are suitable for mobile mining. The most optimized options:

• Monero (XMR) — the RandomX algorithm is specifically designed for CPU mining, maintaining relevance in mobile environments.
• Electroneum (ETN) — the first project to implement a “simulated mining” mechanism on smartphones.
• Pi Network (PI) — uses a token distribution model for participation instead of real calculations.
• Bee Network — social model rewarding activity and new member recruitment.
• TON (The Open Network) — an ecosystem linked to Telegram, offering staking and operator node participation.
• Verus Coin, DuinoCoin — less known but active in the CPU segment.

Technical Mechanism of Operation

The process functions similarly to computer mining. The device solves complex mathematical problems necessary for transaction validation and adding new blocks to the ledger. Upon successful solution, the smartphone receives a share of the reward.

There are two fundamentally different approaches:

Real Calculations — the app genuinely uses CPU for hashing (for example: MinerGate).

Imitative Model — the system awards rewards for activity, network reputation, and daily participation without actual computations (for example: Pi Network).

Most often, smartphones join collective pools where resources are combined to increase efficiency, and earnings are distributed proportionally to each participant’s contribution.

Device Load During Operation

The process leaves an impact on the device:

• The processor runs at maximum load, causing exponential energy consumption.
• Heat generation reaches critical levels, especially in summer or when enclosed in cases. Most smartphones have passive cooling without fans, so overheating can lead to reduced performance or automatic shutdown.
• Battery degradation occurs due to intensive charge-discharge cycles. Over several months of active mining, capacity can drop by 15–30%.
• Overall system speed decreases — other apps run slower, pages load with delays, the interface becomes less responsive.
• Internal components wear out faster: motherboard, power ICs, even the display during constant activity.

Background processes that continue mining even when the screen is off make the device constantly overloaded, drastically shortening its lifespan.

Real Capabilities of Mobile Devices

Modern flagship phones based on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Apple A17 Pro are theoretically competitive with budget computers. However, economic feasibility remains questionable. Running 24/7 at 1–2 hashes per second yields only a few cents per day.

Nevertheless, for learning, experimentation, and entering new crypto ecosystems, the mobile option remains relevant.

Mining Formats on a Smartphone

Direct Mining via Apps

Popular solutions: MinerGate, CryptoTab, Electroneum, AntPool Mobile, StormGain Cloud Miner. Some perform real calculations, others award for activity.

Cloud Model

An alternative where calculations are performed on remote servers, and the user simply receives rewards. An example is StormGain Cloud Miner — just press a button every four hours without load on the smartphone.

Funds are withdrawn to crypto wallets (Trust Wallet, MetaMask, etc.). Withdrawal thresholds vary from $1 to $10, often with high fees and long processing times.

Verified Mining Apps for Phones

MinerGate Mobile Miner — supports real algorithms, works with Monero, Bytecoin, AEON.

CryptoTab Browser — a browser with built-in mining function, though rewards are mainly for activity.

Pi Network — over 50 million users, one of the most downloaded mining apps for phones, preparing for listing on major exchanges.

Bee Network — a Pi alternative with a team-building and social connection model.

StormGain Cloud Miner — cloud mining of Bitcoin without direct resource usage from the smartphone.

Efficiency varies greatly. MinerGate requires a powerful device. CryptoTab is criticized for opaque payouts. Pi Network is not yet publicly traded.

Mining Without Initial Investments

This model involves zero investments. The user either presses a button at set intervals or participates in reward systems.

Options:

• Pi Network — daily participation and activity verification.
• Bee Network — building a social network with rewards.
• StormGain Cloud Miner — Bitcoin rewards for daily clicks.

Advantage — zero financial risk. Disadvantage — limited income and dependence on the long-term viability of the project.

Risk of Financial Fraud and Protection

The market is flooded with fake mobile mining apps promising unrealistic earnings.

Basic safety rules:

• Download only from Google Play or App Store — these platforms minimally check code for malware.
• Avoid APKs from unknown sites — often contain viruses.
• Check ratings and reviews, verify developer history.
• Promises of Bitcoin with no effort and low ratings are obvious red flags.
• Paid VIP subscriptions are often pyramid schemes.
• Enable two-factor authentication on wallets and exchanges.
• Use antivirus especially on Android.
• When connecting to public networks, use VPN.

The main rule: if an offer sounds too good to be true — it probably is.

Actual Earnings: Numbers and Expectations

An average user earns $0.01–$0.30 per day. An owner of Galaxy S22 Ultra in MinerGate can mine about 0.0004 XMR daily, roughly $0.08.

Projects like Pi and Bee lack official valuation. However, if Pi trading launches successfully, its rate could theoretically reach $1–$10, making early participation promising.

Major Problems and Risks

• Accelerated battery aging by 30–50%.
• Overheating, especially in summer and on budget models.
• Security vulnerabilities — data collection, hidden processes, malicious code.
• Fraud schemes — dozens of apps do not pay users.

Long-term mining can drastically shorten device lifespan.

Final Assessment: Feasibility in 2025

For beginners — it makes sense as a way to get acquainted with the crypto world without risks.

For experienced users — not advisable, given minimal income and high risks (hardware wear, scams).

Practical tips:

• Choose platforms with a proven reputation.
• Do not use your main smartphone.
• Start with free options.
• Follow developer news.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really possible to earn?
Yes, but the amounts are minimal — a few cents to a couple of dollars per month. It’s more a tool to get familiar with cryptocurrencies than a stable income.

Which mining app to choose?
Most reliable are MinerGate, CryptoTab, StormGain Cloud Miner, Pi Network, Bee Network. Always read reviews and check withdrawal conditions.

Is it safe?
Safety depends on the source and the app itself. Download only from official stores, verify reviews, and do not share sensitive data unnecessarily.

Which coins are mined?
Most often — Monero (XMR), Electroneum (ETN), Pi Network (PI), Bee Network, DuinoCoin, cloud Bitcoin. Large coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum are impossible due to high complexity.

Are investments needed?
Most platforms operate without investments. Paid features are often scams.

Does it harm the smartphone?
Yes. Constant load causes overheating, battery degradation, and shortens lifespan. It’s recommended to use an old or spare device.

Can earnings be withdrawn?
Yes, but depends on the platform. Some have thresholds and fees. Pi Network is still in early stages.