How to Mine Ethereum
In order to mine Ethereum, you need specialized computers that can perform the computations necessary to create new tokens on the blockchain in a timely manner as well as a significant amount of electricity, which is required to run the equipment continuously. All of this adds up to significant upfront costs.
Mining is the “glue” that holds together many cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, by ensuring that the network comes to consensus on each and every change made in the system. Ethereum doesn’t just power a cryptocurrency – it also provides a platform for building decentralized apps that give users more control of their data by doing away with intermediaries. Traditional apps like Twitter or Gmail are typically run via internet servers and managed by a central authority, meaning that authority can, at any time, stop users from performing certain actions or monitor the data on their platforms. Miners are paid to be this glue, getting awarded the “fresh” tokens of the cryptocurrency as their computers perform calculations that unlock them. That’s why most people take up the venture in the first place.
Miners set computers loose to grind through cryptographic computations in an attempt to win ether, Ethereum’s native token. They need to try a huge number of computational problems until one unlocks a new batch of the asset.
In theory, anyone can set their computers to focus on these cryptographic puzzles as a way to win rewards. The catch is that mining on major public blockchains tends to require more and more power over time. As more people invest in more powerful hardware to mine cryptocurrency, the calculations get harder. Miners using regular computers are very, very unlikely to win.
Choosing mining hardware
Before getting started, you will need special computer hardware to dedicate full-time to mining.
There are three types of mining hardware:
CPUs
GPUs: Faster than CPUs
ASICs: Even faster and more powerful than GPUs
GPUs and ASICs boast a higher hashrate, meaning they can guess puzzle answers more quickly. At time of writing, GPUs and ASICs are now the only cost-effective option for ether miners. CPUs aren’t powerful enough anymore.
Settling up a GPU is a complex task and you can browse plenty of advice about which ones are the most profitable based on how many hashes the GPU can compute per second, power consumption and the initial expense of the card.
You probably want to set up a mining rig, a machine that might be composed of multiple GPUs and can take a week to build.Online mining profitability calculators, such as the one offered by Etherscan, give some insight into the likely amount of ether you’ll earn at a given hashrate, and whether that ether is enough – when cutting out the costs of setup and electricity – to make a profit.
Installing Ethereum software
After selecting some mining hardware, the next step is to install the mining software.
Miners need to install an Ethereum client to connect to the wider Ethereum network. An internet connection is vital for miners. Without an internet connection, the node won’t be able to do much of anything.
Programmers familiar with the command line can install Geth, software that runs an Ethereum node written in the scripting language Go, or any of the other Ethereum clients, like Parity or OpenEthereum.
Download Geth here, using the directions for your appropriate operating system (Windows, Mac OS, or Linux), unzip it, and run it.
Once installed, your node can then connect to the Ethereum network where it can then “talk” to other nodes, to catch wind of the latest transactions and blocks. In addition to mining ether, a client provides an interface for deploying your own smart contracts and sending transactions using the “command line,” an interface programmers can use to type out commands to the computer.
Install Ethereum mining software
Aspiring miners then need to install the official mining software, Ethminer.
Find the download for the appropriate version of Windows here, or GPU mining instructions for other operating systems here.
Once installed, your node will officially play a part in securing the Ethereum network. For more detailed instructions on any of the above, visit the official ethereum website.
Joining a mining pool
As a miner, you’re unlikely to be able to mine ether on your own.
That’s why miners “pool” together their computational power into “mining pools,” to improve their chances of solving the cryptographic puzzles and earning ether. Then, they split the profits proportional to how much power each miner contributed.
There are many factors involved in joining a mining pool. Each pool might not be around forever, and the computational power of each pool is constantly changing, so there are a number of factors that go into deciding which to join.
One point to keep in mind is that mining pools have different payout structures. And pools charge mining fees.
Today the most popular mining pools are:
Ethermine
F2Pool
Sparkpool
Nanopool
Mining pools generally have a signup process on their website so miners can connect to the pool and begin mining.
Find cheap electricity
The other biggest mining cost is electricity. Many profitable miners scout for electricity discounts, either by moving to regions around the world with less expensive electricity or by tapping renewable energy sources.
Ethereum Mining FAQs
Is Ethereum mining profitable?
The answer is complex. There are many variables miners need to consider when taking the plunge into mining, such as how much ether is worth at a given time and cost of electricity, an expensive necessity for mining. The cost of electricity varies across the globe.
How could the Ethereum upgrade ‘ProgPoW’ impact mining?
ProgPoW is a proposed Ethereum upgrade that, if implemented, would hamstring the most powerful miners. The motive for doing so is to keep the network decentralized by trying to ensure that no one in the network gets too much power.
In short, miners using ASICs (hardware even more powerful for mining than GPUs – see above) are the ones that would be affected. Their ASICs, which miners likely paid a premium for, would no longer be able to be used to mine ether.
How will Ethereum 2.0 upgrade impact mining?
The upgrade Ethereum 2.0 started roll out on Dec. 1, 2020, and will be iterated upon over the next several years.
The upgrade will impact mining even more drastically than ProgPoW. Once Ethereum 2.0 is fully rolled out, the goal is to eradicate miners completely, paving the way for a more energy-efficient method of maintaining the integrity of the Ethereum blockchain.
How do I keep abreast of Ethereum events that could impact mining?
The mining world is a whirlwind of change. The tools that you pick up today might be obsolete next year. Some mining pools might fall away while others emerge.
As a miner it’s worth keeping aware of industry shifts by keeping tabs on the latest mining news as well as Ethereum protocol upgrades.