xmrig

TLDR

Mine to a pool with wallet address

$ xmrig -o [pool.example.com:3333] -u [wallet_address]

Mine using config file

$ xmrig --config [config.json]

Run benchmark

$ xmrig --bench [1M]

Mine with specific CPU threads

$ xmrig -o [pool:port] -u [wallet] -t [4]

Run in background

$ xmrig -o [pool:port] -u [wallet] -B

Enable CUDA (NVIDIA GPU)

$ xmrig -o [pool:port] -u [wallet] --cuda

Enable OpenCL (AMD GPU)

$ xmrig -o [pool:port] -u [wallet] --opencl

Dry run to test configuration

$ xmrig --config [config.json] --dry-run

SYNOPSIS

xmrig [options]
xmrig -o pool -u wallet [options]

xmrig is a high-performance cryptocurrency miner supporting RandomX (Monero), KawPow (Ravencoin), CryptoNight, and GhostRider algorithms. It supports CPU and GPU mining on Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD.
Configuration is preferably done via JSON config file, which supports features not available via command line like multiple pools and mining profiles. The miner automatically selects optimal settings based on hardware detection.
For RandomX mining on Linux, enabling hugepages significantly improves performance. The miner includes a 1% default donation to developers, which can be adjusted via configuration.

PARAMETERS

-o URL, --url URL

Mining pool URL (host:port)

-u WALLET, --user WALLET

Wallet address or username

-p PASS, --pass PASS

Password for pool

-t NUM, --threads NUM

Number of CPU threads

-c FILE, --config FILE

JSON configuration file

-B, --background

Run in background (daemon mode)

--cuda

Enable CUDA backend (NVIDIA)

--opencl

Enable OpenCL backend (AMD)

--no-cpu

Disable CPU mining

--cuda-devices LIST

Comma-separated CUDA device indices

--opencl-devices LIST

Comma-separated OpenCL device indices

--donate-level N

Donation percentage (default: 1%)

--randomx-1gb-pages

Use 1GB hugepages (Linux, requires setup)

--bench N

Run benchmark (1M to 10M hashes)

--stress

Continuous stress test mode

--dry-run

Test configuration without mining

-V, --version

Show version

-h, --help

Show help

CAVEATS

Cryptocurrency mining consumes significant electricity and generates heat. Profitability depends on hardware, electricity costs, and cryptocurrency prices. Some cloud providers and ISPs prohibit mining. Running at full capacity may reduce hardware lifespan. Ensure adequate cooling for sustained operation.

HISTORY

XMRig was created as an open-source Monero miner, originally focusing on CPU mining with the CryptoNight algorithm. When Monero switched to the RandomX algorithm in 2019, XMRig was updated to support it. The project expanded to include GPU support via CUDA and OpenCL backends. XMRig became one of the most widely used miners due to its performance, cross-platform support, and active development.