Is Ethereum Mining Really Dead in 2025?

Ethereum mining is no longer possible in 2025, yet many still search for ways to mine ETH. That confusion makes sense. Ethereum was the second-largest proof-of-work network until just a few years ago. For much of its history, it was a go-to option for home miners using GPUs, especially during bull runs when rewards surged. But all of that ended in 2022 with the Ethereum Merge.

Since the upgrade, Ethereum has used a proof-of-stake model that doesn’t rely on miners at all. Instead of solving puzzles with expensive hardware, users now stake ETH to help run the network and earn yield. Despite this change being nearly three years old, outdated tutorials, mining YouTube content, and misleading ads still circulate, keeping the myth alive that ETH mining is possible today.

This article clears that up. It explains what happened to Ethereum mining, why the switch to staking was made, and what the options are now for people with mining setups. It also looks at whether mining still makes sense at all in 2025, and if so, which coins still offer a viable path.

The Merge: How Ethereum Killed Mining

Ethereum mining came to a definitive end on September 15, 2022, when the network completed The Merge, a long-anticipated upgrade that transitioned Ethereum from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus model to Proof-of-Stake (PoS). This change was more than a technical shift; it permanently removed miners from Ethereum’s core infrastructure.

The motivations were clear. Proof-of-Work systems, while secure, are notoriously energy-intensive. Ethereum was consuming roughly the same amount of electricity as a mid-sized country. After the Merge, the network’s energy usage dropped by 99.95%, aligning Ethereum with global climate goals and silencing years of criticism from environmental groups.

Scalability was another driver. Ethereum’s PoW model limited transaction throughput and kept gas fees high during periods of heavy demand. By moving to PoS, Ethereum laid the foundation for more advanced scaling solutions, including sharding and improved Layer-2 integration.

From a technical perspective, miners were replaced by validators; users who lock up ETH to propose and confirm new blocks. This switch also ended block rewards: there are no new ETH payouts for solving cryptographic puzzles, making mining both technically obsolete and economically worthless.

A final nail in the coffin was the “difficulty bomb”, an internal mechanism that made mining exponentially harder after the Merge. It ensured no incentive remained for miners to continue operating on the main Ethereum chain.

As of 2025, there is no legitimate way to mine Ethereum. Any platforms or services suggesting otherwise are either referring to unrelated chains or misrepresenting how Ethereum works today.

What Mining Ethereum Used to Look Like

Before The Merge, Ethereum mining was a profitable entry point for retail users who couldn’t compete in the ASIC-dominated Bitcoin ecosystem. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum’s Ethash algorithm was designed to be GPU-friendly, which allowed gamers and hobbyists to repurpose graphics cards into mining rigs. These setups were often chained together in basements or garages, running 24/7 to validate transactions and earn block rewards.

Each time a miner successfully verified a block, they earned 2 ETH plus transaction fees, which became especially lucrative during bull markets. Blocks were produced every 12 to 15 seconds, and most miners joined pools to increase their odds of earning consistent payouts.

This accessibility made Ethereum a favorite among retail miners. The barrier to entry was relatively low, and unlike Bitcoin, users didn’t need specialized ASICs to compete. Combined with Ethereum’s active ecosystem and high token price, mining ETH became one of the most popular home mining options from 2016 through early 2022.

Once The Merge went live, all of this activity came to a halt. GPU rigs became effectively useless on Ethereum’s mainnet, leaving miners with few profitable alternatives.

Can You Still Earn ETH? 

Mining is gone, but earning Ethereum is still very much possible, just through a different mechanism. In today’s Proof-of-Stake model, users earn ETH by staking instead of running hardware. This means locking up ETH to help secure the network, and in return, receiving rewards. It’s Ethereum’s way of paying you to participate, without needing GPUs or massive electricity bills.

There are two main ways to stake:

1. Solo Staking: This requires a minimum of 32 ETH and running a validator node. It’s the most decentralized option, but it also demands technical knowledge and a dedicated setup. If done correctly, it offers full control and slightly higher returns, though that’s offset by infrastructure costs.
2. Liquid Staking: For most users, platforms like Lido and Rocket Pool offer an easier path. You can stake as little as 0.01 ETH, and in return, receive a token (like stETH or rETH) that represents your stake and can be used elsewhere in DeFi. These services pool users’ ETH and handle validator operations behind the scenes.

Staking is also offered on Coinbase, Binance, and similar centralized exchanges. Most platforms offer 3–6% APY, though rates vary depending on network activity. You’ll also pay gas fees to stake or unstake, and some providers impose lockup periods ranging from a few hours to several days. Compared to mining, staking is cleaner, cheaper, and easier to access, even if the returns aren’t life-changing.

Risks of Staking vs. Mining

Staking might be easier than mining, but it isn’t risk-free. The most serious technical risk is slashing: when a validator is penalized (loses part of their stake) for behaving dishonestly or going offline. This is rare for users who stake through reputable pools, but still possible. Another factor is APY fluctuation. Unlike fixed-income products, staking rewards shift based on validator participation and network conditions. Finally, ETH price volatility during lockups can affect your effective yield, especially if the token drops while your funds are inaccessible.

Mining carried a different set of risks. GPU or ASIC hardware could fail from overuse or become obsolete after major network upgrades. Electricity costs were also a major factor. Profit margins often depended on having access to extremely cheap power. On top of that, mining was highly competitive. As more users joined, difficulty increased and rewards dropped, especially after The Merge when many miners flooded into smaller PoW networks.

In short, staking shifts the risk from equipment and energy costs to validator behavior and protocol dynamics. It’s a different tradeoff, but not a risk-free one.

Mining Alternatives

After Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake, former miners didn’t just disappear. Many redirected their rigs toward other Proof-of-Work networks. The most immediate pivot was to Ethereum Classic (ETC), which still runs the Ethash algorithm. It allowed ETH miners to repurpose their existing hardware, but the influx led to oversaturation. Block rewards dropped fast, from around $0.70 to $0.11, making it hard to turn a profit unless electricity was nearly free.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) remain options, but only for miners with access to large-scale ASIC setups. These networks are no longer viable for most solo miners. Hardware requirements are steep, and margins are razor-thin unless you’re operating in countries with sub-3 cent electricity costs.

Because of all this, some miners have exited crypto entirely or repurposed their GPUs for non-blockchain use. The shift to AI and machine learning workloads has created a secondary market for high-end GPUs, especially those that aren’t ideal for gaming. Mining rig resale prices have slumped, but enterprise demand in data science and AI is keeping used hardware from going completely obsolete.

The Bigger Picture

Ethereum may have left mining behind, but the network itself has only grown stronger. Since the 2022 Merge, Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake model has unlocked new layers of scalability and efficiency, especially through major upgrades like Dencun in 2024 and Pectra in early 2025. These updates introduced improvements in Layer-2 fee compression, wallet recovery tools, and smart contract execution. On-chain activity hasn’t slowed. If anything, it’s accelerated.

Ethereum remains the backbone of decentralized finance, with over $55 billion in TVL spread across protocols like Aave, MakerDAO, and Uniswap. The NFT space, despite a cooldown, still sees Ethereum leading in volume and creator adoption. Institutional confidence also grew in 2024 after the launch of spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S., which brought in a wave of new capital and signaled regulatory maturity.

From a development standpoint, Ethereum continues to attract thousands of contributors, far ahead of competitors. Its open infrastructure, community governance, and evolving roadmap have kept it in the lead, even without miners.

$ETH staking is still climbing

Over 35.4M $ETH is now staked an ATH and even as price sits around $2.4K

This shows strong long term conviction from holders, despite the market chop

Stakers aren’t flinching $ETH supply keeps tightening… and that matters. pic.twitter.com/gFDD4buXtu

— Ak47♛ (@HolaItsAk47) June 29, 2025

Final Verdict

Since the Merge in 2022, the main Ethereum network no longer supports mining in any form. Miners have been replaced by validators, and block rewards are now earned through staking, not computational power. Anyone claiming to mine ETH today is either referring to a different network, such as Ethereum Classic, or is misinformed.

There’s no realistic path for mining to return unless the network undergoes another major fork, which is unlikely given the success of Proof of Stake. The transition has already improved scalability, reduced energy use, and positioned Ethereum for continued institutional growth.

For those still holding mining hardware, the options lie elsewhere, such as alternative PoW chains or repurposing equipment. But for anyone looking to earn ETH, staking is now the way forward. Whether through solo staking, liquid staking protocols, or DeFi participation, Ethereum’s ecosystem remains open to contributors, just through different means.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I mine Ethereum Classic instead?

Yes, Ethereum Classic (ETC) still uses Proof of Work and supports GPU mining. It’s compatible with older Ethereum mining rigs. However, since the Ethereum Merge, many miners have migrated to ETC, driving up difficulty and lowering profitability. It’s still mineable, but far more competitive than before.

Is staking better than mining?

For most users, yes. Staking requires no hardware, no electricity overhead, and less technical maintenance. It offers consistent returns (typically 3–6% APY) depending on network conditions. Mining may provide higher yields in certain altcoin ecosystems, but it comes with significantly higher costs and volatility.

What happened to my mining rig?

Ethereum mining rigs (mainly GPU setups) became obsolete on Ethereum after the Merge. Some miners pivoted to coins like Ravencoin or Ergo. Others resold GPUs or repurposed them for AI training, gaming, or compute-intensive tasks. ASICs built specifically for Ethash are mostly idle or resold at steep losses.

Is mining ETH on forks like ETHW worth it?

Not really. ETHW and similar forks tried to keep mining alive post-Merge but gained little adoption. Liquidity is low, developer support is thin, and major exchanges have mostly moved on. Mining on these forks typically results in limited rewards and higher risk.

Do I need 32 ETH to stake?

Only if you’re running your own validator node. For most users, staking via liquid protocols (like Lido or Rocket Pool) or exchanges requires far less, sometimes as little as 0.01 ETH. Just keep in mind that centralized exchanges may come with regulatory risks depending on your jurisdiction.

Is Ethereum still profitable?

Yes, but through staking or DeFi, not mining. Between staking rewards and returns from lending or yield farming, Ethereum still offers ways to earn. Mining ETH directly is no longer possible on the main network, and alternatives like ETC or RVN rarely match Ethereum’s historical profitability.