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Earn Extra Rewards While Mining Bitcoin
Merge-mined coins are one of the mining world鈥檚 best-kept secrets. Most people think of mining as a one-coin affair. You mine Bitcoin, you get Bitcoin. But thanks to merge-mining, that鈥檚 not the full story. In 2025, several major cryptocurrencies are still quietly piggybacking on more secure blockchains to reward miners with extra coins. Merge-mining allows miners to generate multiple coins at the same time, using the same hashpower, the same energy, and the same hardware. Here are the most important merge-mined cryptocurrencies in 2025, ranked by relevance and market cap.
馃獧 1. Dogecoin (DOGE)
Merged with: Litecoin (LTC)
Dogecoin is one of the most successful merge-mined coins in existence. Since 2014, it has been merge-mined with Litecoin, forming a symbiotic relationship that has ensured both network security and long-term miner interest. What began as a meme project has evolved into a serious digital asset, in large part due to its compatibility with Litecoin鈥檚 Scrypt mining algorithm. This makes Dogecoin the most widely adopted and recognized of all merge-mined coins on the market today.
Because Dogecoin does not have its own dedicated mining ecosystem, merge-mining has become essential for its survival and growth. Miners who participate in Litecoin mining using compatible software can simultaneously earn DOGE rewards, effectively getting two coins for the price of one in terms of energy and hardware. Among all merge-mined coins, DOGE stands out for its liquidity, and high market cap, making it the go-to example when explaining the benefits of merge-mining to newcomers.
馃К 2. Fractal Bitcoin (FBTC)
Merged with: Bitcoin (BTC)
Fractal Bitcoin is one of the most ambitious merge-mined coins launched in recent years. Designed as a parallel chain to Bitcoin, it brings programmable capabilities to the Bitcoin ecosystem, including support for smart contracts, token issuance, and decentralized applications. What makes it remarkable is that it uses Bitcoin’s immense hashpower through merge-mining, allowing it to stay decentralized and secure without requiring its own dedicated mining hardware network.
Like other merge-mined coins, FBTC does not require any additional energy expenditure or configuration for miners already securing the Bitcoin network. This approach enables the coin to benefit from Bitcoin鈥檚 security while adding functionality that Bitcoin itself cannot natively support.
鈿欙笍 3. Namecoin (NMC)
Merged with: Bitcoin (BTC)
Namecoin was the original pioneer of merge-mining. In fact, it was the first-ever project to implement it successfully with Bitcoin. As such, it holds a special place in the history of merge-mined coins. Launched in 2011, Namecoin aimed to decentralize domain name registration and protect internet freedom by removing reliance on traditional DNS systems. To ensure long-term network security, the developers introduced merge-mining with Bitcoin, allowing miners to secure both chains at once.
Although Namecoin鈥檚 visibility has declined compared to newer merge-mined coins, it remains an essential case study in how merge-mining can extend a project鈥檚 lifespan. Its consistent inclusion in the portfolios of some major Bitcoin mining pools proves that merge-mined coins don鈥檛 have to be high-profile to be valuable. Namecoin continues to generate passive rewards for miners who wouldn鈥檛 otherwise engage with the chain directly, a reminder that merge-mining isn鈥檛 just for new projects but can also keep older networks alive.
馃П 4. Elastos (ELA)
Merged with: Bitcoin (BTC)
Elastos is a unique entrant in the world of merge-mined coins, combining merge-mining with an ambitious vision of a decentralized internet. The Elastos Smartweb allows applications to run in a peer-to-peer environment without centralized servers. To secure its blockchain layer, Elastos uses merge-mining with Bitcoin, benefiting from the same hashpower that drives the world鈥檚 most secure cryptocurrency.
As with other merge-mined coins, ELA鈥檚 mining does not require separate equipment or additional energy use. Instead, it piggybacks on existing Bitcoin mining operations via compatible pools. Although ELA is not as widely supported as Dogecoin or Fractal Bitcoin, its role in the ecosystem of merge-mined coins is important: it shows that merge-mining can be used not only for financial assets, but also for securing broader infrastructure. For miners seeking exposure to visionary projects while maximizing efficiency, Elastos remains a compelling example of what merge-mined coins can achieve.
Why Merge-Mining Matters in 2025
Merge-mining lets you earn multiple coins with the same effort. It鈥檚 one of the most efficient ways to improve mining ROI, especially in a time of rising electricity costs and tighter margins.
Here鈥檚 why it matters now more than ever:
- No additional electricity consumption
- No impact on your primary coin mining
- Higher overall yield per TH/s or GH/s
- Better resource utilization for large-scale miners and pools
- Immediate advantage for cloud mining platforms that support it
Conclusi贸n
Merge-mined coins are not talked about much in the context of crypto mining, and in 2025, they are more relevant than ever. Whether it鈥檚 merged with Dogecoin or Bitcoin, merge-mining unlocks free rewards with no extra work.