Owned Hardware vs Rental — Solo Mining Costs
Real cost per PH/s per day: owning an Antminer S21+ versus renting SHA-256 hashrate. Break-even, electricity, and which makes sense for solo mining.
Solo mining is a lottery: you pay an ongoing cost for a chance at a full block reward. The only economic question is which route buys those lottery tickets most cheaply — owning an ASIC, or renting hashrate. This guide compares the real cost per PH/s/day of an owned Antminer S21+ against renting on NiceHash and MiningRigRentals, using mid-2026 prices, and is honest about the part most rental guides skip: at today’s hashprice, every route costs more than the expected reward.
Key Takeaways
- At mid-2026 hashprice (~$29–30/PH/s/day), solo mining BTC is negative expected value from any source — owned or rented. You are buying a low-probability jackpot, not income.
- Owned hardware costs roughly $40–51/PH/s/day in year 1 at $0.075–0.10/kWh, and gets cheaper every month after amortization — down toward an electricity-only floor near $30–40.
- Rental costs track hashprice plus a seller margin, so verify it live before every spend; it has no upfront capital and no cost when idle.
- Owning wins on a multi-year horizon and at cheap power; renting wins for bursts, for timing difficulty windows, and when you have no capital.
- Lower-difficulty SoloFury coins give small miners realistic odds that BTC never will at hobby scale — the honest way to enjoy solo mining without chasing a -EV BTC jackpot.
What are the three strategies?
There are three fundamentally different ways to buy SHA-256 lottery tickets for SoloFury.
Owned hardware means buying an ASIC and running it continuously. Your cost is fixed and ongoing — you pay for electricity whether you find a block or not — but you keep a depreciating asset you can resell.
NiceHash sells aggregated, anonymous SHA-256 hashrate by the second. You buy at a price expressed in BTC per PH/s/day, point it at any pool (SoloFury included), and pay only while the order is active. Because the hashrate comes from many anonymous sellers, delivery can fluctuate roughly 10–20% from the order target, especially on short auctions.
MiningRigRentals (MRR) rents specific, identifiable rigs by the hour, from 3 hours up to a month. Each listing shows the rig’s hashrate, a Rig Performance Index (RPI) score, and price. You see exactly which machine you are renting, and delivery is generally steadier than NiceHash because it is one dedicated rig with a track record.
The number everything depends on: hashprice
Before comparing costs, anchor on revenue. Hashprice is the expected daily revenue per unit of hashrate at current difficulty and BTC price. As of mid-2026 it sits around $29–30 per PH/s/day, at or below breakeven for many industrial miners after the spring BTC price decline. The six-month forward market has priced it near $30.67.
This is the yardstick for everything below. If a PH/s/day costs you more than hashprice to produce — owned or rented — then on average you are spending more than the expected reward. That is exactly the situation in mid-2026, which is why solo mining today is best understood as a lottery, not an income stream.
Reference hardware: Antminer S21+
We use the Antminer S21+ as the reference owned miner — the most common high-performance SHA-256 ASIC used with SoloFury.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Hashrate | 235 TH/s (0.235 PH/s) |
| Power consumption | 3,877 W |
| Efficiency | 16.5 J/TH |
| Purchase price | ~$2,800 reference (street prices range ~$2,200–$3,400 by reseller and batch, mid-2026) |
| Amortization period | 36 months |
| Monthly depreciation | ~$78/month |
Monthly power: 3.877 kW × 720 hours = 2,791 kWh/month. We keep $2,800 as the reference purchase price for consistent math across the tables; if you bought used or cheaper, your depreciation is lower and the owned economics improve.
What does owned hardware cost per PH/s/day?
| Electricity | Monthly kWh cost | + Depreciation | Total/month | Cost/PH/s/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.075/kWh | $209 | +$78 | $287 | $40.7 |
| $0.085/kWh | $237 | +$78 | $315 | $44.7 |
| $0.100/kWh | $279 | +$78 | $357 | $50.6 |
The formula is simple: cost per PH/s/day = total monthly cost ÷ (0.235 PH/s × 30 days). These figures cover electricity and depreciation only. If you co-locate at a hosting facility, substitute their all-in rate (commonly around $0.05–0.08/kWh in US mining facilities, power included).
How do owned economics improve over time?
Depreciation is the largest non-electricity cost in year 1, but it shrinks as you spread it over more months and disappears once the machine is amortized. The table shows the effective cost per PH/s/day at $0.085/kWh over a five-year window, assuming the S21+ keeps running.
| Operating window | Depreciation contribution | Cost/PH/s/day |
|---|---|---|
| Years 1–3 average | $78/month | $44.7 |
| Years 1–4 average | $58.5/month | $41.9 |
| Years 1–5 average | $46.8/month | $40.2 |
| Post-amortization (electricity only) | $0 | ~$33.6 |
After amortization you pay only electricity — about $33.6/PH/s/day at $0.085/kWh, and under $30 at cheaper rates. This is the structural advantage of owning: a rented PH/s/day costs the same in year 5 as in year 1, while an owned one keeps getting cheaper.
What does rental cost?
Rental price tracks hashprice plus a seller margin, so it moves daily with BTC and difficulty. When hashprice falls to breakeven (as in mid-2026), rental prices compress but stay sticky near sellers’ own costs rather than collapsing — sellers turn machines off instead of renting at a loss, which tightens supply. As a mid-2026 reference, expect roughly:
| Source | Approx. cost/PH/s/day (mid-2026) | Character |
|---|---|---|
| NiceHash fixed | ~$42–52 | Guaranteed for the duration, most predictable |
| NiceHash auction | ~$33–44 | Cheaper but can be outbid mid-rental |
| MRR (specific rig) | ~$38–48 | Steady delivery from a known-RPI rig |
These are reference bands, not quotes — always check the live marketplace before renting. On top of the headline price, NiceHash adds a buyer service fee (around 3%) plus BTC network fees, and MRR adds about a 3% transaction fee, so your effective cost is a few percent higher.
Head-to-head: cost per PH/s/day
| Strategy | $0.075/kWh | $0.085/kWh | $0.100/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| S21+ owned (year 1) | $40.7 | $44.7 | $50.6 |
| S21+ owned (post-amortization) | ~$29.7 | ~$33.6 | ~$39.6 |
| NiceHash auction / MRR (mid-2026 ref) | ~$36–48 | ~$36–48 | ~$36–48 |
| NiceHash fixed (mid-2026 ref) | ~$42–52 | ~$42–52 | ~$42–52 |
| Hashprice (expected revenue) | ~$29–30 | ~$29–30 | ~$29–30 |
Three things stand out. First, owned hardware at cheap electricity is the lowest-cost ticket source over time — especially after amortization. Second, in year 1 at mid-2026 prices, rental and a freshly-bought S21+ are surprisingly close, so renting is a reasonable way to avoid capital risk while difficulty and price are uncertain. Third, and most important, every row except the last sits above hashprice — the cost of producing hashrate exceeds its expected reward right now, which is the negative-EV reality discussed above.
What does cost per PH/s/day not capture?
In a lottery, when you mine matters as much as how much it costs.
Difficulty timing. SHA-256 difficulty retargets about every two weeks on BTC. Right after a downward adjustment, every unit of hashrate has better odds. A renter can wait for that window and strike; an owned miner pays around the clock regardless. The Network Radar shows live difficulty and retarget timing across all five SoloFury coins.
Burst hashrate. Renting buys access you could never afford to own. A few hundred dollars rents several PH/s for a day — the same lottery coverage as dozens of owned S21+ machines at once. Statistically, 10 PH/s for one day has the same expected value as 0.235 PH/s for 42 days, but the burst compresses your tickets into a single intense window, maximizing the chance of at least one block in that period (without changing the negative-EV math).
Coin-switching agility. Owned hardware switches between SoloFury’s five coins for free; rentals can switch too by changing the pool URL, but you pay premium rates whichever coin you target.
A SoloFury example: a BCH2 rental burst
BCH2 has the lowest network difficulty of the SoloFury coins, which makes it the natural candidate for a burst strategy — affordable hashrate can represent a meaningful share of the network for a short window.
A worked example: rent 5 PH/s on MRR for 12 hours on a high-RPI rig, and point it at SoloFury BCH2:
Pool: stratum+tcp://bch2.solofury.com:8585
Worker: <your_BCH2_wallet>.bch2burst1
Password: xFor an encrypted connection, SoloFury also offers TLS on each coin (the plain port plus 10,000 — see the TLS Stratum Mining guide). Use eu-bch2/asia-bch2 for a closer region.
At a mid-2026 MRR rate near $40/PH/s/day, that burst costs about 5 × 0.5 × $40 ≈ $100 plus fees. During the 12 hours your 5 PH/s represents a real share of the BCH2 network, materially improving the chance of finding at least one block versus background mining. If you find one, 99% of the reward goes straight to your wallet via the coinbase transaction (SoloFury’s fee is 1%, non-custodial, no withdrawal threshold). Check the current BCH2 block value and recent blocks on the Hall of Fame, and live difficulty on the Network Radar, before committing.
When does owning win?
- Your electricity is below about $0.085/kWh. Below this, owned hardware beats most rental options over time on cost per PH/s/day.
- You will mine for three or more years. After amortization you pay only electricity — under $34/PH/s/day at $0.085/kWh — cheaper than any rental.
- You want around-the-clock coverage. Every hour the machine runs buys tickets; rentals have gaps between orders.
- You value resale optionality. A used S21+ retains roughly 30–60% of value after one to two years; rental fees are sunk costs.
- You plan to mine several coins, switching freely between SoloFury’s chains to follow difficulty windows.
When does renting win (and which to use)?
- You have no upfront capital. No $2,200–$3,400 hardware outlay; you can start with a small order.
- Your electricity is above about $0.10/kWh. Owned cost approaches rental rates, so the capital risk of owning is harder to justify.
- You want to time difficulty windows, striking right after a downward adjustment.
- You want a short, intense burst of hashrate no hobby fleet could match.
- You want zero commitment — no machine, no electricity bill, no failure risk — or you simply want to test solo mining first.
Use NiceHash when you need large volumes instantly and can tolerate 10–20% delivery variance, or you want the cheapest auction prices in low-demand periods. Use MRR when stability matters, when you want to vet a rig’s RPI before renting, or when you are running shorter, targeted bursts.
When does renting beat owning on price?
This table shows the rough crossover at each electricity rate (year-1 owned cost, rental including fees). Because rental prices move daily, treat it as a method, not a verdict — plug in today’s live rental price.
| Electricity | Owned cost/PH/s/day (year 1) | Renting is cheaper when live rental is below… |
|---|---|---|
| $0.075/kWh | $40.7 | ~$41 — owned usually wins |
| $0.085/kWh | $44.7 | ~$45 — close; compare live |
| $0.100/kWh | $50.6 | ~$51 — rental often competitive |
| $0.120/kWh | ~$60 | ~$60 — rental usually wins |
If your power costs $0.10/kWh or more, check live prices on both NiceHash and MRR before mining — renting may well be cheaper per PH/s/day than running your own machine, especially while you are still inside the amortization window.
A simple decision framework
Do you have ~$2,500+ to invest in hardware?
├── No → Rent (MRR for stability, NiceHash for scale or auctions)
└── Yes → Is your electricity under $0.085/kWh?
├── Yes → Own hardware (optionally add rental bursts in difficulty windows)
└── No → Compare live rental prices against your owned cost/PH/s/day
├── Rental cheaper → Rent for bursts; consider selling hardware
└── Owned cheaper → Keep hardware; optional rental top-upsWant short controlled bursts? MRR. Maximum scale fast? NiceHash. Around-the-clock coverage at the lowest long-term cost? Owned hardware on a multi-year horizon. Just testing? An MRR BEST-rated rig for 6–12 hours.
Next Steps
- Check live prices on the NiceHash marketplace and MRR SHA-256 listings, and compare to your owned cost/PH/s/day.
- Read the NiceHash Solo Mining guide to configure a rental order correctly for SoloFury.
- Use the Profitability Calculator and Solo Probability Calculator to estimate odds at different hashrate levels before committing a budget.
- Watch live difficulty on the Network Radar and recent wins on the Hall of Fame.
- Setting up owned hardware? See the Antminer S21+ Setup Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solo mining profitable in 2026?
On an expected-value basis, no — at a mid-2026 hashprice near $29/PH/s/day, the cost of producing hashrate (owned or rented) exceeds the expected reward. Solo mining is a lottery: you pay for a small chance at a full block. Lower-difficulty coins give small miners realistic odds, but none of it is reliable income.
Is it cheaper to own or rent hashrate?
At cheap electricity (under ~$0.085/kWh) and over multiple years, owning is cheaper per PH/s/day because depreciation falls away after amortization. For bursts, for high electricity rates, or with no capital, renting wins. At mid-2026 prices a freshly-bought S21+ and a rental are surprisingly close in year 1.
What is hashprice and why does it matter here?
Hashprice is the expected daily revenue per unit of hashrate at current difficulty and BTC price — about $29–30/PH/s/day in mid-2026. It is the yardstick: if your cost per PH/s/day is above hashprice, you are spending more than the expected reward.
Should I pay extra for AsicBoost rigs when renting?
No. Version-rolling AsicBoost is standard on all modern ASICs and SoloFury supports it on every coin, so on NiceHash you simply select the SHA256AsicBoost market for modern rigs. Choose rigs by RPI and stability, not by an AsicBoost label.
How much does a rental burst on a low-difficulty coin cost?
As an example, 5 PH/s for 12 hours at a mid-2026 MRR rate near $40/PH/s/day is about $100 plus fees. It meaningfully raises your odds of a block in that window but does not guarantee one, and it remains negative-EV.
Which rental platform is better for solo mining?
MRR generally delivers steadier hashrate (you rent a specific, RPI-rated rig), which suits solo mining's need for consistent shares. NiceHash is better for instant large scale and the cheapest auction prices. Many miners use MRR for targeted bursts and NiceHash for volume.
Does the 1% SoloFury fee change the comparison?
Only slightly. The fee applies to a found block's reward, not to your ongoing cost, so it does not change cost per PH/s/day. It does mean 99% of any block reward reaches your wallet directly, with no custody and no withdrawal threshold.
Can I switch the rented hashrate between coins?
Yes — change the pool URL on the active order to point at a different SoloFury coin. You pay the same rental rate regardless of coin, so target whichever chain's difficulty window gives the best odds at the time.