Bitcoin Mining: How much can you earn per day?

Many people wonder whether Bitcoin mining will still be profitable in 2026 and, most importantly: how much can you earn daily? The answer depends on several factors. Bitcoin mining is no longer the simple home project from the early days – it has long become an industrial enterprise. However, for those who understand what matters, a regular income can certainly be generated. In this guide, you will learn how Bitcoin mining per day actually works and whether it can be profitable for you.

Basics: How Bitcoin Mining Really Works

Bitcoin mining is the backbone of the Bitcoin blockchain. Miners validate transactions, secure the network, and bring new BTC into circulation. The process is based on a system called Proof-of-Work (PoW), which forces miners to provide computational power to participate in the blockchain.

It works like a global guessing game: miners compete to find the correct cryptographic hash—a 64-character string that meets specific conditions. The first hardware to find a valid hash can add a new block to the blockchain and receives a reward in Bitcoin plus transaction fees.

Currently, the block reward is 3.125 BTC per successfully mined block. This amount was last set during the Bitcoin halving in 2024 and is halved every four years. This mechanism ensures that a maximum of 21 million Bitcoins can exist—of which about 19.83 million are already in circulation.

Mining is not random. Each attempt requires a nonce (Number used once), a random number that miners change trillions of times per second. They start at nonce = 0 and increase the value with each attempt until the resulting hash is below the target value. Given today’s difficulty, this requires enormous computational capacity.

How Much Bitcoin Mining Actually Brings in Per Day

The central question for any potential miner is: How much can I earn daily? The honest answer: It depends heavily on your hardware efficiency, your electricity costs, and the current Bitcoin price.

In January 2026, industrial mining of a single Bitcoin cost an average of about $27,000, mainly due to electricity expenses. With a BTC price of $68,590 (current February 2026), this means a profit margin of approximately $41,590 per Bitcoin—sounds tempting, but reality is more complicated.

Here’s a practical example: A miner with an Antminer S21 Pro (234 TH/s hash rate) in a region with low electricity costs ($0.05 per kilowatt-hour) can generate about 0.0008 BTC per day at current difficulty levels. At $68,590 per BTC, that’s roughly $54.87 daily—after electricity costs, leaving a net profit of about $30-40 per day.

A miner with less efficient hardware or higher electricity costs might only earn $5-15 net daily. This explains why large mining operations prefer locations with cheap hydroelectric power—in Iceland, Kazakhstan, or certain US states.

The average global hash rate is currently several hundred exahashes per second (EH/s). The higher the overall network capacity, the more difficult mining becomes for individuals, and the lower the daily yield per device.

The Best Hardware for Profitable Bitcoin Mining

To mine profitably in 2026, you need specialized ASIC miners (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits). Regular computers or gaming GPUs are long no longer profitable.

Top models on the current market include:

• Antminer S21 Pro: 234 TH/s at 3,510W – a good price-performance ratio for smaller operations
• WhatsMiner M66S: 298 TH/s at 5,513W – one of the most efficient options, but requires robust power supply
• Avalon A1566: 150 TH/s at 3,225W – suitable for beginner-friendly mining

The key is energy efficiency (measured in Joules per Terahash, J/TH). A miner with a lower J/TH value earns more daily because less power is needed per hash.

A practical rule of thumb: If your local electricity costs are below $0.06 per kilowatt-hour, mining with modern hardware is worthwhile. Above that, it quickly becomes unprofitable.

Practical Entry into Bitcoin Mining

Step 1: Choose the right mining strategy

You have three options:

• Solo Mining: You keep 100% of the profits, but with today’s network difficulty, you need immense computational power to find blocks regularly.
• Pool Mining: You join forces with other miners (e.g., Foundry USA, Antpool, F2Pool), earning smaller but more regular amounts. This is the recommended method for small operations.
• Cloud Mining: You rent mining capacity, but beware—many providers are scams or offer only minimal returns.

Step 2: Acquire and set up hardware

Buy a current ASIC miner. Also plan for cooling, power supply, and adequate ventilation. Mining hardware generates extreme heat; without cooling systems, lifespan drops drastically.

Step 3: Set up a secure Bitcoin wallet

You need a wallet to receive your daily earnings. Options include hardware wallets (secure but expensive), software wallets, or exchange wallets. Keep your private keys safe—losing them means permanent loss of funds.

Step 4: Install mining software

Popular options:

• CGMiner (open-source, command-line based)
• BFGMiner (similar to CGMiner, more customization)
• NiceHash (user-friendly for beginners)
• Braiiins OS+ (optimized for energy efficiency)

Step 5: Join a mining pool

If not mining solo, choose an established pool:

• Foundry USA (based in the USA, transparent)
• Antpool (run by Bitmain, global reach)
• F2Pool (long-standing, reliable)

Pools typically charge 1-2% fees but offer daily or weekly payouts.

Step 6: Start mining and monitor

Once everything is running, continuously monitor:

• Your daily hash rate
• Power consumption and electricity bills
• Pool dashboard for current earnings
• Hardware temperature

Stable operation at optimal temperatures maximizes hardware lifespan and daily profitability.

Hidden Costs of Bitcoin Mining

Before enthusiastically starting, you should understand the challenges:

High electricity costs: This is the biggest expense. At $0.10 per kilowatt-hour, a miner with 3,500W consumes about $840 monthly in electricity—your daily profits must exceed this.

Constant hardware upgrades: New, more efficient models appear regularly. To stay competitive, you need to invest.

Bitcoin price volatility: Miners are paid in BTC. If BTC drops, your USD earnings fall. A price crash below $27,000 (current production cost) makes mining unprofitable.

Increasing mining difficulty: The network difficulty adjusts every two weeks. More competition means fewer rewards per miner.

Regulation: Some countries (China, Nepal, Algeria, Morocco) ban mining. Others require permits or taxes. Check local laws.

Physical maintenance and overheating: Cooling is essential. Without it, hardware overheats, leading to downtime and costly repairs.

Mining pool risks: Pools charge fees and can be centralized. A single pool controlling too much network hash rate threatens Bitcoin decentralization.

Cybersecurity and scams: Mining facilities are targets for cyberattacks. Trustworthy suppliers and secure networks are a must.

Profitability Calculator: Calculate Your Daily Earnings

Various online tools help you make realistic estimates:

• NiceHash Mining Calculator
• CryptoCompare Profitability Calculator
• WhatToMine Calculator

These consider:

1. Your hardware (hashrate and power consumption)
2. Local electricity costs
3. Current mining difficulty
4. BTC price (currently $68,590)
5. Pool fees

Example: An Antminer S21 Pro in a region with $0.05/kWh generates about $30-50 net daily after electricity costs under current conditions—assuming BTC price remains stable.

Check Legal Framework

Bitcoin mining is legal in many countries, but:

Legal in: USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and many others Banned in: China, Nepal, Algeria, Morocco

Check local regulations. You may need to:

• Pay taxes on mining income
• Report electricity usage
• Obtain permits

Non-compliance can lead to penalties.

The Bottom Line: Is Bitcoin Mining Worth It Daily in 2026?

Yes—but with limitations. Bitcoin mining per day can earn between $5 and $100+ depending on hardware, electricity costs, and BTC price.

Key to success:

1. Location: Cheap electricity is everything. Iceland, Kazakhstan, and certain US states are ideal.
2. Efficiency: Invest in the latest ASIC hardware with low J/TH.
3. Pools: Join established pools for consistent daily payouts.
4. Planning: Realistically calculate your break-even time and profit threshold.

For industrial operations, Bitcoin mining remains highly profitable. Hobby miners with average electricity costs might see a net daily income in the double digits—still interesting for passive income but not as a full-time livelihood.

The landscape in February 2026 is more complex than in the early days of Bitcoin, but earning daily Bitcoin mining income is definitely possible if you plan wisely and understand the risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to mine 1 Bitcoin daily?
A: Impossible with current hardware. A single ASIC miner generates about 0.0008 BTC daily under optimal conditions—that’s several years to accumulate 1 BTC.

Q: Can I run Bitcoin mining profitably at home?
A: Only if you have very cheap electricity (below $0.05/kWh) and modern hardware. Otherwise, electricity costs quickly surpass your earnings.

Q: Is Bitcoin mining still profitable at $68,590 per BTC?
A: Yes, since production costs are around $27,000. The profit margin is healthy as long as your electricity costs are low.

Q: Should I join a mining pool or mine solo?
A: For small operations: definitely pool mining. You get regular, predictable daily income instead of hoping for rare block finds.

Q: How do increasing mining difficulties affect my daily profits?
A: Very much. If network difficulty doubles, your rewards halve—unless you double your hash rate.