Here’s how to mine Bitcoin in five easy steps

• To determine whether your Bitcoin mining operation is profitable and viable, you must first determine its profitability. You must consider two factors when mining Bitcoin.

• 1. The hardware
  As Bitcoin mining hardware is in high demand, getting hold of one can be difficult. The computers that mine Bitcoin use ASICs, or Application Specific Integrated Circuits. Many online retailers sell them or you can order them directly from a manufacturer.

• 2. The electricity
  The profitability of your mining operation entirely depends on how much you pay to run your miners. As long as you can get electricity cheaply enough, even older generation Bitcoin mining rigs are profitable. Use a mining profitability calculator to determine whether your set-up will be profitable before you begin.

• Getting your Bitcoin mining hardware is the next step. Suppliers sell used and new Bitcoin mining rigs. Two factors should be considered when purchasing any hardware.

• 1. Locality
  From where are the mining rigs going to be shipped? You might get a good price on the machines, but then have to pay a lot to have them shipped to you. Find the right balance between price and shipping costs.

• 2. Condition of the miners
  Used mining equipment is a great option for new businesses or individuals. You could achieve the same results with a used miner rather than paying top dollar for a new one. It’s important to buy used equipment from a reputable dealer if you’re buying it used.

• Downloading Bitcoin mining software is the third step. As soon as you have a Bitcoin mining rig in place, you will need to download the software required to connect to the Bitcoin blockchain. Using the software, blocks for the blockchain are found by miners. NiceHash Miner is one of several free software programs that can be used to mine Bitcoin.

• Choosing and joining a Bitcoin mining pool is the fourth step. With large mining farms backed by mining companies, individual miners have a hard time competing. However, Bitcoin mining pools provide a solution. It is possible to combine the computing power of individual miners to compete as a group. Fees are paid to the operator of the pool, and rewards are slightly lower, but using a mining pool will ensure more consistent rewards.

• Begin mining. You are now ready to start mining Bitcoin once you have selected a pool. Your mining hardware needs to be connected to a power source, your software needs to connect to the Bitcoin blockchain, and your Bitcoin address needs to be entered to receive the rewards in your Bitcoin wallet.