Although proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrencies are becoming rare these days, Dogecoin (DOGE) is still proving to be a very attractive mining option.
Dogecoin mining is considered to be much faster and more accessible than Bitcoin (BTC), and with the enthusiastic support of people like Elon Musk, it seems unlikely that this iconic ‘meme coin’ will go away any time soon.
If you follow Dogecoin and truly believe that it can thrive, you may want to consider taking the next step and investing in mining, but how do you become a Dogecoin miner in the first place?
What is Dogecoin?
Dogecoin was created as a joke by Billy Marcus and Jackson Palmer in 2013.
As a result, Dogecoin has become abundant, as it no longer needs to maintain scarcity to preserve its value.
However, after the Dogecoin boom of 2021, more investors joined the network to see what the fuss was about. As the coin’s value soared, DOGE mining became much more frequent to keep up with demand.
However, with so much Dogecoin being released, people needed to get their hands on significant amounts of it for it to retain any real value, which is why so many people have become interested in mining it.
What is Mining?
Simply put, mining is the process of verifying transactions on a blockchain and earning new tokens.
Mining operations typically follow a Proof of Stake (PoS) or Proof of Work (PoW) model, which dictates who will validate these transactions. Dogecoin follows the latter model.
In the PoW model, miners compete to solve mathematical problems that allow a transaction to be ‘completed’. Those who achieve this and verify that the transaction is legitimate are rewarded for their ‘work’ on the network and have the opportunity to link a block of data to the blockchain.
This allows the blockchain to be decentralized, with all transactions verified locally by users, eliminating the need to rely on third parties like banks.
Dogecoin Mining Development History
The Dogecoin mining process has undergone several advancements since its inception, making it more accessible and efficient.
When Dogecoin first came out, all users needed to start mining was a decent computer, enough disk space, and a gaming central processing unit (CPU).
But as more miners joined the network, the process became much more difficult and arduous. With fewer blocks easy to identify, mining difficulty began to increase.
So it became clear that mining alone was becoming nearly impossible, and Dogecoin responded by integrating mining pools, which allowed multiple miners to band together and share computing power, so that no one person had to do everything themselves.
In 2014, Dogecoin introduced another upgrade called ‘Merged Mining’. This meant that miners could mine any cryptocurrency running on the Scrypto algorithm, the most popular example being Litecoin (LTC). Since then, miners have received block rewards on multiple Scrypt-based blockchains in exchange for performing the same amount of work.
Is mining Dogecoin worth it?
There are three main reasons why Dogecoin is worth mining: value, speed, and recognition.
Dogecoin is a valuable token, and despite being a meme coin, it has consistently been in the top 20 most popular cryptocurrencies by market cap. Each time a miner completes a block, they are rewarded with 10,000 Dogecoins, which is worth over $1,000 by 2024. However, keep in mind that if you are part of a mining pool, the payout is split among multiple miners. Energy prices also need to be taken into account here.
And then there is the speed of mining itself. For example, in Bitcoin mining, it takes 10 minutes for a miner to successfully process a new block. In Dogecoin, it is only 1 minute, so miners can work much faster and receive rewards more often.
Finally, Dogecoin is one of the most popular and widely accepted cryptocurrencies, largely due to the massive support it has received from Elon Musk. After Musk made Dogecoin an accepted form of payment for Tesla, other companies, including AMC and GameStop, began to follow suit.
What you need to start mining Dogecoin
Before you can verify your transactions and start earning new Dogecoin, you will need some essential tools and resources.
hardware
ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) mining devices are the most popular hardware for hashing. Hashing is a process that determines the difficulty of processing transactions and creating blocks, but it has become so complex and hard to find that ASIC miners are almost always needed.
Of course, it is possible to mine Dogecoin with a regular graphics processing unit (GPU), but it is not recommended because GPUs can easily overheat, which can lead to high energy costs. This does not mean that ASICs do not consume a lot of energy. It is just that they are faster, making the process cheaper overall.
ASICs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most important factors to consider are hash rate and power consumption. Hash rate refers to how fast the hardware is at processing hashes.
Both of these directly affect the price of the device, so it is important to consider this when deciding which one to buy. They can be a bit expensive, so a sound strategy is to buy something cheap, get used to mining, and then gradually move up to a more advanced one later.
software
There’s no reason to buy heavy hardware if you don’t have any software programs to run.
Many software vendors support GPUs and ASICS, but they all have their own unique features and capabilities that set them apart. For example, here are some popular mining software and their differences:
- BFGMiner: It is an ASIC compatible program with additional integrated features such as dynamic cloaking, mining calculator, and many other advanced mining tools.
- Easyminor: It is a free, beginner-friendly software that allows you to mine multiple types of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.
- GUIMiner script: An easy-to-use tool that integrates with several popular mining pools.
- Multiminor: An all-in-one package that allows you to mine various types of cryptocurrencies. Also integrated into multiple mining pools.
Choose your software based on your skill level as well as your hardware. There is no shame in choosing beginner-oriented software, but if you already have mining experience, it may be a good idea to look into additional features.
Mining Pool Account
As explained earlier, a mining pool is a group of users who share their computing power to make mining easier and more convenient for each participant.
However, to participate in pool mining, you need an account. When signing up, carefully check the pool’s community size and fees.
Popular Dogecoin network mining pools include Mining-Dutch, Prohashing, and Zergpool.
Dogecoin Wallet
There’s no point in creating additional tokens if you don’t have a place to store them. This may seem obvious to those already on the network, but you’ll need a Dogecoin-compatible wallet to start mining.
The good news is that there are many wallets to choose from. Some of the most popular options include:
- Doge Labs Wallet: Easy to use web browser wallet.
- Dogecoin Core Wallet: The official self-custodial Dogecoin wallet.
- Coinbase Wallet: Self-storage web browser wallet.
- safe: A hardware wallet that protects your cryptocurrencies in an offline environment.
How to mine Dogecoin – Step by Step
Now that you have all the mining equipment, it’s time to start mining and earn some precious Dogecoin. Let’s not rush the process, let’s go through it step by step so that you fully understand how it actually works.
- Equipment Check: Make sure you have all your equipment ready, including hardware and software.
- Software Configuration: Start by making sure you have downloaded and configured the mining software. Make sure it is compatible with your hardware device to avoid any issues during the mining process.
- Mining Pool: Join a mining pool. Mining pools may have different guidelines and requirements for setting up mining hardware and software, so always take this into account to know what rules you need to follow.
- Join the server: Next, you will need to connect your mining rig to one of the pool servers. Mining pools often have hundreds or thousands of participants, so configuring it as a server will ensure that everything runs smoothly.
- Tracking Mining Data: Once you officially join a mining pool, you will be able to track your earnings, hashrate, payment history, and other important details in your account settings.
- Start mining: Now it’s time to start mining. Once the transaction is verified and the block is confirmed, the reward is shared between the pool and sent to your wallet.
Should I join a mining pool?
Technically, joining a mining pool is not mandatory, but it is recommended, especially for beginners. However, there are two other ways to do it.
Solo Mining
As the name suggests, this is when someone tries to mine independently without the help of others.
On the one hand, this ensures that miners receive 100% of the mining rewards. However, the downside is that it consumes a huge amount of computer power, which can affect the realistic profits that can be made.
If you are interested in solo mining, the best way to do it is to calculate the amount of energy you will need to pay and the cost of advanced hardware you will need to acquire. Compare this to the current Dogecoin price and the amount you will receive, and you will have a rough idea of whether it is worth it or not.
Cloud Mining
Cloud mining involves renting computer power from a provider. As a result, it requires minimal setup or technical know-how from the miner. In fact, it is a pretty good entry point for beginners who do not want to mine solo but do not have the computer skills to mine from the beginning.
However, there are still some drawbacks, the biggest of which is that since you are renting computer power, you will have to pay the same amount whether the value of Dogecoin goes up or down.
Dogecoin Mining: Risks and Concerns
As with any cryptocurrency, there are still risks and concerns associated with mining Dogecoin.
The biggest problem is the amount of energy they use. While the latest ASIC models may be more environmentally friendly, they still use a huge amount of electricity to perform hashing operations.
Speaking of hardware, another common concern is the lifespan of devices such as ACIS and GPUs, as mining is very demanding and can overheat. Keeping these devices in a well-ventilated room will help prevent them from overworking.
You should also check whether cryptocurrency mining is permitted and legal in your area. This information is not always readily available, but it is still important.
Finally, while mining is often done for profit, remember that the value of cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, is always volatile and unpredictable. So always be careful when buying or selling rewards, or do your own market research beforehand to be on the safe side.
On the other side
- Although Dogecoin mining is faster and easier than most other cryptocurrencies, mining still generally has a negative impact on the environment.
- Some networks, such as Compass Mining for Bitcoin, are trying to overcome this. Dogecoin currently only has GreenDoge, which is a completely different blockchain that is still in its early stages.
Why this matters
Dogecoin may have started out as a joke, but it’s here to stay and has attracted many new miners, all of whom want to create new tokens. It’s now more accessible than ever, so it’s worth getting to know it to decide if it’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mining rigs are another name for hardware such as CPUs, GPUs, and ASICs.
The two most popular ASIC machines are the Antminer L7 and the Goldshell Mini Doge PRO. The former is more expensive and requires more electricity, but is much faster.
Mining will no longer be valid after Ethereum (ETH) switches to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm in 2022.