Can You Still Mine Ethereum? What Changed and What to Do Instead

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Quick answer: You can’t mine Ethereum anymore. Ethereum switched from mining (proof of work) to staking (proof of stake) in the Merge on September 15, 2022, and mining ETH ended permanently. To earn rewards on Ethereum today, you stake ETH. If you want to use mining hardware, you can mine Ethereum Classic (ETC) or other coins, but profits are much lower than they were in 2021.

Why Ethereum mining ended

Mining used powerful graphics cards (GPUs) to solve puzzles that secured the network, and miners earned ETH for each block. It was effective but used as much electricity as a mid-sized country. The Merge replaced miners with validators, who lock up ETH as collateral instead of burning electricity. Ethereum’s energy use fell by roughly 99.9%, and GPU mining rewards for ETH dropped to zero overnight. Read our explainer on what Ethereum 2.0 and the Merge were for the full story.

Option 1: Stake ETH instead

Staking is the closest replacement for mining, without the hardware or power bills.

1. Exchange staking (easiest): Coinbase, Kraken and other exchanges stake for you. You can start with a small amount, but they take a commission and availability varies by state and country.
2. Liquid staking: services like Lido and Rocket Pool let you stake any amount and give you a token (stETH or rETH) you can still use or sell.
3. Solo staking (most hands-on): run your own validator with 32 ETH, a dedicated computer and a reliable internet connection.

Staking rewards are paid in ETH and vary over time. They are not guaranteed, and the value of ETH can fall. Compare options in our guide to the best crypto staking platforms and read is staking crypto safe? first.

Option 2: Mine Ethereum Classic (ETC)

Ethereum Classic is the original Ethereum chain that split off in 2016, and it still uses proof of work. Many former ETH miners moved their GPUs to ETC after the Merge. See Ethereum vs Ethereum Classic for how they differ.

To mine ETC you’ll need:

• A GPU mining rig with modern graphics cards and enough memory for the Etchash algorithm
• Mining software that supports Etchash, plus up-to-date GPU drivers
• A mining pool so you earn steady small payouts instead of waiting to find a block alone
• A wallet that supports ETC to receive your rewards

Be realistic about profit. With so many miners competing, a home GPU rig often earns little more than its electricity costs. Plug your hardware and power price into a mining profitability calculator before you buy anything.

Option 3: Mine Bitcoin or other coins

Bitcoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin are still mined, but only specialized ASIC machines are competitive. They’re expensive, loud and power-hungry. See our guides to mining Bitcoin and Dogecoin mining rigs.

Avoid “Ethereum mining” scams

Websites and apps still advertise “ETH cloud mining” or “Ethereum mining contracts.” Real Ethereum mining is impossible, so any service selling it is a scam. The same goes for apps promising daily ETH mining returns. Learn the warning signs in our guide to crypto scams.

Frequently asked questions