Cloud mining offers a streamlined approach to cryptocurrency mining, allowing crypto enthusiasts to mine digital currencies without the need for personal hardware. Instead, you’ll be renting hashing power from a cloud mining provider. This is exactly why cloud mining sites have gained so much popularity.
Our guide will review the best cloud mining sites on the market today, examining their features and pros and cons. On top of that, we’ll discuss the legality of cloud mining websites, their fees, and expected yields.
15 Trusted Cloud Mining Sites
Listed below are the best cloud mining platforms, with a brief description of each:
- CoinMiningFarm: Green mining farm with over 21,000 users and multiple contract durations.
- CryptoTab: Innovative cloud mining platform with flexible mining options.
- MasHash: Offers various contract options with free computing power daily.
- Binance Cloud Mining: Popular cloud mining service on world’s largest exchange with daily rewards.
- ECOS: Established cloud mining provider supports Bitcoin cloud mining contracts from $99 for a duration of 60 months.
- Kryptex: User-friendly crypto mining platform for windows PCs.
- Hashing24: 10+ year old cloud mining provider with discounts available on larger contract purchases.
- Hashmart: Cyprus cloud mining operation with 12-month Bitcoin mining contracts starting from $52.40.
- HashShiny: Popular cloud mining platform with daily payouts.
- BeMine: AI-powered cloud mining platform with affordable cost.
- AST Mining: Leading cloud mining provider with a mobile app and a $30 trial fund for free mining.
- Bitcoin Minetrix: Best Bitcoin cloud mining platform where ERC20 tokens are staked in return for mining credits.
- StormGain: Trading and cloud mining tool platform. Automatically mine Bitcoin based on trading volume.
- Bitdeer: Established cloud mining operation that supports Bitcoin, Filecoin, ZCash, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and more.
- F2Hash: High-yield new cloud mining provider for large-scale investors that was launched in 2021.
Best Cloud Mining Sites Reviewed
Now let’s move on to our comprehensive reviews, where we cover supported networks, reputation, payout speeds, deposit methods, expected yields, customer support, and much more.
1. CoinMiningFarm – Green Energy Mining Farms With Minimum Contracts of Just 7 Days
If you’re looking for the best cloud mining sites for green energy, CoinMiningFarm could be worth considering. It claims that 90% of its mining energy supplies come from natural sources, This is fueled by geothermal energy, wind turbines, and hydroelectric dams.
Although CoinMiningFarm only offers Bitcoin mining agreements, it has plenty of contract durations to choose from. If you’re just getting started, you might consider the 7-day plan. This requires a minimum purchase amount of $500. There’s also a $50 plan, but this requires a 365-day contract.
Then there’s the diamond plan, which is popular with experienced investors. This is a 365-day plan offering daily rewards of 1.10%. The minimum and maximum purchase on this plan is $1,200 and $5,499, respectively. CoinMiningFarm only accepts payments in Bitcoin.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $50 | 7 days | Daily |
Pros
Cons
2. CryptoTab – Innovative Cloud Mining Platform with Flexible Mining Options
CryptoTab is an innovative cloud mining platform that allows users to earn Bitcoin by using the idle computing power of their devices or by investing in ‘Pool Miners’ without needing physical hardware.
One of the main features of CryptoTab Farm is its flexibility. Users can connect their Windows or macOS devices to the mining network and manage them remotely through the mobile app or web version. The platform offers a dashboard for tracking performance, adjusting settings, and monitoring real-time statistics.
Using the ‘Pool Miners’ option– you can start mining without having your own computer. You can choose from various miner configurations to suit your needs and goals.
The platform also offers a mining schedule planner that allows users to set work and free hours for individual devices or groups. Users can also adjust mining speed and receive notifications about their farm’s status.
CryptoTab also offers detailed and up-to-date statistics while allowing users to withdraw their earnings without limits or commissions.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | Varies | No specific duration | – |
Pros
Cons
3. MasHash: Offers Various Contract Options with Free Computing Power Daily
If you’re looking for a cloud mining platform with flexible contract options and daily benefits, MasHash could be ideal for you. It’s a popular provider established in 2019 that focuses on making cloud mining accessible to all users.
The platform offers a range of contracts, from a free 1-day trial to longer-term options of up to 12 days. The minimum investment starts at just $50 for the trial, with higher-tier contracts available up to $60,000.
MasHash offers new users a $50 registration bonus and free computing power daily to help them get started. In terms of returns, the platform provides daily rebates ranging from 2% to 3.3% of the contract price, depending on the plan chosen. It’s worth noting that profits are settled every 24 hours, and all contracts include principal refunds.
The setup process is quite simple, and mining starts immediately after placing an order. MasHash uses the latest ASIC miners and GPU rigs for efficient mining operations. Most funds are stored in offline cold wallets. You can withdraw funds or reinvest them in other contracts. MasHash supports various mining cryptos, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, others | $50 (Free Trial) | 1 Day | Daily |
Pros
Cons
4. Binance Cloud Mining – Bitcoin Mining Contract Durations of 90 Days and Daily Payouts
Buyers looking for a reliable cloud mining site for a short-term agreement could consider Binance. Each contract lasts 90 days, and the minimum purchase amount is 1 TH. In terms of fees, Binance charges $1.80 for hash rates and $3.96 for every 1 TH purchased. Binance provides an estimated output of 0.00000218 BTC per 1 TH.
However, this will vary depending on the Bitcoin mining difficulty during the contract agreement. Although the setup process is simple, each contract comes with limited availability. You’ll need to have a Binance account to get started, which takes less than a minute to open.
You can withdraw the funds instantly or reinvest them into other yield products. This includes staking, dual investments, and yield farming. To deposit funds into Binance, you can use a debit/credit card or cryptocurrencies. Binance also supports peer-to-peer deposits with local payment methods.
In terms of safety, you’ll be cloud-mining cryptocurrencies with the world’s largest exchange. Therefore, you can be sure that you’re using a legitimate provider. The main drawback of Binance is that cloud mining minimums and estimated outputs are displayed in Bitcoin. This makes it difficult to know exactly how much you’ll be required to invest and what you can expect to make.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | 1 TH | 90 days | Daily |
Pros
Cons
5. ECOS – Best Cloud Mining Website with Large Farming Capacity
Launched in 2017, ECOS has a comprehensive mining farm based in Armenia. With a farming capacity of 60 MBt, it has successfully mined over 6,000 Bitcoins. ECOS is now used by over 500,00 clients globally.
Its cloud mining service supports Bitcoin, and there is a minimum contract amount of $99. Currently, all cloud mining contracts have a 60-month duration. This is done to mitigate the market volatility risks. Therefore, ECOS is the best cloud mining site if you’re happy to invest long-term.
ECOS charges different service fees depending on which ASIC you select to mine your BTC. Although ECOS doesn’t provide exact estimated yields (as it depends on the number of factors), it does offer a handy cloud mining calculator. This allows you to assess your potential return on investment based on what you think Bitcoin will be worth when the contract expires.
It has a native Bitcoin cloud mining app for Android, iOS, and Mi, allowing you to keep tabs on your cloud mining rewards. We like that ECOS also offers demo accounts.
To get started with ECOS, it takes seconds to register, and there is no KYC. Accepted payment methods include debit/credit cards, bank wires, and selected cryptocurrencies. If you need assistance, ECOS offers live chat support 24/7.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $99 | 60 months | Daily |
Pros
Cons
6. Kryptex: User-friendly Crypto Mining Platform for Windows PCs
Another popular cloud mining platform is Kryptex, which runs on Windows OS. Users can use their PC’s idle processing power to earn Bitcoin or real money. The app aims to simplify mining crypto for beginners and those with limited technical knowledge.
Users can download the app, make an account, and begin mining within minutes. The platform has two modes: “lite” for when you’re using your computer and “full” when the system is not being used. This allows users to mine without affecting how they use their computers.
Kryptex has a mining calculator that users can use to get an idea of how much they could earn based on how fast their computer is and how much power it costs where they live. The earnings range from about $95 monthly for a game PC to over $13,000 for a mining farm with many high-end GPUs.
The project offers various payout options, such as with Bitcoin, Ethereum, bank cards (Visa and Mastercard), and even Amazon gift cards. The minimum withdrawal amount is just $0.5, making it accessible for small-scale miners.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin, Ethereum | Varies | – | Varies |
Pros
Cons
7. Hashing24 – 12-Month Bitcoin Contacts From 1 TH and Active Farms in 4 Countries
Hashing24 is another established cloud mining website, with the provider operational for over a decade. It has active mining farms in four different countries – Canada, Georgia, Norway, and Iceland. Hashing24 specializes in Bitcoin mining, and it offers three contract durations. Your options include 12, 18, and 24 months.
We like that Hashing24 is user-friendly and that all contract terms are displayed in US dollars or euros. This makes it easier to assess your potential return on investment. The minimum contract value is just 1 TH, which is currently priced at $50.30 for 12 months. Fees are built into the contract value.
There are discounts available when you purchase larger contract amounts. For example, you’ll get a 5% discount on a 100 TH contract. Hashing24 also offers estimated returns based on the contract you select. For instance, if you purchase 5 TH on a 24-month contract at $497.97 – the estimated profit is $223.37.
All mining contract purchases come with daily payouts, which you can withdraw straight away. You can pay for your chosen contract with Visa, MasterCard, or Maestro. Cryptocurrencies are also supported. Hashing24 also offers a free demo account, enabling you to test its features before making a financial commitment. If that’s not enough, customer support is offered 24/7 via live chat.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $50.30 | 12 months | Daily |
Pros
Cons
8. Hashmart – Established Cloud Mining Operation Supporting Multiple Coins
Launched in 2018, Hashmart is a cloud mining operation registered in Cyprus. This established provider specializes in Bitcoin mining. Currently, it’s offering 12-month contracts and the minimum purchase is 500 Gh/s. This is priced at just $52.40, so casual investors are catered for. Moreover, this price includes maintenance fees, so you know exactly how much you’re paying.
Hashmart also offers open-ended cloud Bitcoin mining contracts. This offers flexible terms, as you can start and stop whenever you see fit. This costs $80.40 for every 500 Gh/s purchased, which is a lot more expensive than the 12-month contract price. Plus, you’ll pay $0.18 per TH in maintenance fees each day.
That said, open-ended contracts are clearly popular, as they’re currently sold out. Hashmart accepts payment in Visa, MasterCard, and cryptocurrencies. All mining contracts offer daily payouts.
On top of that, Hashmart offers the best cloud-mining app for Android users. An iOS app is currently in the works and is expected to be released in the near future.
Another benefit is that Hashmart offers 24/7 customer support. This is offered via live chat and email. However, a drawback that should be considered is the location of Hashmart’s mining farms. It claims to have operations in the ‘Asian region’ but doesn’t state the specific country. The reasons for this opaqueness are unknown.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $52.40 | 12 months. Also offers open-ended contracts but these are currently sold out | Daily |
Pros
Cons
9. HashShiny – Popular Cloud Mining Platform with Daily Payouts
HashShiny is a popular cloud mining service that started in 2017 and supports Bitcoin, Ethereum Classic, Zcash, Dash, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, among others. The site’s unique feature is that users can pick their own mining pools and manage their own mining operations.
HashShiny mines efficiently with the newest ASIC miners and GPUs. For a 2-year Bitcoin mining contract, the least you can spend is $0.55 per 10 GH/s. Please note that rates and minimum hash rates for other coins are different. Mining begins immediately after payment, with the first payout occurring within 24 hours and continuing daily.
The platform lets users monitor their mining progress with real-time data analytics and a live hashrate graph. HashShiny also offers a mining calculator to help users estimate potential profits based on current crypto values and mining hashrates.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
BTC, ETC, ZEC, DASH, LTC, DOGE | $0.55 per 10 GH/s (BTC) | 2 years | Daily |
Pros
Cons
10. BeMine – AI-powered Cloud Mining Platform With Affordable Cost
BeMine is another cloud mining platform that allows users to earn crypto without mining hardware. The platform provides various options for users to get involved in mining– including purchasing contracts for ASIC miners, investing in mining packages, and even a unique feature called “Pool Miners” that allows users to mine without owning a computer.
One of the key features of BeMine is its AI mining technology which aims to maximize profitability by optimizing mining parameters and adapting to market fluctuations. This technology is available for altcoin ASICs mining packages and will soon be available for Bitcoin ASICs as well.
The platform also provides mining packages with varying durations and hashrates– catering to users with different levels of investment.
The user interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly with features like a personal area for tracking mining activities and a profitability calculator.
BeMine also has a referral program that rewards users for inviting friends to the platform. The company has a large user base and a significant hashrate of sales.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin, Altcoins (varies by package) | Varies | Varies | – |
Pros
Cons
11. AST Mining – Mine Bitcoin and Track Your Earnings in Real-Time
Founded in 2016, AST Mining is a global provider of Bitcoin cloud mining. It services over 150 countries and offers more than 10 payment methods. Clients can choose from 9 different mining plans, ranging from 1 to 20-day contracts. Interests are settled daily, and each plan includes capital back payouts.
AST Mining combines all the best features of an effective mining platform all under one roof. With an intuitive and user-friendly dashboard, AST Mining automatically displays daily mining results per user. Everything is kept private and secure as the provider only collects the necessary information for interested investors to get started.
Users can avail of AST Mining’s $30 trial fund once daily. The bonus fund can be used to buy free computing power mining, but the trial fund cannot be withdrawn. However, profits can be accumulated until the minimum withdrawal limit of $200 is reached.
BTC Hashrate Mining Ultra is AST Mining’s largest mining contract, costing $68,000 and lasting 20 days. The plan advertises a daily return of $1,904, which is paid out daily.
The cloud mining provider also offers a mobile app for Android and iOS. The AST Mining app allows users to access real-time data on their mining portfolios and start new cloud mining plans.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $30 free trial, $200 minimum | 1 day | Every 24 hours |
Pros
Cons
12. Bitcoin Minetrix – Top Bitcoin Cloud Mining Site With $13 Million Raised in Presale
Bitcoin Minetrix ($BTCMTX) is a presale targeting the Bitcoin cloud mining industry. The hard cap is $32 million, and the current price is $0.0137, with a minimum of $10. The price will increase with each presale stage.
Bitcoin Minetrix offers a fast, easy, and convenient way to mine Bitcoin without needing to purchase expensive software or learn about complex mining mechanics. It puts all the power back in the hands of users.
Instead of needing expensive ASIC software, which is harmful to the environment, users can simply use Bitcoin Minetrix to harvest rewards from the world’s largest cryptocurrency in a decentralized manner. The process is also quite simple, so anybody can do it – just stake $BTCMTX tokens to earn cloud mining credits, and you can use these to mine bitcoin (BTC).
Bitcoin Minetrix will also be available as a mobile application, meaning people can earn on the fly. What’s great about Bitcoin Minetrix is that it offers a neat dashboard to calculate daily, weekly, and monthly rewards, with other metrics such as ‘mining power bought’ and ‘mining power earned’. This makes it easier to gauge the overall economics of what you are engaged in.
For more information, consult the Twitter and Telegram accounts. USDT, BNB, and ETH are acceptable means of payment for this Bitcoin cloud mining presale.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Ethereum | $10 | None | Daily |
Pros
Cons
13. StormGain – Popular Cryptocurrency Trading Platform With an In-Built Cloud Mining Tool
StormGain does things differently from the other cloud mining providers discussed so far. Primarily, StormGain is a cryptocurrency trading platform that supports leveraged products. It also supports high-level trading features, such as technical indicators and drawing tools. That said, StormGain has also developed an in-house cloud mining tool.
There’s no need to invest any capital, as you’ll automatically mine Bitcoin as a registered user. The amount of Bitcoin you can mine depends on your account tier. For example, standard accounts will earn just $0.25 per day in mining rewards.
After reaching a minimum trading volume of $150,000, you’ll increase this to $0.50 per day. The highest tier, VIP3, yields over $235 in daily mining rewards. However, this requires over $75 million in trading volumes. Moreover, when you cash out your Bitcoin mining rewards, the funds are paid as trading credits. This means you can’t withdraw the rewards directly.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | No purchase required | N/A | Credited after the first $10 is earned |
Pros
Cons
14. Bitdeer – Established Cloud Mining Operation Supporting Multiple Coins
Bitdeer is a cloud mining platform suitable for asset diversity. In addition to Bitcoin, it supports a wide range of other mining coins. This includes some of the best altcoins, such as Filecoin, Zcash, Dash, and Ethereum Classic. It’s also possible to purchase joint mining contracts for Litecoin and Dogecoin. This allows you to mine both cryptocurrencies simultaneously.
That said, some mining contracts are often sold out, as availability is limited. For instance, Bitdeer is currently only offering contracts on Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Filecoin. Availability changes daily, so you’ll need to regularly check the Bitdeer website. Nonetheless, Bitdeer offers Bitcoin mining contract durations from just 30 days.
However, some mining contracts have a much higher minimum. For example, some Filecoin contracts require at least 540 days. That said, a big positive is that selected mining plans allow you to get started with less than $2.
On top of that, Bitdeer clearly displays what fees you’ll pay after setting up a contract. It also offers estimated revenue rates for each mining agreement. For example, The Antminer S19Pro Plan is estimated to yield 69.94% over the contract duration. Bitdeer distributes mining payments daily as long as the minimum rewards have been covered. The minimum varies depending on the contract.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Filecoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Dash, Ethereum Classic | $1.63 | 30 days | Daily |
Pros
Cons
15. F2Hash – New Bitcoin Mining Provider Aimed at Large-Scale Investors
F2Hash is one of the top cloud mining sites for large-scale investors. It offers many different plans that come with some of the highest yields available. For example, the Enterprise Flash Plan gives you access to Antminer Pro+ and S19 Racks. Costing $15,000 for a 300-day contract, this yields an estimated daily return of $450.
Another popular option is the Pro Flash Plan, costing $9,400. This yields an estimated return of $215 per day or $6,450 over the 30-day duration. If you’re looking to invest small amounts, F2Hash is also suitable. Its Explorer plan, which offers access to Canaan AvalonMiner 1166 hardware, costs $200 for a 12-month contract. This yields $2.80 in daily rewards or $1,022 over the contract duration.
There’s also an entry-level plan for just $5. All that being said, F2Hash was only launched in 2021, and it has a limited track record in this space. Moreover, some of its estimated yields are on the high side. Nonetheless, F2Hash is registered in Cyprus, and its mining farms are based in Brazil.
Supported Coins | Minimum Contract Purchase | Minimum Contract Duration | Payout Frequency |
Bitcoin | $5 | 30 days | Daily |
Pros
Cons
What is Cloud Mining?
Cloud mining is a passive earning tool that allows you to mine cryptocurrencies remotely. This will appeal to those who want to benefit from crypto mining without spending a significant sum on hardware. This is especially the case when mining Bitcoin, which now requires ultra-specialist hardware rigs.
Even if you do have the resources, you’ll also need to consider the energy consumption demands that mining requires. According to the Harvard Business Review, Bitcoin mining consumes 110 Terawatt Hours annually. This translates to the same energy demands as the entire population of Malaysia – a country with over 33 million inhabitants.
How Does Bitcoin Cloud Mining Work?
If you’re still not sure how cloud mining works, we’ll now break the process down.
Select a cloud mining provider
Cloud mining services are offered by fully-fledged providers. In other words, you’ll be using a company that has a full mining farm in place. Depending on the provider, this could be a multi-million dollar operation. Most importantly, you’ll need to ensure that it has the technical capabilities to generate sufficient rewards for your investment outlay.
Pick a hashing power contract
Once you’ve selected a cloud mining provider, you’ll be presented with a range of investment options. This will vary depending on the type of cryptocurrency you want to mine and how long you want the agreement to last. In most cases, you’ll be purchasing a specific amount of hashing power on a contract basis.
What is Hashing Power?
Hashing power measures the capabilities of a mining device. The more hashing power the device can produce, the more powerful its capabilities when solving mining puzzles.
For example, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency – Bitcoin, requires a significant amount of hashing power to succeed in mining. Not only because of its proof-of-work mechanism but competition is extremely fierce.
You’ll receive all mining rewards in crypto
This can mean one of two things. If the value of the cryptocurrency you’re mining increases, this will amplify your profits, while if it decreases, this will eat away your profits.
What Should I Do With My Cloud Mining Rewards?
Some mining investors will immediately sell their earnings for fiat money. Others, however, might hold their cryptocurrencies until market prices are more favorable.
However, you’ll also need to consider the tax implications. According to the IRS, any cryptocurrency sales are treated as an asset disposal.
Check the Cloud Mining Fees
First, you’ll pay an upfront cost to purchase the hashing power contract. This is usually a non-refundable purchase, meaning you won’t get the money back at the end of the contract term. As such, you’re taking a risk that you’ll be generating more cloud mining rewards than the contract purchase.
Second, there are usually maintenance fees to cover. This covers the core mining operation – such as hardware repairs, energy, and other daily expenses. This is usually deducted from the mining rewards that you are paid.
Third, some cloud mining websites also take a percentage of the rewards they generate. For instance, suppose you earn the equivalent of $100 in month one. If the mining provider takes a 10% cut, this will leave you with $90.
Cloud Mining vs Traditional Mining – Key Differences
The fundamentals of cloud mining and traditional mining are the same. The objective is to solve complex cryptographic equations to earn blockchain mining rewards. However, there are some key differences between the two:
Traditional mining – allows you to keep 100% of your mining rewards without going through a third party. Instead, you’ll be connecting a specialist hardware device to your own local network. However, it comes with significant cost implications. For instance, if you’re looking to make a profit by mining Bitcoin, you’ll need a significant capital outlay to buy specialized hardware devices. These are usually not just one, but enough to generate sufficient levels of hashing power.
Beyond the initial setup costs, energy consumption is a major consideration, as mining operations need to run 24/7 for maximum efficiency. According to NY Times, a Bitcoin mining operation in Austin uses the same energy output as 6,500 homes.
Cloud mining – eliminated the worry about energy costs, as this is taken care of by the provider and deducted from your return on investment. You also won’t need to invest significant sums in buying an entire mining rig. Instead, you’ll simply need to cover the cost of the hashing power contract.
As long as you cover the original investment before the end of the contract, anything above this, after fees and taxes, can be viewed as profit.
Benefits of Cloud Mining Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies
We’ll now explore why cloud mining remains popular with cryptocurrency investors.
Passive Income
The primary objective of cloud mining is to earn passive income. As soon as you purchase your chosen mining contract – you can sit back and allow your money to work for you. There is no input required from you at all.
No Knowledge or Expertise Required
Make no mistake about it – cloud mining is a highly advanced technical field. If you decide to solo mine cryptocurrencies, you’ll need a solid understanding of hashing power, Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) devices, and other technical aspects.
This is why cloud mining is the best option for most people. While it’s wise to have a firm grasp of the basics, you won’t need any technical know-how. All you need to do is choose the best cloud mining site, make a deposit, and pay for your contract. Anything that goes wrong behind the scenes will be taken care of.
Super-Low Upfront Costs
Cloud mining websites allow you to mine cryptocurrencies with very little upfront costs. As noted, you won’t need to buy any hardware devices yourself. In fact, you won’t need to make any purchases other than the mining contract.
This makes cloud mining affordable for most budgets. However, do note that some cloud mining websites have high minimum purchases – so you’ll need to factor this in when choosing a provider.
Risk is Limited to Your Contract Value
In addition to low upfront costs, cloud mining also enables you to limit your risk exposure. Put simply, the only capital you are risking is what you pay to purchase the mining contract. For example, suppose you invest $1,000 into a 12-month contract. If you get back less than $1,000 – you’ve made a loss. However, your losses can never exceed the initial outlay.
Potential Downsides of Crypto Cloud Mining
While cloud mining offers many benefits, you’ll also need to consider the following risks.
Some Cloud Mining Websites are Scams
The first risk to consider is that some cloud mining websites have proven to be scams. One of the most infamous cloud mining scams was Hashflare. According to the FBI, the founders of Hashflare raised $31 million in ICO funding, only to use the majority of the capital for personal gain. However, the plot thickens as the US Justice Department alleges that Hashflare was also behind a $575 million fraud and money laundering scheme.
As such, you’ll need to tread very carefully when choosing a cloud mining provider. After all, you’ll be required to purchase a cloud mining contract upfront. This means you’ll need to trust that the provider pays you what it owes.
You Might Not Generate Enough Mining Rewards to Yield a Profit
There is no guarantee that you will make money when cloud mining cryptocurrencies. There are various factors that can determine whether you generate a profit on your investment. First, mining is a competitive arena. In addition, you also need to consider the volatility of cryptocurrencies when cloud mining.
Crypto Mining is Taxed as Income
In most jurisdictions, crypto mining is viewed as income by tax authorities. In the US, for example, the IRS states that mining, staking, and similar activities should be reported in federal income returns.
So what does this mean for you? Put simply, any cloud mining rewards that you receive must be reported as income.
The reporting process can be tricky, since you need to assess the value of the rewards on the day they were received. Considering that crypto prices change as each second passes, you’ll need to ensure you keep adequate records. Many cloud mining companies payout rewards daily, which makes things even more complex.
Is Cloud Mining Crypto Profitable?
Like many crypto income streams, cloud mining can be profitable and is a better alternative to traditional mining. Whether or not you’re able to make money will depend largely on your chosen provider. Just remember – cryptocurrency mining (and Bitcoin in particular) is very competitive.
To stand a chance of success, the cloud mining provider must have a sufficient set-up in place, as well as consider some external factors such as market prices and taxes.
Is Bitcoin Cloud Mining Legal?
In the vast majority of countries, Bitcoin cloud mining is completely legal.
However, the Chinese government outlawed Bitcoin mining in 2021 – so it’s no longer legal in the domestic market. According to CNBC, China once accounted for 65-75% of the global Bitcoin mining hashing power. That said, Bloomberg reports that Bitcoin mining is still prevalent in China, albeit covertly.
Just remember, you’ll likely need to report your cloud mining activities when filing your annual tax returns. As noted, mining rewards are viewed as income for tax purposes. What’s more, you’ll need to factor in any capital gains after selling your mining rewards.
Our Methodology When Ranking the Best Cloud Mining Sites
It’s always wise to question how the best cloud mining platforms are ranked in guides like ours. We have a transparency methodology that enables us to rate providers based on the most important metrics.
This includes:
- Safety and Reputation: We research the safety and reputation of a cloud mining provider extensively. For instance, how long the provider has been operating, where its mining rigs are located, and whether it’s a registered company. We also assess reviews from the public domain. We look at how current and past customers view the cloud mining provider and whether overall sentiment is positive, natural, or negative.
- Supported Mining Coins: Our methodology also explores what mining coins the cloud provider supports. While most support automatic Bitcoin cloud mining, you might also be interested in other cryptocurrencies.
- Set-up Costs and Other Fees: You’ll need to pay upfront fees when cloud mining cryptocurrencies. This includes paying for a mining contract in full. Minimum purchase amounts vary depending on the cloud mining provider, so we assess this during the research process. We also explore what ongoing fees apply, such as maintenance and profit-sharing commissions.
- Estimated Yields: Our research found that cloud mining websites rarely offer estimated yields. This is because it’s challenging to assess how much can be made when mining cryptocurrencies, as there are many variables at play. For instance, the mining difficulty rate, market conditions, and broader competition.
- Payout Frequency and Minimum Withdrawals: When researching the top cloud mining sites, we also assessed payout frequencies. Some payout mining rewards daily while others are less frequent. We also explored whether there is a minimum withdrawal amount – as some providers have unfavorable requirements.
Ultimately, while our cloud mining website reviews are impartial and transparent, you are advised to do your own research. This will ensure you’re able to make an informed decision before proceeding.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our guide was designed to provide a detailed overview of the best cloud mining sites, together with the pros and cons of cloud mining, and its legality. We trust that it will make the process of picking the right cloud mining platform easier for you.
Our research shows that CoinMiningFarm is the best way to cloud mine Bitcoin. It is the most simple and accessible, with affordable fees. There is no real learning curve – it’s simply stake and burn for BTC mining rewards.
FAQs
Does cloud mining really work?
How much can you earn from cloud mining?
Can I cloud mine Bitcoin for free?
Which cloud mining sites are legit?
References
- Frequently Asked Questions on Virtual Currency Transactions (IRS.gov)
- The Real-World Costs of the Digital Race for Bitcoin (nytimes.com)
- Seeking Victims in the HashFlare Investigation (FBI.gov)
- Two Estonian Citizens Arrested in $575 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme (justice.gov)
- Crypto Mining Taxes: Beginner’s Guide 2024 (coinledger.io)
- IRS: Updates to question on digital assets; taxpayers should continue to report all digital asset income (irs.gov)
- After a tough year for crypto, here’s how to handle losses on your tax return (cnbc.com)
- Bitcoin production roars back in China despite Beijing’s ban on crypto mining (cnbc.com)
- China Makes a Comeback in Bitcoin Mining Despite Government Ban (bloomberg.com)
Kane Pepi
EditorKane Pepi is an accomplished financial and cryptocurrency writer who has an extensive portfolio of over 2,000 articles, guides, and market insights. With his expertise in specialized subjects such as asset valuation and analysis, portfolio management, and financial crime prevention, Kane has built a reputation for providing clear explanations of complex financial topics. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and a Master's Degree in Financial Crime, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree, which focuses on investigating the complexities of money laundering in the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology sectors. Kane's wealth of knowledge and experience in the field make…