The initial and ongoing hardware costs associated with mining are only one of the many drawbacks you should consider carefully before diving in. The cost of mining hardware can range from inexpensive to prohibitive. The initial investment will likely be low if you use a graphics processing unit (GPU), but it will be substantial if you choose an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Mining cryptocurrencies requires a lot of electricity, which adds up in the long run. A significant increase in your monthly or annual electricity bill is to be expected if you decide to begin mining, as mining hardware is typically left on around the clock and can be quite an energy intensive.

Keep in mind that not everyone who dabbles in crypto mining succeeds. The probability of successfully mining a block or releasing a new coin into circulation falls as the size of the mining community for a certain cryptocurrency rises. This is especially troublesome in Bitcoin mining, which requires high-powered specialized equipment. Before beginning your mining venture, it is crucial to consider all of these variables.

You must also choose between solo mining Ethereum Classic or joining a mining pool. Pooled mining is when multiple miners combine their computing resources to boost their odds of successfully mining a block. This can greatly improve the stability of your mining endeavour; nevertheless, it’s important to remember that in a mining pool, the profits are distributed among the members based on their respective contributions of hash power. Membership fees for mining pools are also typically required.

In contrast to pool mining, in which you share the benefit with others, solo mining provides you with all of the payouts but can take much longer to complete.

Let’s talk about Ethereum Classic mining hardware right now.

1. Hardware

A graphical processing unit (GPU) or specialized hardware (ASIC) miner can both be used to mine Ethereum Classic. Mining rigs based on graphics processing units (GPUs) can also be employed. If you want to build a GPU mining rig, you might easily spend more than $1,000. The cost of an ASIC can range greatly from model to model and from condition to condition. Some ASICs can be purchased for less than $1,000, while others might cost more than $10,000.

However, graphics processing units (GPUs) are typically preferred for Ethereum Classic mining because of the Thanos hard fork of 2020, which made mining blocks easier for GPUs with less RAM. Mining with ASICs became unprofitable following the fork because of the Ethash algorithm. In any case, this fact does not rule out the possibility of ASIC mining for Ethereum Classic.

Let’s talk about four of the most popular GPU and ASIC models now available so you know what to search for.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti (GPU)

Cryptocurrency miners frequently employ the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, a widely used graphics processing unit (GPU). To reach its maximum hash rate, this graphics card requires 200W of power. This GPU may not be the fastest available, but its superior power economy makes up for its lack of raw speed. You can build a very effective mining setup with numerous RTX 3060 Ti cards, but be prepared to spend a significant amount of money on the hardware.

Radeon RX 6700 XT by AMD (GPU)

One more great option for GPU cryptocurrency mining is the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT. Although Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) are widely considered the best for cryptocurrency mining, it is important to note that there are alternative brands available at lower prices. With a maximum of 230W, this model is capable of a hash rate of 47MH/s. While not exceptional, a handful of these GPUs in a system could yield a profit without having to spend thousands.

2. Software

Blockchain mining also relies heavily on software. The benefits and drawbacks of various crypto-mining software vary, and not all software is suitable for all coins. So, I say we compare the top two Ethereum Classic mining software packages.

GMiner

Over 600,000 people use GMiner every day to mine cryptocurrency. For example, Ethereum Classic may be mined with GMiner along with a wide variety of other coins. This program works with many different mining algorithms. GMiner supports mining with AMD and Nvidia GPUs, but it does not work with ASICs.

Users may monitor their hardware’s temperature and get a variety of overclocking statistics in GMiner. A 1% fee is deducted from your earnings to cover Ethereum Classic mining costs. The software, however, may be had without cost and works on both Linux and Windows.

NBMiner

One more popular choice among Ethereum Classic miners is NBMiner, which has over 700,000 daily users. It’s no surprise that the Ethereum Classic mining community favors graphics processing units (GPUs), hence this tool only supports GPU mining on Nvidia and AMD cards.

There are many different cryptocurrencies and mining algorithms that NBMiner can process. With this software, users can connect to mining pools through an encrypted SSL connection. NBMiner, like GMiner, takes a 1% cut of your Ethereum Classic mining earnings as their fee. Also, it’s command line software, which can be intimidating to someone who isn’t very tech-savvy.

You can use specialized hardware, such as an ASIC, to mine Ethereum Classic, and there are a few different software options to choose from.

3. Wallet

Get a wallet to store your cryptocurrency before you begin mining. You need a wallet that supports Ethereum Classic in this scenario, so double-check that your potential wallet does before installing it.

These days, you may get a variety of digital and physical wallets that support ETC (or hot and cold).

If you’d rather use a digital wallet, some of the best options are Trust Wallet, Exodus, and Atomic Wallet. Because of the potential for remote hacking of software wallets, it’s important to select a service that offers multiple safeguards to protect your money.

Hardware wallets, such as the Ledger and Trezor, are a more secure choice because your money is kept offline and is hence immune to hacking attempts.

Begin Mining Ethereum Classic Now By Following the Instructions Above

Follow our advice and you’ll be well on your way to mining ETC with the best tools available. Despite the drawbacks, crypto mining has the potential to deliver a reliable second income with minimal effort on your part.