lucasjones/cpuminer-multi
FreeMulti-algo CPUMiner & Reference Cryptonote Miner (JSON-RPC 2.0)
FreeFree tier
About lucasjones/cpuminer-multi
cpuminer-multi is a multi-threaded CPU miner for various cryptocurrencies, forked from pooler's cpuminer. It supports multiple hashing algorithms including scrypt (Litecoin, Dogecoin), sha256d (Bitcoin, Peercoin), x11 (Dash), x13, x14, x15, cryptonight (Bytecoin, Monero), fresh, keccak, hefty1, quark, skein, shavite3, and blake. The miner uses JSON-RPC 2.0 for communication with mining pools. It is open source, written in C, and can be built on Unix-like systems (including macOS with Clang) and Windows via MinGW. Dependencies include libcurl, jansson, and OpenSSL. Binary releases are available on GitHub.
Key Features
Supports multiple algorithms: scrypt, sha256d, x11, x13, x14, x15, cryptonight, fresh, keccak, hefty1, quark, skein, shavite3, blake
Multi-threaded CPU mining for performance on multi-core processors
JSON-RPC 2.0 communication with mining pools
Open source (GPL license) with binary releases on GitHub
Cross-platform: builds on Linux, macOS, Windows (MinGW), and AIX
Includes in-tree jansson library for JSON parsing
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open source with active GitHub repository and community forks
- Broad algorithm support covering many popular coins
- Multi-threaded to utilize all CPU cores efficiently
- Cross-platform compatibility (Linux, macOS, Windows, AIX)
- Supports both direct command-line and configuration file usage
Cons
- CPU mining is significantly slower than GPU/ASIC mining for most algorithms
- High CPU usage can impact system performance
- Some algorithms listed as 'untested' (keccak, hefty1, quark, skein, shavite3, blake)
- Requires manual compilation on some platforms; no pre-built binaries for all systems
- Limited to older mining protocols (JSON-RPC 2.0); no support for newer Stratum variants
Best For
Mining cryptocurrencies that use CPU-friendly algorithms (e.g., Monero, Litecoin, Dash)Learning about cryptocurrency mining protocols and implementationsSetting up mining on systems without powerful GPUsTesting mining pool connectivity and configuration
FAQ
What algorithms does cpuminer-multi support?
It supports scrypt (Litecoin, Dogecoin), sha256d (Bitcoin, Peercoin), x11 (Dash), x13, x14, x15, cryptonight (Bytecoin, Monero), fresh, keccak, hefty1, quark, skein, shavite3, and blake. Some algorithms (keccak, hefty1, quark, skein, shavite3, blake) are implemented but untested.
How do I build cpuminer-multi from source?
On Unix-like systems, run './autogen.sh' (if building from git), './configure CFLAGS="-march=native"', then 'make'. On Windows with MinGW, install dependencies and run './autogen.sh', then 'LIBCURL="-lcurldll" ./configure CFLAGS="-march=native"', then 'make'.
Is cpuminer-multi free to use?
Yes, it is open source under the GPL license and free to download, use, and modify.
Can I use cpuminer-multi to mine Bitcoin?
It supports sha256d algorithm, so it can mine Bitcoin and other SHA-256 coins. However, CPU mining for Bitcoin is extremely inefficient compared to ASIC miners.