<p>Yes, but not efficiently. In fact, CPU's are so bad at mining bitcoin that the option was removed from the user interface. However, the code is still there (though mostly as a reference implementation), and you can go to Help > Debug Window > Console and type in "setgenerate true" to turn it on.  Type "setgenerate false" to stop.</p>

<p>You can also give bitcoin the option <code>-gen</code> at the command line.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-01T06:32:38.223Z
2013-10-31T08:40:06.430Z
2013-10-31T08:40:06.430Z
Nick ODell
<p>The client cannot mine by itself you need a miner for that. However you will need the client to relay the blocks you find and to getwork if you mine alone. Try <a href="https://bitcointalk.org/?topic=3878.0" rel="nofollow">guiminer</a> for starter it can mine on his own or on a pool.</p>

<p>And you should really join a pool since it can be really difficult to mine by your own (exept if you have 1.5 Thash/s mining rig ready)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-31T12:49:29.280Z
2013-01-31T12:49:29.280Z
Gopoi
<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
  <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1433/how-can-i-start-mining-bitcoin">How can I start mining Bitcoin?</a>  </p>
</blockquote>



<p>Nothing ever says how to actually mine bitcoins, except to join a pool. I don't want to do that. All I really know is that each block has an equation associated with it, and whoever solves it gets the coins. I assume that the miner is trying to solve the equation, and I also assume that this just means running the bitcoin client and hoping your computer can generate a block. If bitcoin qt (from the website) doesn't mine bitcoins, what does?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-01T07:38:29.633Z
I think you've gotten the wrong impression. Bitcoin is not about mining. You don't need to mine, and I recommend you don't. If you do want to mine, you need dedicated hardware, dedicated software and a pool.
Meni Rosenfeld
<bitcoin-core><client><solo-mining>
Does the program I downloaded (bitcoin-qt) mine bitcoins?
Jonathan
# Does the program I downloaded (bitcoin-qt) mine bitcoins?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-01-31)

> **Possible Duplicate:**  
> [How can I start mining Bitcoin?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1433/how-can-i-start-mining-bitcoin)

Nothing ever says how to actually mine bitcoins, except to join a pool. I don't want to do that. All I really know is that each block has an equation associated with it, and whoever solves it gets the coins. I assume that the miner is trying to solve the equation, and I also assume that this just means running the bitcoin client and hoping your computer can generate a block. If bitcoin qt (from the website) doesn't mine bitcoins, what does?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, client, solo-mining

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think you've gotten the wrong impression. Bitcoin is not about mining. You don't need to mine, and I recommend you don't. If you do want to mine, you need dedicated hardware, dedicated software and a pool.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-02-01. Score: 13

Yes, but not efficiently. In fact, CPU's are so bad at mining bitcoin that the option was removed from the user interface. However, the code is still there (though mostly as a reference implementation), and you can go to Help > Debug Window > Console and type in "setgenerate true" to turn it on. Type "setgenerate false" to stop.

You can also give bitcoin the option `-gen` at the command line.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2013-01-31. Score: 2

The client cannot mine by itself you need a miner for that. However you will need the client to relay the blocks you find and to getwork if you mine alone. Try [guiminer](https://bitcointalk.org/?topic=3878.0) for starter it can mine on his own or on a pool.

And you should really join a pool since it can be really difficult to mine by your own (exept if you have 1.5 Thash/s mining rig ready)


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