🛡️ Secure Monero Mining Guide (2025)

🔒 Why Monero?

Monero (XMR) is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that hides the sender, receiver, and amount of every transaction by default. It's the ideal coin for miners and users who prioritize financial privacy.

1️⃣ Step One: Create a Secure Monero Wallet

1. Download the official Monero GUI Wallet for your operating system.
2. Install and launch the wallet. Click "Create a new wallet".
3. Choose a secure name and password.
4. Write down your 25-word seed phrase on paper. DO NOT save it on your computer or cloud.
5. Optional: Save your keys to an encrypted USB drive (see Step 6).

2️⃣ Step Two: Run a Node (Optional)

Monero can connect to remote nodes or run a local node for full privacy.

🔗 Connecting to a Public Node:

• Faster, easier setup
• Some privacy trade-offs (your IP can be logged)

Example trusted node: node.moneroworld.com:18089

🏠 Running Your Own Node:

1. Use the GUI wallet or download monerod separately
2. Run: ./monerod --detach
3. This will sync the blockchain (~100GB+)

3️⃣ Step Three: Install XMRig

1. Visit XMRig GitHub
2. Download the latest release for your OS
3. Extract it to a secure folder

4️⃣ Step Four: Configure XMRig

You can edit config.json manually or use the XMRig Config Wizard.

🔧 Manual Edit:

• "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:3333" — your mining pool
• "user": "YOUR_MONERO_ADDRESS" — your XMR address
• "pass": "x" — leave default unless pool says otherwise
• "tls": true — enables encrypted connection (recommended)

Example config snippet:

{
  "autosave": true,
  "cpu": true,
  "pools": [
    {
      "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:443",
      "user": "48zX...yourMoneroAddress...",
      "pass": "x",
      "tls": true
    }
  ]
}

5️⃣ Step Five: Securely Store Your Wallet

To avoid theft or exposure:

1. Copy your .keys file and seed phrase to an encrypted USB
2. Use VeraCrypt or LUKS to encrypt the drive
3. Disconnect the USB and store it offline in a secure place

Here is a Tutorial on how to encrypt a storage device.

Never store your wallet keys on the same device you mine from!

6️⃣ Step Six: Start Mining

1. Open terminal and navigate to your XMRig folder
2. Run: ./xmrig
3. Watch logs to ensure you're connecting and submitting shares

7️⃣ Pool vs. Solo Mining

⛏️ Pool Mining:

• Steady, small payouts
• Beginner-friendly

🧍 Solo Mining:

• Needs your own full synced node
• Rare, large payouts (only if you solve a block)
• Use in config.json: "url": "127.0.0.1:18081"