How to mine Ethereum at home

Cryptocurrencies have transformed the world of finance, and Ethereum (ETH) remains one of the most popular digital assets. With its smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, and NFTs running on its blockchain, Ethereum attracts both investors and miners.

However, it’s important to clarify upfront that Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) in 2022 during the Merge. This means that Ethereum mining using traditional GPUs is no longer possible. Ethereum now uses a staking model rather than mining.

That said, many beginners are still interested in mining ETH or similar coins at home. In this guide, we’ll clarify Ethereum’s current state, explore the alternative ETH-like coins that can still be mined using GPUs, and provide a step-by-step guide to setting up your mining rig at home.

Is Ethereum Still Mineable?

No. After Ethereum’s Merge upgrade in September 2022, mining ETH using GPUs or ASICs became obsolete. The network no longer supports mining rewards for validating transactions. Instead, Ethereum now uses validators who stake ETH in the network.

Alternative Ethereum-Like Coins You Can Mine

Even though ETH mining is no longer viable, there are Ethereum-forked or Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible coins that still use PoW and can be mined with GPUs. These include:

• Ethereum Classic (ETC)
• Ergo (ERG)
• Ravencoin (RVN)
• Firo (FIRO)

For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on Ethereum Classic (ETC), the original Ethereum fork that continues using the PoW model. Mining ETC at home is the closest equivalent to mining ETH.

Why Mine Ethereum Classic Instead of Ethereum?

• PoW Model Still Active: ETC uses the Etchash algorithm, allowing miners to validate transactions and earn ETC rewards.
• Familiar Mining Tools: You can use the same mining software, GPUs, and mining pools that were previously used for Ethereum.
• Lower Network Hashrate: For beginners, mining ETC is more approachable than trying to stake ETH, which requires 32 ETH minimum.

Step-by-Step Guide to Mine Ethereum Classic (ETC) at Home

Step 1: Choose Your Hardware (GPU Selection)

GPU mining is still viable in 2025 for coins like ETC. The best GPUs for mining include:

• NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / 3070 / 3080 / 3090
• AMD RX 6600 XT / RX 6700 XT / RX 6800 / RX 6900 XT

For beginners, mid-range GPUs like the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6600 XT provide a balance of performance, energy efficiency, and cost.

Important Tips:

• Check your local electricity costs. Mining profitability depends largely on electricity rates.
• Ensure you have proper ventilation—GPUs can get very hot.

Step 2: Set Up Your Mining Rig

For home mining, you can either use:

• A dedicated mining rig: A system built specifically for mining with multiple GPUs.
• Gaming PC mining: You can mine part-time on your gaming PC during idle hours.

Essential Components:

• GPU(s)
• Motherboard (with multiple PCIe slots if using more than one GPU)
• Sufficient Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• Cooling fans or ventilation system
• Stable internet connection

Step 3: Install Mining Software

Popular mining software for ETC includes:

• lolMiner
• NBMiner
• T-Rex Miner

How to Install:

1. Download the latest version of your chosen mining software from the official website or GitHub.
2. Extract the file to a folder on your PC.
3. Edit the .bat file (on Windows) or shell script to add your wallet address and the mining pool.

Example for lolMiner:

lolMiner.exe --algo ETCHASH --pool etc.2miners.com:1010 --user YOUR_ETC_WALLET_ADDRESS

Step 4: Choose a Mining Pool

Mining solo is rarely profitable for beginners. Pools allow miners to combine their computational power and share rewards.

Popular ETC pools include:

• 2Miners
• Ethermine (ETC)
• F2Pool
• Hiveon Pool

Pools charge a small fee (usually 1%) but provide regular payouts.

Step 5: Create an ETC Wallet

To receive mining payouts, you’ll need an Ethereum Classic wallet. Recommended wallets:

• Trust Wallet (supports ETC)
• Exodus Wallet
• Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets

Make sure you back up your seed phrase safely offline.

Step 6: Start Mining

Once everything is configured:

• Run the .bat file.
• Monitor your mining stats, temperatures, and hashrate.
• Use the pool’s dashboard to track your earnings.

Is Mining at Home Still Profitable in 2025?

Mining profitability depends on:

• Electricity Cost: The lower your power rate, the higher your potential profits.
• Mining Difficulty: As more miners join, mining gets harder.
• Coin Price: ETC, RVN, or ERG prices affect mining revenue.
• Hardware Efficiency: High-efficiency GPUs reduce electricity consumption.

Example:

If you mine with an RTX 3060 Ti at 60 MH/s on Etchash, your daily earnings might be around 0.02 to 0.04 ETC, depending on network conditions and fees. You can use calculators like WhatToMine.com to check up-to-date profitability.

Key Considerations Before Mining at Home

• Noise: Mining rigs generate fan noise.
• Heat: Expect significant heat generation—adequate cooling is a must.
• Electricity Usage: Your power bill will increase.
• Hardware Wear: Mining 24/7 accelerates wear and tear on your GPUs.
• Regulations: Always check local laws regarding cryptocurrency mining.

Alternatives to Mining Ethereum at Home in 2025

Since ETH mining is no longer possible, here are alternatives:

• Staking ETH: You can stake ETH using exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, or self-staking with your own validator node.
• Mine other PoW coins: As mentioned, coins like ETC, RVN, ERG, and FIRO.
• Cloud Mining: Rent mining power from cloud services (always research carefully to avoid scams).
• Investing in mining stocks or ETFs.

Final Thoughts

While mining Ethereum directly at home is no longer an option post-Merge, Ethereum Classic and other PoW coins still present opportunities for hobbyist miners. Setting up a GPU rig at home remains a rewarding and educational experience—offering not just profits but also technical skills in blockchain, hardware, and crypto security.

For beginners, always start small, calculate profitability carefully, and scale only when you’re confident. Mining can still be a hobby, a small side hustle, or a stepping stone into the wider cryptocurrency world.