Can You Mine Crypto on Apple’s M5 Processor? Is It Worth It or Profitable?

Apple’s new M5 processor powers the latest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, promising lightning-fast performance, improved neural processing, and better energy efficiency. But can you actually mine cryptocurrency on Apple’s M5 chip? And if you can, is it worth the electricity, heat, and wear on your expensive device?

Let’s explore what you can realistically expect when mining crypto on an Apple M5 MacBook Pro or M5 iPad Pro, what hashrates might look like, and whether you’re better off investing in crypto directly through Coinbase instead.

Apple M5 Architecture and Mining Potential

The Apple M5 chip is built for speed, not mining. It’s designed around unified memory and AI acceleration cores, not the type of GPU parallelization that crypto mining depends on. While the M5’s performance in AI and graphics is a leap forward, cryptocurrency mining algorithms like RandomX (Monero) or Ethash (Ethereum Classic) require sustained, high-throughput processing. This is something Apple’s chips aren’t optimized for.

Still, many enthusiasts test mining on Apple hardware for curiosity or education. On past chips, such as the M1 and M2, users reported hashrates between 2 MH/s and 18 MH/s depending on the algorithm and optimization. The M5 might offer slight improvements, but don’t expect performance that competes with modern GPUs or ASIC miners.

Can You Mine on the M5 iPad Pro?

Technically, you can’t. iPadOS blocks low-level GPU and CPU access required for serious mining applications like XMRig or CryptoTab. Even if you could sideload or emulate a miner, thermal throttling and battery drain would make it unprofitable immediately.

In short: the M5 iPad Pro is excellent for creative professionals, but it’s not built for mining and using it that way could void your warranty or shorten the device’s lifespan.

If you’re curious to see Apple’s newest devices, check them out on Amazon:

• Apple M5 iPad Pro on Amazon
• Apple M5 MacBook Pro on Amazon

Is M5 Mining Worth It?

Mining cryptocurrency on a MacBook or iPad with an M5 chip might sound fun, but profitability is nearly nonexistent once electricity costs are included. Let’s break it down.

• Estimated Hashrate: 5–20 MH/s (optimistic)
• Power Draw: 25–35 W continuous
• Electric Rate: $0.15 / kWh
• Potential Revenue: $0.10–$0.50 per day before power cost

After subtracting electricity, most users would see net earnings near zero or even negative. Plus, the constant full-load processing can generate heat and reduce your MacBook’s longevity.

Setting Up Mining on an M5 Mac (CryptoTab Browser + XMRig)

If you still want to experiment for educational purposes, you can try browser-based or CPU mining tools. Here’s how:

1. Use CryptoTab Browser

CryptoTab is a Chromium-based browser that uses your CPU while browsing to mine crypto in the background. Simply install it from cryptobrowser.site, sign in, and start mining. You can monitor your hashrate, pool earnings, and referrals through the built-in dashboard.

Keep expectations realistic and know that browser mining is extremely low yield. Most users earn only a few cents daily unless they build a large referral network.

2. Use XMRig for CPU Mining

For advanced users, XMRig supports macOS ARM chips and can mine Monero (XMR) using the CPU. You’ll need to compile or download an ARM64 build, configure your wallet and pool, and run it from Terminal. Monitor your H/s output and temperatures closely to avoid throttling.

3. Combine With CryptoTab Farm

CryptoTab offers a “Farm” mode that lets you connect multiple Macs and manage them remotely. This might slightly boost your total earnings, but again it’s a hobby project, not a business model.

Realistic Hashrate Comparison

Even with improvements, the M5’s mining output is far below any mid-range NVIDIA GPU, which can achieve over 100 MH/s. The M5’s efficiency per watt may be higher, but total throughput is too low to matter financially.

Electric Costs and ROI

Let’s assume your MacBook uses an extra 30 W at full load. Over 24 hours that’s 0.72 kWh. At 15¢ per kWh, that’s about $0.11 per day in power cost and easily more than your daily mining reward.

Multiply that by 30 days and you’re spending about $3–5 monthly on electricity for what might only yield $1–2 worth of crypto. So, unless your power is free, M5 mining is financially negative.

Better Alternative: Buy and Hold Crypto

Instead of using your Mac to mine, consider just buying and holding cryptocurrency. It eliminates heat, power costs, and wear on your device. You can start safely and easily with Coinbase, one of the world’s largest and most secure exchanges.

👉 Sign up for Coinbase here and start your crypto portfolio today.

Final Thoughts

The Apple M5 processor is a technical masterpiece, but crypto mining is not its intended use. Even if you can mine with it, you’ll likely lose money after electricity costs. That said, it’s an interesting experiment for tech enthusiasts who want to understand mining software, CPU utilization, and system optimization.

For most users, however, the smarter play is to buy and hold digital assets instead of burning electricity for fractions of a coin.

Whether you test-mine with CryptoTab Browser or invest through Coinbase, always research and practice safe crypto storage habits.

Shop the Latest M5 Devices

• Apple M5 iPad Pro — Buy on Amazon
• Apple M5 MacBook Pro — Buy on Amazon

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments and mining involve risk, and results may vary.