XMRig is the most popular open-source mining software for Monero (XMR). It supports CPU and GPU mining with the RandomX algorithm. Written in C++, it's available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. XMRig supports pool mining, P2Pool (decentralized), and solo mining. It's free and open-source (github.com/xmrig/xmrig) with an optional 1% developer donation (can be set to 0%). Most Monero miners use XMRig — it's the de facto standard.

How do I set up XMRig for Monero mining?

Quick start: (1) Download XMRig from github.com/xmrig/xmrig/releases (verify GPG signature). (2) Edit config.json — set pool URL, your Monero wallet address, and worker name. (3) Run xmrig (or xmrig.exe on Windows). (4) Check hashrate output — 'speed 10s/60s/15m' shows your H/s. For P2Pool: set pool URL to 127.0.0.1:3333 (P2Pool mini). For pool mining: use pool.supportxmr.com:3333 or pool.hashvault.pro:80. Config generator at xmrig.com/wizard.

What hashrate can I expect from XMRig?

CPU hashrate varies by processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X: ~25,000 H/s. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X: ~10,000 H/s. Intel i7-13700K: ~12,000 H/s. Intel i5-12600K: ~7,000 H/s. Apple M2 Pro: ~4,500 H/s. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: ~7,500 H/s. Older i5/i7: 2,000-5,000 H/s. RandomX is optimized for CPUs with large L3 caches — AMD Ryzen processors dominate because of their 32-64MB L3 cache. GPU mining is not profitable for Monero.

Is XMRig safe to use?

The official XMRig from github.com/xmrig/xmrig is safe — it's open-source with 8,000+ GitHub stars and actively maintained. However: (1) Antivirus will flag it as 'malware' because cryptojacking botnets use modified XMRig. This is a false positive for the official build. Add an exception. (2) ONLY download from the official GitHub releases page. Fake XMRig sites distribute trojanized versions that mine to the attacker's wallet. (3) Verify the GPG signature or SHA-256 checksum before running. (4) The 1% dev fee is transparent and configurable — set donate-level to 0 if you want.

Should I use XMRig with a pool or P2Pool?

P2Pool (decentralized) is recommended for most miners. Benefits: no registration, no pool fees, decentralizes the network, pays directly to your wallet. Use P2Pool mini if your hashrate is under 50,000 H/s (most home miners). Pool mining (SupportXMR, HashVault, MoneroOcean) gives more frequent payouts but: pool takes 0.6-1% fee, you must trust the pool operator, and it centralizes mining power. Solo mining is only viable above ~1 MH/s (you'd wait months for a block otherwise). For most people: XMRig + P2Pool mini = best combination.

XMRig Setup Guide (2026)

The standard Monero CPU mining software — download, configure, mine

TL;DR: XMRig is the #1 Monero miner. Download from GitHub, set your wallet address, point at P2Pool mini (127.0.0.1:3333), run it. Earns XMR with your CPU — the most private way to acquire Monero (no exchange, no KYC, no counterparty).

Quick Start

1. Download — Official releases: github.com/xmrig/xmrig/releases. Verify GPG signature or SHA-256 checksum. Your antivirus will flag it — false positive (cryptojacking botnets use modified XMRig).

2. Configure — Edit config.json:

{
  "pools": [{
    "url": "127.0.0.1:3333",
    "user": "YOUR_MONERO_ADDRESS",
    "pass": "x",
    "keepalive": true,
    "tls": false
  }],
  "cpu": {
    "enabled": true,
    "huge-pages": true,
    "max-threads-hint": 75
  },
  "donate-level": 1
}

3. Run — ./xmrig (Linux/Mac) or xmrig.exe (Windows). Watch for speed 10s/60s/15m output.

Pool Options

Mode	URL	Fee	Min Hashrate	Notes
P2Pool mini	`127.0.0.1:3333`	0%	Any	Decentralized, run locally
P2Pool main	`127.0.0.1:3333`	0%	~50 KH/s	Higher difficulty, faster shares
MoneroOcean	`gulf.moneroocean.stream:10128`	0%	Any	Algo-switching, auto XMR payout
SupportXMR	`pool.supportxmr.com:3333`	0.6%	Any	Established pool
HashVault	`pool.hashvault.pro:80`	0.9%	Any	Global servers
Solo	`127.0.0.1:18081`	0%	~1 MH/s	Run local monerod, very rare finds

CPU Hashrate Benchmarks

CPU	Hashrate	L3 Cache	Cores/Threads
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X	~25,000 H/s	64 MB	16C/32T
AMD EPYC 7742	~44,000 H/s	256 MB	64C/128T
Intel i7-13700K	~12,000 H/s	30 MB	16C/24T
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X	~10,000 H/s	32 MB	8C/16T
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X	~7,500 H/s	32 MB	6C/12T
Intel i5-12600K	~7,000 H/s	20 MB	10C/16T
Apple M2 Pro	~4,500 H/s	16 MB	12C
Intel i5-10400	~4,000 H/s	12 MB	6C/12T

RandomX needs 2 MB L3 cache per thread. AMD Ryzen dominates because of large L3. GPU mining is not profitable for Monero — RandomX is deliberately CPU-optimized.

Optimization Tips

Huge Pages: Enable for 20-30% hashrate boost. Linux: sudo sysctl -w vm.nr_hugepages=1280. Windows: run as Administrator. XMRig shows HUGE PAGES: 100% when working.

Thread count: Use max-threads-hint: 75 for mining while using the computer, 100 for dedicated mining. Each thread needs 2 MB L3 cache.

MSR mod (Linux): sudo ./xmrig on first run enables MSR register tweaks for 5-15% boost on some Intel CPUs. Requires root.

Power: Undervolt your CPU. Mining is power-limited — reducing voltage saves electricity without reducing hashrate. Use Ryzen Master (AMD) or ThrottleStop (Intel).

Antivirus False Positives

Every antivirus flags XMRig because cryptojacking malware uses it. The official build from GitHub is safe. Solutions:

Windows Defender: Settings → Virus Protection → Exclusions → add the XMRig folder.

macOS: System Preferences → Security → Allow anyway.

Linux: No issues. Most distros don't run AV by default.

Never download XMRig from random websites. Only github.com/xmrig/xmrig. Verify checksums.

XMRig + P2Pool = Maximum Sovereignty

Mining is the most private way to get Monero. No exchange, no KYC, no counterparty. Just your CPU and electricity.

P2Pool mini is the recommended pool — zero fees, decentralized, pays directly to your wallet. Supports the network.

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