Harnessing the power of Raspberry Pi for cryptocurrency mining, a tiny computer’s energy consumption and thermal output are analyzed in pursuit of a lucrative but fleeting reward.
The Physics Behind Crypto Mining with a Raspberry Pi
Mining cryptocurrency involves solving complex mathematical problems using powerful computers. But what happens when you use a tiny, cheap computer like a Raspberry Pi to mine Monero cryptocurrency?
Understanding the Power Consumption of a Raspberry Pi
To understand how much energy is used by a Raspberry Pi, we need to calculate its power consumption. The Raspberry Pi runs at 5 volts, and we can measure the electric current going into it to get the power. In this case, the meter registered a current of 0.62 amps, which gives a power of 3.1 watts.
Measuring Thermal Energy
To measure the thermal energy created by the Raspberry Pi, we put it in an insulated container with 1,000 milliliters of water. We then measure the temperature of the water as crypto is mined. The results show that after the first 20 minutes, the water temperature seemed to increase at a fairly constant rate of 0.0006 degrees Celsius per second.
Calculating Thermal Energy
We can calculate the thermal energy required by the water using its mass and specific heat capacity. With 1,000 mL of water and our rate of temperature change, we get that the water requires a power of 2.51 joules every second (or 2.51 watts).
Comparing Power Consumption
Interestingly, the calculated thermal energy matches the measured power consumption of the Raspberry Pi. This suggests that the cryptocurrency power is just thermal energy.
The Payoff of Crypto Mining with a Raspberry Pi
Although it’s possible to run a crypto miner as a way to warm your house, that’s probably not why people do it. What’s the payoff? Well, let’s do some quick calculations. Running my Raspberry Pi miner for 12 hours produced only 0.00000006 XMR, which is equivalent to 0.0012 cents (not dollars). This would be a slow way to amass a fortune.
The Cost of Crypto Mining
The average cost of electricity in the US is 16.94 cents per kilowatt-hour. If we run our miner at 3 watts for 12 hours, that would be 24 watt-hours, or 0.024 KWh. Using the price of electricity, this would cost 0.41 cents. This means that the cost exceeds the reward today.
The Future of Crypto Mining
No one but a physicist would mine crypto on a Raspberry Pi. However, there are fancy mining machines (costing thousands of dollars) that let you mint coins faster and with less energy. Additionally, a crypto miner could be in a location with cheaper electricity or even run on solar power.
The Environmental Impact of Crypto Mining
Despite the potential for profit, it’s essential to consider the environmental impact of crypto mining. In 2024, it was estimated that 2.3 percent of electrical energy went into cryptocurrency mining. This is quite a bit, and we’re not sure if it’s the best use of our energy supply—especially since crypto is just a made-up thing.
