The truth about mining with smartphones in 2025: Can you make money?

Is Mobile Mining Still Worth Doing in 2025?

As we enter 2025, more and more people are asking: Can I mine with my phone? The answer is both simple and complex. Simply put, yes, technically feasible; but whether you can truly profit depends on your expectations, device choice, and risk tolerance.

Compared to traditional mining relying on expensive ASIC miners or professional GPUs, mobile device mining offers a more accessible entry path for the masses. Users only need to download an app, activate the smartphone’s CPU or GPU resources, and they can start participating in the generation of digital assets. For newcomers to cryptocurrency, this is undoubtedly a zero-cost or low-cost attempt.

Why Did Mobile Mining Suddenly Boom in 2023-2024?

The surge in mobile mining is no accident. First, the leap in global internet coverage and device performance has enabled billions to access this field. Second, projects like Pi Network, Bee Network, and Electroneum have lowered the barrier to entry—just register and click regularly, no deep technical knowledge needed. Third, the Web3 wave has fueled public curiosity about decentralized systems, making mobile mining part of this trend.

Many users see it as a substitute for traditional cloud mining—avoiding large investments while experiencing the thrill of “earning coins.” Even with modest returns, the “zero risk trial” proposition is highly attractive to beginners.

Which Coins Can Be Mined? An Overview of Mobile Mining Coins

Mainstream coins available for mobile mining include:

Monero (XMR), optimized with the RandomX algorithm, is an ideal choice for CPU mining. Its emergence allows ordinary processors to participate in meaningful hash calculations.

Electroneum (ETN) was designed specifically for mobile ecosystems from the start, pioneering the “simulated mining” mechanism, making it a starting point for mobile users.

Pi Network (PI) does not perform real hash computations but distributes tokens via trust graphs and daily verification, attracting over 50 million users.

Bee Network uses a similar model, emphasizing social fission and team building, with token distribution linked to activity levels.

DuinoCoin and Verus Coin are less known niche coins but have active communities and ongoing CPU mining support.

It’s important to note that major coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum are too complex for direct mobile mining to be economically viable.

How Does Mobile Mining Work: From Clicking to Earnings

Mobile mining operates via two completely different mechanisms. One is real computational mining: the phone’s processor continuously solves cryptographic puzzles, verifies blockchain transactions, and earns rewards. The other is reward simulation: apps only record user activity (login, invites, verification) and distribute tokens according to rules, without actual calculations.

Users often join mining pools to improve efficiency—sharing hash power with thousands of miners and splitting rewards proportionally. This is much more realistic than solo calculations.

Internal changes during device operation

When a phone is fully engaged in mining, its processor runs at high load for extended periods. Since most smartphones use passive cooling (no fans), temperatures quickly rise to dangerous levels. This not only causes automatic throttling but can also lead to system lag, app crashes, or forced shutdowns.

The battery faces even greater stress. Frequent charge-discharge cycles can reduce capacity by 15%-30% within months, drastically shortening usage time. Meanwhile, sustained high temperatures accelerate aging of the motherboard, power management chips, and screens. For entry-level phones with limited performance, this pressure can cause noticeable hardware degradation within a few months.

The most insidious is background invisible mining—some apps continue running scripts after the screen is off, keeping the phone under constant high load. Such behavior significantly shortens device lifespan.

How Powerful Is Modern Mobile Mining?

Flagship chips like Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Apple A17 Pro theoretically reach 1-2 hashes/sec, which is decent for CPU mining. However, even running 24/7, daily earnings are only about $0.01–$0.30. For example, a Galaxy S22 Ultra might produce around 0.0004 XMR per day, which at July 2025 prices is roughly $0.08.

In short, mining with a phone is almost economically pointless, but it still has value as a learning and testing tool.

Two Main Types of Mobile Mining

App-based mining

MinerGate, CryptoTab, Electroneum, AntPool Mobile, and StormGain Cloud Miner are the main players. Some perform real hash calculations, others are just activity reward schemes.

Cloud leasing mode

For example, StormGain Cloud Miner, where users don’t consume device resources but click every 4 hours, and remote servers do the work. Earnings are withdrawn via Bitcoin wallets, Trust Wallet, or MetaMask, with thresholds from $1–$10 or higher. Common issues include high fees and long waiting times.

Mining App Rankings: Which Is Most Reliable in 2025?

MinerGate Mobile Miner supports real coins like Monero and Bytecoin, suitable for users seeking a “hardcore” experience.

CryptoTab Browser combines browsing with earning, claiming to earn coins while surfing, but mostly offers activity rewards rather than real mining.

Pi Network leads with over 50 million downloads, awaiting mainnet launch and exchange listing. If the token price reaches $1–$10 per coin, early participants could gain unexpectedly.

Bee Network, Pi’s competitor, has similar gameplay, focusing on team recruitment.

StormGain Cloud Miner promotes “zero device pressure” cloud mining, but users often criticize its withdrawal transparency.

Different apps vary greatly in efficiency and reliability. MinerGate’s returns are relatively genuine but still modest; CryptoTab is widely criticized for opaque distribution; Pi and Bee’s prospects are uncertain.

Is Zero-Investment Mining Truly Feasible?

Many projects promise “no recharge, just participate.” Common ones include Pi Network, Bee Network, and StormGain’s free packages.

Advantages: zero cost, just time.

Disadvantages: extremely low rewards, entirely dependent on project’s long-term commitment and future token valuation.

How to Recognize and Avoid Mining Scams?

Installation source is critical: only download from Google Play or App Store, which conduct basic malware scans. Avoid third-party APK sites—they often contain trojans, ransomware, or info stealers.

Ratings and developer history matter: low scores, numerous “cannot withdraw” complaints, and mysterious developer identities are red flags.

Beware of high-return promises: claims like “earn hundreds daily” or “VIP acceleration” are 99% Ponzi schemes. Real mining economics do not support such returns.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect all related accounts—wallets, exchanges, emails.

Install Android antivirus software; iOS relies on built-in protections.

Use VPN on public Wi-Fi to prevent traffic monitoring.

Final tip: if an app sounds too good to be true, it almost always is a scam. Transparent withdrawal terms, verifiable development teams, and genuine user feedback are the basis of trust.

Actual Earnings: What Do Real Data Show?

Most users report monthly earnings between $0.5–$5, with a few lucky or highly active individuals reaching $10–$20. Achieving this requires:

• Daily login consistency
• Inviting dozens or hundreds of friends
• Using high-performance flagship phones
• Long-term confidence in the project

For Pi and Bee, which are not yet listed on exchanges, current earnings are only promises. Once listed, the coin’s price could soar from $0.1 to $10 or crash to zero. This is gambling, not investment.

Hidden Dangers and Risks of Mobile Mining

Hardware deterioration is the primary concern: battery capacity can decline by 30–50%, internal components age faster, and overall lifespan may be halved.

Overheating risks, especially in summer and on low-end devices.

Security threats include data theft, invisible mining, and malware infections.

Economic traps such as fake apps, pyramid schemes, and withdrawal failures are common.

These risks mean that, for ordinary users, mobile mining is a losing proposition—not only will they earn little or nothing, but they also damage their devices.

Will Mobile Mining Still Be Worth It in 2025?

For beginners: if your goal is to experience the crypto world and learn risk-free, you can try.

For experienced investors: not recommended. The cost-to-benefit ratio is too low, and risks are high.

Practical advice:

• Choose verified apps (MinerGate, Pi Network, etc.)
• Use idle old phones instead of main devices
• Start with projects that require no investment
• Regularly check community reviews and official updates
• Be cautious of overly promising returns

FAQs

Q: Can my phone really mine real coins?
A: Yes, but with minimal earnings. Daily earnings are a few cents to a few dollars, depending on device, app, and coin. It’s more of an experience than a money-making method.

Q: Which app is most trustworthy?
A: MinerGate, StormGain, Pi Network, and Bee Network are relatively well-known, but no app is completely “safe.” Always verify reviews, developer info, and withdrawal policies.

Q: Are mining apps reliable?
A: Depends on source and app. Apps on Google Play and App Store are preliminarily checked, but some still contain data collection or hidden code. Avoid granting unnecessary permissions and read privacy policies.

Q: What are the most common mined coins?
A: The easiest to access on mobile are Monero (XMR), Electroneum (ETN), Pi (PI), Bee, DuinoCoin, and cloud-mined Bitcoin. Major coins like BTC and ETH are impossible to mine directly on phones.

Q: Do beginners need to spend money to start?
A: Absolutely not. Most popular projects offer free participation. Some apps have paid VIP or “accelerator” packages, but these usually don’t pay back.

Q: How much damage does long-term mining do to a phone?
A: Irreversible damage is real—battery aging accelerates, processors and mainboards stress increases, and lifespan can be halved. Consider using spare or old devices.

Q: Can I withdraw the coins I earn?
A: Yes, but with thresholds. MinerGate and CryptoTab allow withdrawal to wallets with minimums of $1–$100. Pi and Bee are not yet tradable, so no full withdrawal channels. Some apps have complex withdrawal processes and high fees.