ETC uses the Etchash algorithm, which runs on GPUs (6GB or more of VRAM, since the DAG is larger than 4GB) and on ASIC miners. Popular GPUs include NVIDIA RTX 3060/3070/3080 and AMD RX 6600/6700/6800. ASIC options include the Jasminer X44-P, iPollo V2 and Bitmain Antminer E11. ASICs offer higher efficiency but less flexibility than GPUs. See our Mining Hardware guide for detailed comparisons.
Popular miners include lolMiner (AMD + NVIDIA), TeamRedMiner (AMD), GMiner (AMD + NVIDIA) and T-Rex (NVIDIA, with no release since 2022). All support the Etchash algorithm. Configure your miner with your pool's stratum address, your wallet address and a worker name, and set the algorithm to etchash.
Since Ethereum moved to Proof of Stake in September 2022, your ETH mining hardware can mine ETC with minimal reconfiguration. Change your mining software's pool address to an ETC pool, update your wallet address to an ETC address, and select Etchash rather than Ethash. A card that mined ETH works on ETC if it has 6GB or more of VRAM.
A mining pool combines the hash power of multiple miners to find blocks more frequently, then distributes rewards proportionally to each miner's contributed hash rate. Solo mining requires significant hash power to find blocks regularly, while pools provide more consistent, smaller payouts. Pools typically charge a 1-2% fee on rewards.
Major ETC mining pools include F2Pool, 2Miners, K1Pool, GTPool, AntPool, and Kryptex. Choose a pool based on fee structure, payout method (PPS, PPLNS, PROP), minimum payout threshold, server locations, and current pool hashrate. Distributing across multiple pools helps network decentralization.
Consider: fee rate (typically 1% to 2%), payout method (PPS for consistent payouts, PPLNS for potentially higher but variable payouts), minimum payout threshold, server proximity (lower latency = fewer stale shares), and pool hashrate relative to total network (avoid pools with >40% of network hash). Check the Mining Pools page for current options.
Profitability depends on your hardware efficiency, electricity cost, ETC price, and network difficulty. Use our Profitability Calculator to estimate returns based on your specific setup. Key factors: electricity cost below $0.10/kWh is generally needed for GPU profitability, ASICs are more efficient per watt, and network difficulty adjusts with total hash power.
Etchash is a modified version of Ethash, Ethereum's original mining algorithm. ECIP-1099 (the Thanos fork, November 2020) doubled its epoch length from 30,000 to 60,000 blocks, which halved the DAG's growth and kept 3GB and 4GB GPUs mining for longer; the DAG has since grown past 4GB. Its security properties are those of Ethash.
In Era 6 (from block 25,000,001), the block reward is 1.6384 ETC per block. Rewards decrease by 20% every 5 million blocks under ECIP-1017; the next reduction, to 1.31072 ETC, lands at block 30,000,000. Visit our Supply page for the full emission schedule and a countdown to the next reduction.
ASICs (such as the Jasminer X44-P or iPollo V2) offer more hashrate per watt, meaning better efficiency and potentially higher profit margins. GPUs are more flexible: you can mine other coins or repurpose them. For dedicated ETC mining with low electricity costs, ASICs typically have better ROI. For miners who want hardware flexibility, GPUs are the safer choice.
No. Ethereum Classic's commitment to Proof of Work is a foundational principle. The network explicitly chose to maintain PoW when Ethereum transitioned to PoS. ETC's security model, censorship resistance properties, and permissionless participation all depend on Proof of Work. There are no proposals to change this.
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