Can individuals still mine Bitcoin in 2025? The complete guide that Taiwanese miners must read

Want to earn BTC with your computer? Don’t get your hopes up too early. Bitcoin mining has evolved from the early days of “easily finding a block” to today’s “money-burning war.” This article will give you an in-depth understanding of the truth about mining and the real challenges faced by miners in Taiwan.

What exactly is mining?

The essence of Bitcoin mining is simple: miners use mining machines to keep records for the Bitcoin network, and the system rewards them with BTC. In short, they are automated accountants. Mining machines are not mysterious; they are computers dedicated to calculating and verifying transactions.

Mining exists because Bitcoin uses a Proof of Work (PoW) mechanism. The entire process is like solving an extremely complex math problem: miners need to find a hash value that meets certain criteria. Once found, they can add the new block to the chain and receive a reward. It sounds simple, but it requires enormous computational power.

What happens if mining stops? The Bitcoin network would cease to operate. Therefore, although miners earn BTC, they are also the protectors of the Bitcoin ecosystem.

What can you earn from mining? Two main income sources

Miners’ income is divided into two parts:

Block rewards — Each time a block is successfully verified, the system automatically distributes BTC. Currently, it is 3.125 BTC per block (after the 2024 halving). Rewards are halved every four years.

Transaction fees — Users pay fees when transferring BTC, and this goes to miners. The amount depends on network congestion and how much users are willing to pay. During the 2023 inscription boom, fees accounted for over 50% of miners’ total income.

It sounds ideal in theory, but what about in practice?

From CPU to ASIC: the evolution of mining equipment

2009-2012 — Ordinary CPUs could mine. Even laptops could earn BTC, with difficulty so low it was hard to believe.

Early 2013 — GPU (graphics card) mining rose. More efficient, but also more costly.

Mid-2013 to present — ASIC miners dominate. These specialized hardware units have become cheaper, but the entry barrier for individuals has skyrocketed. Common models include Avalon, Antminer, etc.

Mining methods have also evolved: solo mining → pooled mining (mining pools) → cloud mining. Now, almost no one mines solo; joining a pool is almost mandatory.

The total network hashrate has exceeded 580 EH/s. What does this mean? With a regular mining machine, your chance of being “chosen” is nearly zero.

Will individuals still have a chance in 2025? The reality is harsh

Why was it called “free mining” in the early days? Because difficulty was low, rewards were high, and costs could be ignored. Satoshi Nakamoto mined大量BTC before the genesis block, for this reason.

Now? It’s basically impossible.

If you mine BTC with a computer alone, your probability of success approaches zero. Even if you join a mining pool and share rewards proportionally, your earnings might not even cover electricity costs. According to data, as of May 29, 2025, the average cost to mine one Bitcoin is about $108,256 (including hardware, electricity, cooling, maintenance, etc.).

In Taiwan, electricity costs are a critical factor. Taiwan’s electricity prices are relatively high globally, which is even more unfavorable for individual miners. Unless you have access to cheap power, it’s hard to break even.

But this doesn’t mean individuals can’t mine at all. It just means:

• You need to buy professional mining hardware (over $1,000–$2,000)
• Join a mining pool
• Have sufficient electricity budget
• Regularly upgrade hardware (mining hardware updates quickly, old machines have poor hashrate)

Small-scale miners are being phased out; large-scale mining farms controlled by big capital are the main players.

If you decide to mine, how should you start?

Step 1: Confirm policy compliance — Different regions have different attitudes toward mining. Taiwan has no explicit ban, but pay attention to electricity costs and neighbor relations (noise issues).

Step 2: Choose mining method — Buy your own mining machine & operate it yourself, have a third-party host your machine, or rent computing power directly.

Common mining machines (not an exhaustive list):

• Antminer S19 Pro — Powerful hashrate but expensive and high power consumption
• WhatsMiner M30S++ — Balanced performance, relatively low power consumption
• AvalonMiner 1246 — Good value, suitable for beginners
• Bitmain Antminer S9 — Low cost but outdated

Hashrate rental platforms (choose as needed):

• NiceHash — Suitable for small players, flexible
• Genesis Mining — Better for experienced users
• HashFlare — Beginner-friendly
• Bitdeer — Multiple cryptocurrencies options

Step 3: Start operation — Monitor earnings, perform regular maintenance, watch electricity costs.

Breakdown of mining costs: the real money burner list

To avoid being scammed, understand the cost structure:

Hardware costs — Purchase price of mining machines, one-time investment.

Electricity costs — The biggest ongoing expense. Mining 24/7 can cost thousands of dollars per month (especially in Taiwan where electricity is expensive).

Cooling systems — Mining machines generate heat; cooling (air conditioning, fans, liquid cooling) is often overlooked by newcomers.

Maintenance & operation — Network upkeep, regular checks, repairs.

Mining pool fees — Usually 0.5%-3% of mining rewards.

Simplified formula: Total cost = hardware cost + monthly electricity × operation months + other miscellaneous expenses

Is mining still worth it after the 2024 halving?

In April 2024, Bitcoin completed its fourth halving, reducing block rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. What does this mean for miners?

Rewards are halved, profit margins are severely squeezed. Unless BTC price rises accordingly, income will decline significantly. Many inefficient miners choose to shut down, causing a short-term drop in total network hashrate (commonly called a “capitulation wave”).

But then, what happens? Efficient miners fill the gap, rebalancing the industry. The final outcome is that only farms with cheap electricity, high-efficiency hardware, and large scale can survive.

How can small miners respond?

• Upgrade old mining machines to new models to reduce electricity costs
• Consider multi-cryptocurrency mining strategies or switch to trading markets
• Seek regions or energy sources with lower electricity costs

The future of mining industry will trend toward greater centralization, with large farms dominating through economies of scale. Small miners’ survival space continues to shrink.

Should you mine or trade?

If you still want to participate in the Bitcoin market after reading this, there’s an easier option: trade BTC contracts or spot on trading platforms.

Compared to mining:

• No hardware costs
• Flexible two-way trading (profit from both rising and falling prices)
• Enter the market instantly, no waiting for payback period
• Risks are manageable

Of course, this requires some trading knowledge and risk awareness.

Conclusion: Mining is no longer a game for ordinary people

The golden age of Bitcoin mining is over. The era when you could earn just by using a computer has been completely overturned by professionalization and industrialization.

For individuals wanting to mine in Taiwan, the reality is:

• High electricity costs
• Need to buy professional mining hardware
• Join a mining pool
• Long and uncertain investment return cycle

For most people, directly trading BTC on exchanges is more practical and flexible. If you’re still interested in mining, at least do your homework: evaluate electricity costs, research hardware efficiency, calculate payback periods, and understand local policies.

Otherwise, your mining journey might just turn into a “game of burning electricity.”