In 2025, as the BTC price flies past $100,000, companies, crypto-fans, and newbie users look into Bitcoin mining. Mining is a term used to describe the process of acquiring Bitcoin cryptocurrency: when users utilize powerful devices or computers to solve complex mathematical problems on the Bitcoin blockchain they receive tokens as a reward.
Bitcoin mining can be a hobby or a primary source of income, but many users still wonder, is Bitcoin mining legit? We are going to look for an answer to this question by exploring various methods of getting Bitcoin, as well as issues miners might come across.
Mining Bitcoin in 2025
Today, traditional ways of solo Bitcoin mining are becoming a thing of the past. It’s a luxury hobby that requires large investments and dedication. After big companies entered the Bitcoin mining game, the rules changed drastically, leaving solo miners face-to-face with their expenses. Simply put, it’s not easy to compete with industry giants: they have the resources to upgrade equipment, maintain rigs, and most importantly, acquire cheap electricity at wholesale prices. A solo user can hardly afford that.
Companies have turned Bitcoin mining into business by serving as intermediaries and offering mining services to users. While it steps on the very idea of decentralization, it balances out the expenses that go along with mining.
Considering all that, users turn to alternative methods of Bitcoin mining, looking for the ones that provide profitability and legitimacy.
Alternative Methods of Acquiring BTC
The market around Bitcoin is growing at a rapid rate. While yesterday it was a poorly researched area, where developers and experienced users had the edge, today it feels more like a mall with an offer for every possible need. And mining is not the only way to receive Bitcoin.
Crypto trading
Trading has always been a significant part of the crypto industry. In a similar fashion to stocks and fiat currency trading, users buy Bitcoin when the price is low and wait for the most convenient moment to sell bitcoin and maximize their profit. Since returns are most noticeable in larger sums, Bitcoin trading isn’t the most accessible method. It’s mostly convenient for seasoned users with diverse portfolios. Trading requires deep knowledge and understanding of crypto trends, the ability to predict dips and price surges, and staying on top of the industry news. Crypto trading can be intimidating for beginners and it’s a risky endeavor.
Cloud mining
Cloud mining services offer Bitcoin mining at affordable rates. While all the responsibilities lie with the service provider, users can purchase a contract and sit back, watching their rewards grow. At least that’s what the companies promise. In reality, contracts often hide many issues that accompany this mining method. For instance, companies aren’t always transparent regarding their income and Bitcoin rewards. Since a client only receives a portion of what the company has mined in its data centers, they can’t access the full overview of the mining operation. It also leaves users fully dependent on the company’s policies. Additionally, many users point out that maintenance and transaction fees significantly cut into their profits.
Cloud mining requires thorough research if a user doesn’t want to fall victim to a scam. Unfortunately, many companies are looking for ways to fool their customers, giving a bad name to the cloud mining industry.
Digital mining
A relatively new method for Bitcoin enthusiasts, digital mining relies on digital miners. A digital miner is an NFT that represents specific hash power in a physical data center. This power belongs to a user after they purchase the miner. Digital mining is often chosen by users who want to try mining and don’t know where to begin. It’s easy to start mining digitally, and just as easy to stop without losses. The entry fee is also one of the lowest around.
Digital mining users depend less on their service providers than cloud miners. They own their digital equipment and are free to upgrade or sell it at any point. Transparency regarding profits also plays a big part for those who choose to acquire Bitcoin digitally.
Crypto games
Bitcoin is often presented as a reward to players of online crypto games. The games and their genres vary, and users can find anything from 3d games with prizes to crypto mining game online. Some of them are based on trading, and others — on mining. It’s important for a user to find a trustworthy platform, where the system of determining winners and rewards distribution is transparent. These are the most common issues players encounter. Understanding who and why wins in a game provides a clear picture of whether it makes sense to participate.
Most users, even within the crypto industry, still consider games with real financial rewards too risky, akin to online casinos. So it takes a certain knowledge and level of expertise to actually succeed in them.
Airdrops and giveaways
This is another way that relies on luck. Airdrops and giveaways can hardly be considered stable sources of income. Regardless, there are users who make it a point to participate in every available contest or event that offers rewards. It sounds entertaining and relatively easy, in reality, this is a very time-consuming task and yet again, users run a risk of being hacked or scammed. Even sharing your online wallet address with an untrustworthy third party can bring unpredictable results. So if you choose to participate in giveaways, it makes sense to do so from a separate hot wallet. If all the security measures are considered, airdrops and giveaways can be an easy way to earn cryptocurrency, even Bitcoin.
Today, Bitcoin mining doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing it used to. Users don’t have to actually own physical equipment and pay all the expenses to get the most popular cryptocurrency. Many systems have been put in place to make Bitcoin more available. Even for new users, who search questions like “What is a launchpad in crypto”, there are options that don’t require professional knowledge of the issue.