Monero (XMR) is the most-used privacy coin, and it's deliberately hard to mine with specialized hardware — its RandomX algorithm was designed to favour ordinary CPUs over ASICs. Yet a small class of RandomX ASICs does exist, and the Antminer X5 is the one everyone searches for. The catch: the X5 has been superseded by the far more powerful Antminer X9. This guide explains the real options, the honest economics, and which Monero miner actually makes sense in 2026.
Can you mine Monero with an ASIC?
Mostly, Monero is CPU-mined — RandomX is engineered so a good desktop or server CPU stays competitive, which keeps mining decentralised. But a handful of RandomX ASICs/appliances exist for people who want a dedicated, always-on XMR machine. They don't break Monero's CPU-friendliness the way a Bitcoin ASIC dominates SHA-256, but they pack far more RandomX hashrate into one low-maintenance box than a CPU rig.
Antminer X5 vs X9: the real specs
| Miner | Hashrate | Power | Efficiency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antminer X5 | 212 kH/s | 1,350 W | 6.37 J/kH | The one people search for |
| Antminer X9 | 1,000 kH/s (1 MH/s) | 2,472 W | 2.47 J/kH | In stock — the successor |
| Pinecone INIBOX R1X (XMR) | see product page | — | — | In stock — premium alternative |
The numbers tell the story: the Antminer X9 delivers about 1,000 kH/s of RandomX — nearly five times the X5's 212 kH/s — and at 2.47 J/kH it's also more than twice as efficient per hash. If you came here for the X5, the X9 is simply the better buy in 2026, and it's the model we stock. (Note RandomX hashrates are quoted in kH/s, not the MH/s or TH/s you see on Bitcoin miners.)
Monero price and mining economics (2026)
Monero remains a top-tier privacy asset with steady demand. Because RandomX rewards are spread across a large CPU-heavy network, a dedicated ASIC's edge is convenience and density rather than the runaway advantage SHA-256 ASICs enjoy. Your returns depend on the XMR price, the network's total RandomX hashrate, and — as always — your electricity cost. Treat any profitability figure as a moving target and check a live calculator before buying.
Profitability: what to expect
An Antminer X9 drawing 2,472 W uses about 59 kWh/day. At hosted power (~$0.02/kWh) that's roughly $1.20/day in electricity; at home power (~$0.10/kWh) about $5.90/day. Whether the XMR it mines exceeds that depends on the live RandomX reward and the Monero price — so, like most altcoin mining, it works best on cheap or hosted power. Run the current numbers on a calculator and size your expectations to the XMR price, not to a screenshot.
CPU vs ASIC: which should you choose?
If you already own powerful CPUs (especially high-core-count servers), CPU mining Monero is the purist, lowest-barrier route and keeps the network decentralised. A RandomX ASIC like the X9 makes sense when you want a single, quiet, always-on appliance that out-hashes a stack of CPUs without the cabling, heat spread and admin of a multi-CPU farm — and when you have cheap power or hosting to feed it.
Which Monero miner should you buy?
- Best available RandomX ASIC: Antminer X9 (1,000 kH/s) — the modern successor to the X5, five times the hashrate.
- Premium alternative: Pinecone INIBOX R1X XMR Edition — a dedicated Monero appliance; see the product page for its exact rating.
- Looking for the X5? It's effectively retired — buy the X9 instead for far better hashrate and efficiency.
Mine Monero on cheap, quiet power
RandomX ASICs run hot and need cheap electricity to pay off. Host yours with us from $0.018/kWh and skip the noise and the power bill — you keep 100% of the XMR.
Browse Monero miners and the wider range on the miners page, or see the full Bitmain Antminer line-up.