How to mine Ethereum Classic? Updated guide 2025

¡Attention, miners and crypto enthusiasts! In a world where blockchain evolves at the speed of light, there is an opportunity that shines brightly: mining Ethereum Classic (ETC).

After Ethereum’s historic move to Proof-of-Stake, the vast network of miners that validated transactions with hardware was left without a home. And it is there that ETC, the original brother of the network, has resurfaced with an unstoppable force. The opportunity is clear: ETC remains faithful to the spirit of Proof-of-Work mining, offering one of the most profitable and stable options for miners in 2025.

But don’t worry, this isn’t a boring guide full of technicalities. This is your definitive manual to join the network, take control, and start generating income. We will show you how to mine ETC simply, step by step, so you can join the mining revolution without fear. Are you ready to connect your hardware and be part of the future of money?

What is Ethereum Classic and why mine it in 2025?

Ethereum Classic is a cryptocurrency and a blockchain network that enables the creation of decentralized applications, known as “dApps”. It is a popular option within the blockchain community, especially for those who value immutability and loyalty to original principles. But to understand it better, it’s important to delve into its origin, differences, and uses.

In 2016, a key event on the Ethereum network, known as the “The DAO” hack, resulted in the loss of millions of dollars. To recover the funds, the community faced a dilemma: reverse the transaction or keep the blockchain history intact.

The majority voted in favor of reversing the hack through a hard fork, creating a new blockchain which they called Ethereum. However, a group within the community opposed this decision, arguing that a blockchain must be immutable, regardless of the circumstances. This group continued using the original chain and renamed it Ethereum Classic, preserving the history of the network as it was.

By the way, after Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake, mining Ethereum Classic has become one of the most profitable and sustainable options in 2025. The ETC network has been greatly strengthened by the arrival of miners looking for a new home for their hardware, which has increased its security and stability.

Unlike other cryptocurrencies, ETC remains faithful to Proof-of-Work mining, with a limited supply and a deflationary nature, making it a valuable asset and a promising long-term alternative.

Step 1: Understand the Ethash algorithm and technical requirements

The Ethash algorithm is the foundation of Ethereum Classic mining and the core of its security. It works like a crypto puzzle that miners’ computers must solve to validate transactions. It is a Proof-of-Work mechanism that rewards the miners who are the first to find the solution.

The secret: The DAG size

Here is the trick of Ethash: it uses a massive data file called the DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph).

• What is it?Imagine the DAG as a huge instruction manual that your graphics card (GPU) needs to solve the mining puzzle.
• Why is it important?This manual is too large to be stored in the computer’s memory, so the GPU needs to load it into its own video memory (VRAM) to work. Over time, the size of the DAG constantly grows, making mining require GPUs with more VRAM. If your graphics card doesn’t have enough memory, it simply won’t be able to mine.

Minimum hardware requirements

Due to the nature of the DAG, GPU memory is the most critical factor. To mine ETC, you need:

• The most important piece of hardware.
• Video Memory (VRAM).By the end of 2025, the ETC DAG size exceeds 5 GB. This means you need a GPU with a minimum of 6 GB of VRAM to mine ETC. A card with 4 GB could no longer join the network.
• A stable Internet connection is crucial to communicate with the mining network.

Step 2: Choose the ideal hardware to mine ETC in 2025

To mine ETC in 2025, the ideal hardware are specialized ASIC miners that operate with the Ethash algorithm, as they offer high performance optimized for this purpose. Here are the 7 best ASIC miners of 2025 that you can use to mine cryptocurrencies:

1. Bitmain Antminer L9.It is a powerful Scrypt miner, ideal for mining Dogecoin, Litecoin and other similar cryptocurrencies.
2. Bitmain Antminer S21 XP.It is one of the most efficient Bitcoin miners in 2025, designed for high-performance SHA-256 mining operations.
3. Iceriver AE1 Lite.It is an excellent option for those looking to start mining Aleo.
4. Bitmain Antminer S21 Profrom Bitmain. Designed for Bitcoin miners looking for high performance with excellent efficiency.
5. Bitmain Antminer S21+.Another powerful SHA-256 miner from Bitmain, ideal for mining Bitcoin and similar coins.
6. Bitdeer SealMiner A2from Bitdeer. An impressive SHA-256 miner that stands out for its incredible silence.
7. Fluminer L1.It is an excellent entry-level option for those who want to start mining Dogecoin or Litecoin without spending a fortune.

By the way, choosing the best ASIC miner of 2025 is not just about picking the one with the highest hash rate. It’s about finding the perfect balance between performance, power consumption, and noise level, especially if you mine from home or on a limited budget. Ultimately, the best miner is the one that fits your mining goals, your environment, and your electricity budget.

Likewise, high-end graphics cards (GPUs) are also a popular and versatile alternative for mining Ethereum Classic and other coins, although specialized ASICs can provide greater efficiency for ETC. The most recommended GPUs are the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 3090, and the AMD RX 7900 XT.

Step 3: Configure your operating system and drivers

Before you start mining, you need to prepare your computer to optimize its performance. While you can mine on Windows, most miners prefer a specialized operating system like HiveOS or RaveOS. These systems are designed for mining, meaning they are more efficient, stable, and allow you to manage your equipment remotely.

Once you have your operating system, it is crucial that you install the latest drivers for your graphics card. Drivers are the software that allows your operating system to communicate correctly with the GPU. An outdated driver can cause stability issues and, most importantly, will reduce your hash rate and, therefore, your profitability.

Step 4: Install and configure mining software

Mining programs are essential for extracting cryptocurrencies efficiently. The choice of software depends on compatibility with the mining hardware.

Mining programs can operate on individual devices or in pools, where multiple miners combine their computing power to increase the chances of successfully finding a block.

• An effective software for GPU mining, which supports many algorithms and offers high performance. The program has a user-friendly interface and allows users to configure numerous parameters to optimize its operation.
• Program optimized for mining Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies that use the Ethash algorithm.
• T-Rex.Program oriented towards NVIDIA GPUs, which supports various algorithms, including Ethash and KawPow.

Very importantly, the choice of mining program depends on your preferences, hardware type, and experience level. Each of the mentioned programs has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to study their functionality to choose the software that best suits your needs.

Key tips to avoid common mistakes

• Verify your wallet address.Always double-check.
• Copy the Pool URL exactly.A simple typo will prevent your miner from connecting to the network.
• Adjust your antivirus and firewall.
• Be careful with Overclocking.Stability is more important than a small performance increase.
• Always use the latest version:Make sure you have the most recent version of the mining software and your graphics card drivers.

Step 5: Select a reliable mining pool

Mining pools allow miners to combine their computational resources and increase the chances of successfully mining an ETC block. Therefore, joining a mining pool is a potential way to increase the success and profits of cryptocurrency mining. Basically, choosing a pool is a key decision for your profitability. Consider these factors:

• Most pools charge a small commission on your earnings to cover their operational expenses.
• Stability and power (Hash Rate).Look for a pool with high processing power.
• Payment Threshold and Method:Research the minimum amount you need to mine to receive your payment and how often payments are made.

Recommended mining pools for ETC

Although there are many options, these pools are known for their stability, good reputation, and large volume of ETC miners:

• 2Miners
• F2Pool
• Ethermine

Step 6: Set up your wallet to receive rewards

ETC holders should prioritize wallets with broad multichain compatibility, advanced security, and user-centric features, such as clear and detailed display of transactions and phishing detection.

Therefore, choosing your wallet well is not just about convenience, it’s about security, transparency, and long-term support. Essentially, OneKey App, OneKey Pro and OneKey Classic 1S stand out as the best options for ETC users in 2025.

Basic setup, step by step

1. Choose your wallet.Download the official application or connect your hardware device.
2. Create a new wallet.
3. Save your seed phrase.This is the most important step. Treat it like the most important secret.

Tips to protect your ETC

Once your wallet is ready, keep these security tips in mind to protect your earnings:

• Verify the URL.When downloading a wallet, make sure it is the developer’s official website. Hackers create fake sites to steal your data.
• Activate two-factor authentication (2FA).If your wallet allows it, activate 2FA.

Step 7: Optimize and monitor your mining

Efficiency in ETC mining involves maximizing production and minimizing input costs, such as hardware and energy costs. Improving the efficiency of your mining operations directly increases your profits.

Furthermore, efficient mining operations improve sustainability and profitability. Energy-efficient and sustainable mining can be a great help in your cryptocurrency mining process and its profitability.

Essentially, your electricity costs significantly influence your mining efficiency. Since mining consumes a lot of energy, following energy efficiency practices can reduce your costs and increase your mining profitability. Effectively, these are the two key concepts for optimizing your GPU.

• It is the process of increasing the clock speed of your graphics card’s core and memory. By doing this, you ask your GPU to work faster, resulting in a higher hash rate and therefore more mined ETC. However, this also increases power consumption and temperature.
• It is the process of reducing the voltage supplied to the GPU. By doing this, you reduce the amount of power your graphics card consumes, lowering its temperature and electricity expenditure, which translates into higher net profitability.

Step 8: Tips to maximize your mining profitability

To increase your mining profitability, here are some strategies:

• Dual or Triple Mining.This is one of the most profitable strategies in 2025. With the right mining software, you can mine Ethereum Classic and another compatible cryptocurrency at the same time with the same hardware.
• Upgrade your miners.New models are more profitable. Upgrading your equipment will allow you to reduce electricity costs and increase production.
• Join pools.Pool mining is a more stable way to obtain income. Pools combine the efforts of miners, which helps reduce risks and obtain more regular payments.
• Constant Monitoring:Use hardware like smart plugs to measure the real consumption of your equipment and ensure that your undervolting settings are working.
• Plan your expenses and account for every step.Carefully calculate all your expenses, including equipment cost, electricity, and maintenance.

Conclusion and next step

To conclude, you know that mining ETC in 2025 is a way to be part of a profitable network with a philosophy of immutability that makes it unique.

From this moment on, you have all the tools to take control. You don’t need to depend on a third party to validate transactions or generate income. You can be your own bank, your own validator. The technology is at your fingertips, and the opportunity awaits you. Your crypto, your rules. Start today.