Will there still be opportunities for Mining in 2025? Cold thoughts on 5 public chains.

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It&#39;s said that 2025 will be the end of Mining, but is it true? Let&#39;s take a look at these 5 surviving public chains - each has its own way.## Why still mineThe essence of Mining hasn&#39;t changed: using computing power to exchange for coins. But the environment has changed—electricity costs are higher, the difficulty is greater, and equipment is more competitive. So the current question is not "can we mine," but "what to mine."## BTC is still the big brotherA guide to BTC mining is like a meal without salt.Current situation: Need the latest ASIC mining machines, individuals can&#39;t afford them anymore. But if you have an advantage in electricity prices (cheap solar/hydropower), or if you have already invested, then continuing to mine is still viable.The key is: the scarcity of BTC exists. After the halving in 2024, the block reward will decrease, providing long-term support for the price. As long as the coin price doesn&#39;t collapse, miners with good cost control will make a profit.## Reverse Operation: Monero (XMR)Does BTC require million-level mining machines? Monero, on the contrary - you can mine with your laptop&#39;s CPU.XMR uses the RandomX algorithm, which is inherently ASIC-resistant. What does this mean? There is no mining pool monopoly, and individuals have the opportunity to stand out. Its privacy features are always in demand, and the community is resilient.The tail emission mechanism ensures long-term mining incentives, unlike BTC where rewards decrease rapidly. For small retail investors, this may be the last lifeline.## The Three Musketeers of Litecoin (LTC)LTC is known as "digital silver" - fast and cheap, and mining is friendlier than BTC.The cost of Scrypt algorithm + Litecoin mining machines is relatively controllable. Additionally, LTC also has a halving mechanism, which supports the price. With good liquidity and many exchanges, the mined coins can be sold at any time.Pool Mining is the standard operation that can significantly improve stability.## Privacy Coin Player: Zcash (ZEC)ZEC follows the GPU route and uses the Equihash algorithm. Simply put: with a decent graphics card, you can participate, and you don&#39;t necessarily need a professional mining machine.Although ASIC also supports ZEC, the GPU mining ecosystem is still alive. This creates relative democracy.Zero-knowledge proof technology gives ZEC a topic of discussion in the privacy sector. If the demand for privacy truly explodes (which is becoming more likely), the mining value of ZEC will increase.## ETC: The Backup for GPU MinersAfter ETH transitioned to POS, ETC became a PoW refugee camp.GPUs and certain ASICs can mine, and the hardware ecosystem is still there. For those who have already built GPU mining rigs, continuing to mine ETC is more cost-effective than reinvesting. Although the ETC ecosystem is not as strong as ETH, it is striving for improvement and developing progressively.## The Real Threshold for Mining in 2025Choosing a coin is just the first step; these points determine life and death:**Electricity Cost** — If the electricity price > 0.05 USD/kWh, most Mining is not profitable. Only those with cheap electricity survive.**Hardware Selection** — BTC/LTC cannot be non-ASIC, while Monero/Zcash/ETC have GPU options. Choosing the wrong equipment is game over.**Pool vs Solo** — Solo mining for small investors = gambling, Pool mining is the proper operation.**Chasing Popularity** — Currency prices, policies, and news can all change direction. It&#39;s not just about making a choice and forgetting it; you need to keep paying attention.**Heat Dissipation Operation and Maintenance** — Mining machines are like furnaces; if there is no good heat dissipation, they will be scrapped directly. Regular maintenance is a basic skill.## Bottom Line JudgmentMining will still be alive in 2025, but it will be a game for professionals. Only coins that meet the three criteria of cheap electricity + low costs + support from pools are worth engaging with.BTC is still the safest (expensive but stable), Monero is the most democratic (low threshold), LTC/ZEC/ETC are balanced options.But remember one thing: the strategy that makes money this year may be outdated next year. The crypto world moves too fast; you have to stay updated.