A Bitcoin Mining Software is a program that connects Bitcoin Mining Hardware to a blockchain or a bitcoin mining pool (in case of pooled mining). The actual process of Bitcoin mining is handled by the mining hardware but special mining software is also needed to get connected to the Bitcoin blockchain network. 11 Best Bitcoin Mining Software for Mac, Windows, Linux. Bitcoin Mining hardware handles majorly the bitcoin mining process. The bitcoin mining software is also quite important if you operate solo, cloud mine and mine with a pool. Whether you want to mine Bitcoin as a hobby or as a profession, you need BTC mining software. In fact, RPC Miner is among the most popular mining software programs among MAC users. Most miners use the program when mining altcoins like Litecoin, but it can still be used to mine Bitcoins. How I Am Solo Mining Bitcoin on a Mac Using Bitcoin QT, cgminer & Antminer U2. Sorta Complete Nube's Guide to Solo Mining Bitcoin on a Macbook Pro running Mavericks with an Antminer U2 To get to this stage, I had to do some research about Bitcoins, pools, tools, software, hardware – all that. If you prefer to get the mining rig route then you get to choose your hardware and your bitcoin mining software.
I used BFGMiner which works through the Mac's terminal. The system was using both the central processor and the video card generating about 16 MHs/s. It's a 2014 MacBook Pro, very decent machine for video editing and the likes but it proved to be totally surpassed by the task. The pool I used was AntPool.
I did it just as an experiment, I'm not that stupid. I know even with an Antminer S9 you'll struggle to earn real amounts. Anyways, I thought I'd share this if anyone is curious. BTW I know there are calculators out there but I wanted to do a real life test.
And sooo after 33 hours of mining at full performance of a MacBook Pro I earned... 0.00000001 BTC.
Yes, that means that after 3 years running straight uninterrupted like this I would have USD$0.02 in BTC (at present value).
Best Computer For Mining Bitcoins
Conclusion, unless 1 BTC becomes equivalent to 1 billion dollars (which as a hodler, I hope it will), don't try to mine using your laptop. Lol. It was fun anyway. At least I can now say that I have actually mined BTC. :D
TL;DR Mining, you would have to run a MacBook Pro for 3 straight years at full performance in order to earn USD$0.02 (at present value).