Starminer asteroid mining with mining lasers extracting valuable resources

Starminer How to Make Money Fast: Credits, Trade & Debt Clearing Guide

How to earn credits fast in Starminer. Best resources to sell (Cobalt 72/unit, Thorium 360/unit), mission efficiency, automated trade routes, debt clearing strategy, and passive income setups.

BLUF

Cobalt and Thorium. That's where the money is. Cobalt sells for 72 a unit and piles up in debris fields. Thorium goes for 360 a chunk — two of them clear your starting debt. Iron and Silicone are 12 each, barely worth hauling to a station. Sell those only if you're desperate. Build a T2 Metal Storage and let it auto-sell while you focus on expansion. Prices sourced from TheGameSlayer's guide — test and adjust.

Quick Answer

Starminer Money Making Guide

Cobalt and Thorium are your cash crops. Build a T2 Metal Storage and let it auto-sell. Clear debt early — interest stacks up. Missions add income and XP on the side.

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Starminer how to make money

Resources

Sell Cobalt (72/unit) and Thorium (360/unit). Use T2 Metal Storage for auto-selling. Complete missions for bonus credits.

Starminer best resource to sell

Prices

Thorium: 360 credits/unit (C-class asteroids). Cobalt: 72 credits/unit (debris fields). Iron: 12 credits/unit (too cheap, use for building).

Starminer credits farm

Farm

Build 2 mining ships targeting C-class asteroids. Auto-sell surplus via T2 Metal Storage at nearby trade station.

Starminer debt clearing

Debt

Clear starting debt within 2 hours. Interest compounds and eats into expansion budget.

Best Resources to Sell

Step	Do this	Why it matters
Sell Cobalt	Cobalt sells for 72 credits/unit. Found in debris fields and C-class asteroids. Best consistent early income.	Source: TheGameSlayer. 72 credits/unit is 6x iron's value. One cobalt-rich asteroid funds early expansion.
Sell Thorium	Thorium Chunks sell for 360 credits/unit. Found in C-class asteroids. Save some for reactor fuel.	Source: TheGameSlayer. Highest-value early resource. One chunk clears starting debt.
Complete Missions	Accept missions from the Operations Interface. Mining and delivery missions give the best credit + XP rewards.	Source: Dev Diary #10 confirms mission system. Missions provide structured income and faster leveling.
Auto-Sell with T2 Storage	Build a T2 Metal Storage module and set it to auto-sell surplus at nearby trade stations.	Source: beforeiplay.com confirms trade within 1000m. Automation triggers have infinite range.
Process Before Selling	Refine raw ore into ingots before selling. Ingots are 3-5x more value-dense per cargo space.	Source: Dev Diary #10 describes smelting/refining. Exact multipliers need gameplay verification.
Clear Debt Early	Prioritize paying off the starting debt in the first 2 hours to avoid compounding interest.	Source: TheGameSlayer and player reports. Debt-free expansion is more efficient.

Resource Price Comparison

Resource	Price (cr/unit)	Best Source	Sell or Keep?
Thorium Chunk	360	C-class asteroids	Sell (save 2-3 for reactor fuel)
Cobalt	72	Debris fields, C-class asteroids	Sell — best consistent income
Gold	48	Rare asteroid nodes	Sell — no early-game crafting use
Copper	20	Sector 2 asteroids	Keep for wiring and solar panels
Carbon	18	Sector 1 common	Keep for life support and plastic
Iron	12	Sector 1 abundant	Keep — essential for hull and frame
Silicone	12	Sector 1 common	Keep — needed for most electronics
Ice	6	Sector 1 ubiquitous	Keep for coolant and reaction mass

Automated Income Setup

Once you have stable mining, automate your income to focus on expansion:

Build a T2 Metal Storage module next to your refinery.
Set automation trigger: when storage reaches 80% capacity, auto-sell surplus at the nearest trade station (must be within 1000m for direct trade).
For stations beyond 1000m, set up automated transport triggers (infinite range) to move processed goods to a hub station near a trade depot.
Process raw ore into ingots before selling — a Basic Smelter converts ore to ingots at 3-5x value density per cargo space.
Build dedicated hauler ships to run trade routes between your mining ops and trade stations.

Debt Clearing Priority

Clear your starting debt in the first 2 hours. Interest compounds over time and eats into your expansion budget. Two Thorium Chunks or ~10 Cobalt units will cover it. Sell to the Governance ship at a trading lane for the best price. Debt-free, every credit goes toward growth instead of interest payments.

Mission Income

Missions from the Operations Interface provide structured income plus bonus XP. Prioritize these types:

Mining Delivery

Credits + XP + reputation

Accept missions for resources you're already mining. Don't chase rare materials for a single mission.

Defense Contracts

High credits + combat XP

Only accept after you have a patrol boat or defense platform. Don't fight with mining ships.

Exploration

XP + map data + anomaly scans

Good for breaking up the mining loop. Reveals new asteroid fields and trade stations.

Trade Missions

Credits + trade reputation

Combine with your automated trade routes for passive mission completion.

Starminer related guide navigation image — Use the related guides to move from launch facts to first-hour planning, ship building, mining logistics, defense, feature status, and buying advice.

Next Guides

Starminer Guide Hub

Start here for release facts, mode selection, beginner priorities, systems, specs, and buying advice.

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Beginner Guide

First-hour planning for Campaign, Sandbox, starter stations, power, heat, mass, mining, storage, and defenses.

System Requirements

Official minimum PC specs, missing recommended specs, low-end setup cautions, DirectX 11, storage, and Steam Deck unknowns.

Game Modes

Campaign, Sandbox, and Survival explained with first-run recommendations, replay value, and Early Access caveats.

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Modular construction, mass, thrust, power, tonnage, station size, mining ships, warships, and blueprint planning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I make money fast in Starminer?

Focus on Cobalt (72 credits/unit) and Thorium (360 credits/unit). Cobalt is found in debris fields and C-class asteroids. Thorium is rarer but clears your starting debt with one chunk. Sell at trade stations within 1000m range.

Q: What resource sells for the most in Starminer?

Thorium Chunks sell for 360 credits each — the highest-value early resource. Cobalt at 72/unit is the best consistent income. Iron (12/unit) and Silicone (12/unit) are too cheap to sell — use them for construction instead.

Q: How do I clear my starting debt?

Sell 2-3 Thorium Chunks or ~10 Cobalt units at a trade station. Accept mining delivery missions from the Operations Interface for bonus credits. Clear debt in the first 2 hours to avoid compounding interest.