A Power Analysis of Cryptocurrency Mining: A Mobile Device Perspective

Abstract

We investigate the impact of how a cryptocurrency mining system can affect the power consumption of mobile devices. Specifically we look at CoinHive, a cryptocurrency miner and associated mining pool targeting the Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency. CoinHive distributes a JavaScript-based miner to webpages where visitors run the script and provide computing power to the web host's CoinHive account. Ideally, hosting JavaScript-based cryptocurrency miners provides alternatives to using ad-networks as a source of website revenue. While some users may not oppose an energy for advertisement trade-off, it may be less palatable to mobile users concerned with battery life. Our initial studies have revealed that, at a minimum, running the normally distributed JavaScript-based miner increases the power draw of a Samsung Galaxy S4 by about 5 fold. Under certain circumstances, the power draw can increase to eleven-fold. We illustrate these findings by comparing them with various normal use benchmarks and with a variety of different ad-enabled webpages.