Bitcoin has officially crossed the $100,000 mark in 2025 — spurred by institutional demand, a post-halving supply crunch, and growing regulatory clarity. For many individuals, this bull run has reignited interest in mining Bitcoin at home. But how do you get started — and what’s realistic?

Here are four key options for home miners in 2025, from hobbyist setups to serious rigs:

Lottery Mining: Fun but High-Risk

For those with limited budgets or simply looking to experiment, lottery mining offers a fun (though unlikely) way to mine Bitcoin. Hobbyists often use compact, low-power devices like the Bitaxe HEX or GekkoScience R909, running at just a few terahashes per second.

While the odds of earning a full block reward are incredibly small, the occasional success story — like a solo miner in 2024 who earned over $200,000 — keeps the community engaged. This method is more about curiosity than profitability.

ASIC Solo Mining: Big Hardware, Big Gamble

Serious miners turn to ASICs — purpose-built Bitcoin mining rigs. The Antminer S21 Hydro, capable of 400 TH/s, exemplifies 2025’s top-tier machines.

Solo mining gives you full control and full rewards (currently over 3 BTC per block), but with steep costs and slim odds unless you scale up considerably — often requiring dozens of machines, robust cooling systems, and access to cheap power.

Also read: What Are Micropayments in Crypto? How Blockchain Is Enabling Tiny Transactions

Pool Mining: Consistent, Scalable Income

Joining a Bitcoin mining pool is the most practical and popular choice today. By contributing your ASIC’s hash power to large pools like Foundry USA or Antpool, you receive steady payouts proportional to your effort.

This setup reduces risk, stabilizes income, and works well even for small operators with just one or two ASICs running at home.

Cloud Mining: Convenience, but Buyer Beware

For those wanting zero setup, cloud mining services like NiceHash and BitDeer rent out mining power remotely. While convenient, high fees and questionable profitability make this option risky — best suited for speculative exposure rather than serious income.