# PoW - CPU Mining

{% hint style="info" %}
**The CPU mining phase has ended.** [**PoS - Staking**](/guides/wallet/pos-staking.md) **and** [**Masternodes**](/guides/wallet/masternodes.md) **are currently active.**
{% endhint %}

## What is CPU Mining? <a href="#what-is-cpu-mining" id="what-is-cpu-mining"></a>

**CPU mining** is a process of adding transaction records to the public ledger of cryptocurrency by performing necessary calculations with **Central Processing Unit (CPU)**. CPU is a part of computer that provides computing power for execution of operations performed by software installed on that computer.&#x20;

Merge's wallet supports CPU mining of MERGE until block 57,601.

Source: <https://en.bitcoinwiki.org/wiki/CPU_mining>​

## Setup CPU Mining <a href="#setup-cpu-mining" id="setup-cpu-mining"></a>

### Merge Wallet

Follow the next steps:

1. Open the wallet.
2. Go to Tools > Debug console.
3. Type **`setgenerate true "X"`**

Where "X" is the number of CPU cores you are running on your machine.

Example: setgenerate true 2 \
This is for a machine having 2 CPU cores.

### CPU Miner

You will need to have a MERGE address in your possession in order to benefit from the CPU Miner application. See [Wallet](/guides/wallet.md) to get a Merge wallet and take your MERGE address from "Receiving addresses...":

<div align="left"><img src="/files/-LUfX97ZWbdTfF23dqTM" alt="Receiving addresses..."></div>

Also, you will need to choose a pool to mine with. There are details of suitable pools in the #merge-pool channel in [Discord](http://discord.projectmerge.org). The pools generally provide the essential parameters you will need for the CPU Miner. Some tweaking of the values might be necessary.

#### Linux

These instructions assume familiarity with the command line and some Linux competence. The below has been tested on an Ubuntu 16 based system.

Follow the next steps:

1. Install dependencies:

   ```bash
   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
   sudo apt-get install automake autoconf pkg-config libcurl4-openssl-dev libjansson-dev libssl-dev libgmp-dev make g++
   ```
2. Download CPU Miner's source code, compile and build the miner:

   ```bash
   git clone https://github.com/ProjectMerge/cpuminer-merge.git
   cd cpuminer-merge
   ./build.sh
   ```
3. If you want the miner to be generally available on your machine, then:

   ```bash
   sudo make install
   ```
4. Run the CPU Miner:\
   Either from the `cpuminer-merge` directory by:

   ```
   ./cpuminer -a argon2m -o <your chosen pool> -u <your MERGE address> <any other parms recommended by your chosen pool> <any other parms>
   ```

   or, if installed system-wide or any other location in your path:

   ```
   cpuminer -a argon2m -o <your chosen pool> -u <your MERGE address> <any other parms recommended by your chosen pool> <any other parms>
   ```

   For example:

   ```
   ./cpuminer -a argon2m -o stratum+tcp://stratum.icemining.ca:4240 -u MTqTm4KQq9dbxrtLgpzpxDLZnbR18nHKsp -p c=MERGE
   ```

   which uses values for the icemining pool. This is NOT a recommendation, just a known working example. Be **VERY** careful to use the correct receiving address. If you get it wrong, the rewards will still be sent there and you will never see them!

#### Windows

Follow the next steps:

1. Download the CPU Miner: <https://github.com/ProjectMerge/cpuminer-merge/releases/download/release/cpuminer-merge-win64.zip>
2. Unzip and extract the folder **`cpuminer-merge-win64`**
3. Open "Windows Command Prompt" or any other console you use and navigate to folder **`cpuminer-merge-win64`**
4. Using the console, run the CPU miner:&#x20;

   ```bash
   cpuminer.exe -a argon2m -o <your chosen pool> -u <your MERGE address> <any other parms recommended by your chosen pool> <any other parms>
   ```

   For example:

   ```
   cpuminer.exe -a argon2m -o stratum+tcp://pool.hashpool.eu:2811 -u MTZjwpSoJ95Hzj99iNyQAh8xbfk92B7sCG -p x
   ```

   which uses values for the hashpool pool. This is NOT a recommendation, just a known working example. Be **VERY** careful to use the correct receiving address. If you get it wrong, the rewards will still be sent there and you will never see them!

## Stop CPU Mining <a href="#stop-cpu-mining" id="stop-cpu-mining"></a>

### Merge Wallet

Follow the next steps:

1. Open the wallet.
2. Go to Tools > Debug console.
3. Type **`setgenerate false`**

### CPU Miner

#### Linux

Type \<Ctrl> + c on the console to end the miner.

#### Windows

Close "Windows Command Prompt" window or the console you are using to run the miner.


---

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