The amount needed to start mining depends on several factors, including the cryptocurrency you want to mine and the mining equipment you plan to use. In the case of Bitcoin, for example, the mining process has become highly competitive, requiring specialized hardware called ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and significant computational power. As a result, the upfront cost of starting Bitcoin mining can be quite high, often in the range of several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars or more, depending on the efficiency and quantity of mining equipment you wish to purchase. However, there are also other cryptocurrencies, such as certain altcoins, that can be mined using regular CPUs or GPUs, which may require less initial investment. It's important to carefully research the specific requirements and costs associated with mining the cryptocurrency you are interested in before determining the amount you need to start mining.