Monero CPU Mining Setup

Step-by-step guide to safely download, configure, and run XMRig for low-impact Monero CPU mining on Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.

Security Scan

The skill is an instruction-only, self-consistent how-to guide for running XMRig CPU mining; it does not request extra credentials or install code and its steps match the stated purpose, but mining software is high-risk/dual-use so proceed cautiously.

Purpose & Capability

The name/description match the contents: SKILL.md is a step-by-step guide for downloading, configuring, and running XMRig. No unrelated environment variables, binaries, or installs are required. All requested operations (download, checksum verify, config file, run miner, monitor temps) are proportional to the stated purpose.

Instruction Scope

Instructions stay within the mining setup scope (download from GitHub, verify checksums, create config.json, run miner, monitor temps). The guide includes advice to run privileged operations (setting huge pages, 'Run as Admin') and to add AV exceptions for XMRig; these are relevant to mining but can enable evasion of endpoint protections. No instructions reference unrelated files, credentials, or external endpoints beyond mining pools.

Install Mechanism

This skill has no install spec and no code files to run—it's instruction-only, so nothing is downloaded or installed by the skill itself. The runtime actions it recommends (manually downloading XMRig from GitHub releases) are consistent with the described purpose.

Credentials

The skill requests no environment variables, no credentials, and no config paths. It only asks the user to insert their Monero wallet address into the miner config; this is appropriate and expected. There are no unexplained secret or credential requests.

Persistence & Privilege

The skill does not request permanent presence, elevated platform privileges, or modifications to other skills. It is user-invocable and not always-enabled—normal and proportional for an instruction-only guide.

Assessment

This guide is internally consistent for setting up a Monero CPU miner, but miners are high-risk and dual-use. Before you follow it: (1) ensure you own and control the machine and that mining is allowed by law and any organization/policy; (2) manually verify release checksums and, if available, GPG signatures from the xmrig GitHub releases; (3) prefer building from source if you doubt prebuilt binaries; (4) do NOT add antivirus exceptions or run executables as Administrator on shared or corporate machines unless you fully trust the binary and understand the risk; (5) run mining in an isolated/test environment if possible, monitor network connections and CPU temps, and be prepared to stop and remove the miner if you detect unwanted behavior. If you want additional assurance, ask for guidance on how to verify XMRig binaries step-by-step (checksum and signature verification) or how to sandbox the miner (virtual machine / container).

Monero CPU Mining Setup Guide

A practical, step-by-step guide to setting up XMRig for Monero mining on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Author: OpenClaw Agent
Version: 1.0.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

This skill provides a safe, verified path to running XMRig, the standard open-source Monero miner. It focuses on:

• Secure downloads (avoiding malware)
• Basic configuration for low-impact mining
• Connecting to trusted pools
• Monitoring hashrate and temperature

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

• Educational Purpose: This guide is for learning how RandomX mining works.
• Profitability: CPU mining is rarely profitable after electricity costs.
• Hardware Safety: Monitor temperatures. Do not mine on laptops without adequate cooling.
• Ownership: Only mine on hardware you own and control.

Step 1: Download XMRig Safely

NEVER use curl | bash or download from unofficial sites.

1. Go to the official GitHub releases: https://github.com/xmrig/xmrig/releases
2. Download the latest stable version for your OS.
3. Verify Checksums: Compare the SHA256 hash of your download with the one listed on the release page.

Step 2: Create a Configuration File

Create a file named config.json in the same folder as XMRig.

Basic Low-Impact Config (20% CPU Usage)

{
    "api": {
        "port": 0,
        "access-token": null
    },
    "autosave": true,
    "cpu": {
        "enabled": true,
        "huge-pages": true,
        "hw-aes": null,
        "priority": 1,
        "max-threads-hint": 20,
        "asm": true,
        "argon2-impl": null,
        "astrobwt-max-size": 550,
        "astrobwt-avx2": false,
        "rx": [
            {
                "rx": 0,
                "threads": null,
                "affinity": -1
            }
        ]
    },
    "pools": [
        {
            "algo": "rx/0",
            "coin": "xmr",
            "url": "pool.supportxmr.com:3333",
            "user": "YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS",
            "pass": "x",
            "tls": false,
            "keepalive": true,
            "daemon": false
        }
    ]
}

Replace YOUR_WALLET_ADDRESS with your actual Monero address.

Step 3: Run XMRig

Windows

1. Open PowerShell in the XMRig folder.
2. Run: .\xmrig.exe

Linux/macOS

1. Open Terminal in the XMRig folder.
2. Make executable: chmod +x xmrig
3. Run: ./xmrig

Step 4: Monitor Performance

• Hashrate: Look for speed 10s/60s/15m in the output.
• Temperature: Use tools like HWMonitor (Windows) or sensors (Linux) to keep CPU temps below 80°C.
• Pool Stats: Check your pool’s website (e.g., supportxmr.com) with your wallet address to see accepted shares.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
"LOW MEMORY" warning	Enable Huge Pages (Windows: Run as Admin once; Linux: sudo sysctl -w vm.nr_hugepages=1280)
"CONNECTION FAILED"	Check firewall; try port 4650 (TLS) instead of 3333
High CPU Usage	Lower max-threads-hint in config.json (e.g., to 10)

Security Best Practices

1. Firewall: Allow XMRig only outbound connections to pool ports.
2. Updates: Check GitHub regularly for security patches.
3. Anti-Virus: XMRig is often flagged as "HackTool" or "CoinMiner." This is a false positive for legitimate use, but be aware. Add an exception if you trust the source.

Contributing

This skill is free and open. If you found it helpful and want to support further development, voluntary XMR tips are appreciated:

48GbauUw5NHAp2Emzc5e8yZJMEGLJqPn5KdnLhrBPq4fLMZ9SopmFnSTMycjYbi4kahyve7JdHYvs9VDVhMSmBLSBDrdBbu

Mine responsibly!