The invention relates to a process for the production of Raney nickel catalysts. In this process, the melt of an alloy comprising from 40 to 95 wt. % aluminum, from 5 to 50 wt. % nickel, 0 to 20 wt. % iron, from 0 to 15 wt. % of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of cerium, cerium mixed metal, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and manganese, and, optionally, additional glass-forming elements, is brought into contact with one or more rotating cooling rollers or cooling plates and is allowed to cool and solidify thereon. The cooling rollers have a surface structured by means of transverse grooves, and the cooling plates have a surface structured by means of grooves extending outwards from the axis of rotation. The rapidly solidified alloy on the cooling rollers or the cooling plates is then subjected to treatment with one or more organic or inorganic bases.