Headless Phone Mining (Android + Termux + cpuminer-opt)

This tutorial documents exactly what you’ve already done (Termux + building cpuminer-opt) and turns it into a clean, repeatable workflow.

✅ No flashing / no bootloader unlock required

⚠️ Reality check: CPU mining on an old phone is usually not profitable. Treat this as learning + automation practice (and possibly as a low-power “node/controller” later). Keep heat low to avoid battery damage.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux&pcampaignid=web_share - install Termux

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Devices

• DEVICE A — Phone (Android): runs Termux + miner
• DEVICE B — Computer (optional): SSH into the phone to manage it headlessly

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Safety rules (read once)

• Run 1 thread only (-t 1) on a phone to limit heat.
• Don’t mine while the phone is wrapped/covered. Keep airflow.
• If the phone gets hot enough to be uncomfortable to hold, stop mining.
• Expect throttling on old devices.

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DEVICE A — Phone Setup (Termux)

A1) Install Termux

• Install Termux from F-Droid (recommended).
• Open it once.

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A2) Update Termux packages

pkg update && pkg upgrade

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A3) Install build tools + dependencies

pkg install git clang make automake autoconf libtool pkg-config

A3.1) Install the missing tool that caused your build error

Your log showed:

• ar: No such file or directory

Fix by installing binutils:

pkg install binutils

Verify:

which ar
ar --version

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A4) Download cpuminer-opt

git clone https://github.com/JayDDee/cpuminer-opt.git
cd cpuminer-opt

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A5) Clean any previous partial build

(You already did this successfully.)

make clean || true

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A6) Build safely for older phones

Older phones can crash with aggressive CPU flags like -march=native. Build with safer flags:

CFLAGS="-O2" ./build.sh

A6.1) Confirm the build

ls -l cpuminer
./cpuminer --help

If help text prints, you’re done.

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DEVICE A — Mining (Run + Keep It Headless)

A7) Pick your coin/pool and algorithm

You need:

• Algorithm (example: yespower)
• Pool URL + Port (example: stratum+tcp://pool.example.com:3333)
• Wallet address

If you don’t know your algorithm/pool yet, don’t guess—you can still verify your miner works using --help.

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A8) Start mining (configured for your pool)

Below is the exact mining command filled in with your pool, wallet, coin, and algorithm.

Your pool configuration (zpool / yescrypt → RVN payout)

• Algorithm: yescrypt
• Pool: yescrypt.na.mine.zpool.ca
• Port: 6233
• Wallet: RXDu2nWPSmy5sJodZNu5NxATsn5yiCWD94
• Payout coin: RVN

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✅ SAFER (recommended for phones)

cd ~/cpuminer-opt
./cpuminer \
  -a yescrypt \
  -o stratum+tcp://yescrypt.na.mine.zpool.ca:6233 \
  -u RXDu2nWPSmy5sJodZNu5NxATsn5yiCWD94 \
  -p c=RVN \
  -t 1

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⚠️ HIGHER LOAD (your original setting)

cd ~/cpuminer-opt
./cpuminer \
  -a yescrypt \
  -o stratum+tcp://yescrypt.na.mine.zpool.ca:6233 \
  -u RXDu2nWPSmy5sJodZNu5NxATsn5yiCWD94 \
  -p c=RVN \
  -t 2

If the phone gets hot, throttle kicks in, or it exits — immediately stop and revert to -t 1.

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A9) Keep it running when you disconnect (tmux)

Install tmux:

pkg install tmux

Start a session:

tmux new -s miner

Run your miner inside tmux:

cd ~/cpuminer-opt
./cpuminer -a ALGO -o stratum+tcp://POOL:PORT -u WALLET_ADDRESS -p x -t 1

Detach (leave it running):

• Press: Ctrl + B, then D

Re-attach later:

tmux attach -t miner

Stop mining:

• Go back into the tmux session and press Ctrl + C

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DEVICE A — (Optional) Remote Management via SSH

A10) Install SSH server in Termux

pkg install openssh

Set a password:

passwd

Start SSH:

sshd

Termux SSH usually runs on port 8022.

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A11) Find the phone’s IP address (workarounds)

On your phone you saw:

• ip → cannot bind netlink socket

That’s normal on locked/older Android. Use one of these instead:

Option 1: ifconfig

pkg install net-tools
ifconfig

Look for inet 192.168.x.x.

Option 2: Android property

getprop dhcp.wlan0.ipaddress

Option 3: hostname

hostname -I

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DEVICE B — Computer (SSH into the phone)

B1) Connect from your computer

Replace USER and PHONE_IP:

ssh -p 8022 USER@PHONE_IP

Example format:

ssh -p 8022 u0_a123@192.168.1.88

Once connected you can:

• Start/stop miner
• Update miner
• Monitor output via tmux

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Common Problems (and fixes)

Problem: ar: No such file or directory

✅ Fix:

pkg install binutils

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Problem: ip says cannot bind netlink socket

✅ This is a permission limitation on older Android.

Use:

getprop dhcp.wlan0.ipaddress

or:

pkg install net-tools
ifconfig

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Problem: miner crashes / “illegal instruction”

✅ Rebuild with safer CFLAGS:

cd ~/cpuminer-opt
make clean || true
CFLAGS="-O2" ./build.sh

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Problem: phone gets too hot

✅ Reduce heat:

• Keep -t 1
• Lower screen brightness / screen off
• Pause mining periodically
• Don’t mine while charging (especially on cheap chargers)

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Suggested “phone-friendly” use (best ROI)

If the goal is earning, phones are usually better as:

• Controller node (SSH + scripts) that manages other miners
• Bot runner (Python automation)
• Monitoring node (pool stats, alerts)

But as a learning project, this build is perfect.