Guide
How to mine Monero (XMR) on a Mac
Updated 24 July 2026 · live profitability below refreshes on load
Monero is the coin CPU mining is for. Its RandomX algorithm was purpose-designed to resist ASICs and favour general-purpose CPUs — which today makes Apple Silicon one of the most power-efficient ways to mine it. XMR is also the most established, most liquid coin a Mac can meaningfully mine: a genuine currency with deep exchange support, not a speculative micro-cap.
The traditional route is XMRig on the command line: editing JSON configs, picking pool ports, tuning thread counts. Pasiv runs the same class of engine under a one-button app — paste your address, press start, and shares flow to the pool, which pays you directly.
See what your chip's hashrate is worth.
Three steps
- Download Pasiv from pasiv.network (free; signed and notarized for macOS on Apple Silicon) and open it.
- Paste your XMR payout address. Standard addresses start with 4 (subaddresses with 8); Pasiv validates the format before you can start. No wallet yet? The app links you to reputable ones — Pasiv never asks for private keys or seed phrases.
- Press the pearl. Your Mac connects to the pool and starts submitting shares; the pool pays your address directly once you pass its payout minimum. Pasiv shows your live hashrate, and mining stops the moment you tell it to.
The facts
| Algorithm | RandomX — CPU-optimised proof of work; runs natively and efficiently on Apple Silicon |
| Hardware | Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or newer); Windows/Linux builds are on the way |
| Pool | MoneroOcean (gulf.moneroocean.stream) — established public pool, its own fee ~1% |
| Payout | Direct to your XMR address once the pool's minimum payout is reached. Pasiv is non-custodial and never touches your coins |
| Cost | Pasiv is free; a 4% time-sliced fee applies only while actively mining (how it works) |
Frequently asked questions
Is mining Monero legal?
In most jurisdictions, mining with your own hardware and paying for your own electricity is legal. A few countries restrict cryptocurrency generally — that's your responsibility to check locally. Pasiv only ever mines with your explicit consent, on hardware you control.
How long until I get paid?
The pool pays automatically once your accrued balance passes its minimum payout. On a single Mac that typically means days to weeks for the first payout, faster on bigger chips. You can watch your pending balance on the pool's website any time by looking up your address.
Do I need a Monero wallet first?
Yes — mining needs an address to pay. Reputable options include the official Monero GUI/CLI wallets, Feather Wallet, or Cake Wallet on mobile. Pasiv links you to good choices in-app and never asks for your keys, only the public address.
Can I mine Monero on an iPhone or iPad?
No. Apart from App Store rules, phone-class hardware produces a negligible hashrate. Mining is for Macs and PCs; Pasiv runs on Apple Silicon Macs today.
Non-custodial · no account · stop any time