What is Ethermine?

Ethermine is a cryptocurrency mining pool, originally designed for Ethereum, that allows individual miners to combine their computing power and share block rewards. In 2026, Ethermine primarily supports Ethereum Classic (ETC) and other GPU-mineable coins, because Ethereum itself switched to proof-of-stake in September 2022 and can no longer be mined. A mining pool is like a digital team: when your computer finds a potential block solution, the pool combines all members' hash power to solve blocks more often, and you earn a proportional share of the reward. Ethermine is known for its user-friendly dashboard, low payout thresholds, and transparent statistics, making it a common choice for beginners and experienced miners alike. However, you should always check the official Ethermine website for the latest supported coins and pool configurations, as they may change over time.

If you are new to mining, think of a pool as a lottery syndicate. Instead of buying one ticket alone, you join a group and share the jackpot based on how many tickets you bought. That is exactly how Ethermine works: you contribute hashrate and get rewarded proportionally.

Is Ethermine legit and safe to use?

Yes, Ethermine is considered a legitimate and trustworthy mining pool, having operated since 2017 and paid out millions in mining rewards. It is managed by the Austrian company Bitfly, which is known for its transparent statistics, regular status updates, and open-source payout logic. While no mining pool is completely risk-free (for example, a pool could shut down or change fee structures), Ethermine has a long track record of reliability and has never been involved in a major hack or scandal. To protect yourself, always visit the official site directly from a bookmarked link, use strong two-factor authentication on your exchange wallet, and avoid downloading tools from third-party sources. As with any crypto activity, only mine with hardware you can afford to run, and be aware that mining profitability changes with coin prices and network difficulty.

If you search online, you may find older forum posts about Ethermine, but most complaints relate to individual wallet setup mistakes, not the pool itself. Always double-check your payout address before starting.

How do I start mining with Ethermine?

To start mining with Ethermine, you need a GPU or ASIC miner, a compatible coin wallet, and mining software that connects to Ethermine's stratum servers. The usual steps are: choose a coin such as Ethereum Classic, download a miner like T-Rex or NBMiner, create a configuration file using your wallet address and the correct stratum URL (for example, stratum+ssl://etc.ethermine.org:4444), set a worker name, and run the miner. After a few minutes, you can monitor your hashrate and unpaid balance on the Ethermine dashboard. You should also select a payout method; most beginners use the default PPLNS scheme, which pays steady proportions of found blocks. Always refer to the official Ethermine setup guide for the latest command-line examples, because software and URLs can change.

If you are new to command-line mining, copy the example configuration from the Ethermine website and paste it into a text file, then change only the wallet address and worker name. Once you get comfortable, you can experiment with more advanced settings.

How does Ethermine pay me and what is the minimum payout?

Ethermine pays you directly to your wallet address in the coin you're mining (such as Ethereum Classic) once your unpaid balance reaches your chosen payout threshold. The pool calculates your rewards based on shares submitted, using the PPLNS system, and updates your unpaid balance roughly every hour. You can set your payout threshold in the dashboard; common choices are 0.1 or 1.0 ETC, but the minimum can vary by coin and may change over time. Ethermine also supports both regular payouts and "smart payouts" that prioritize lower transaction fees when network congestion is high. You do not need to request a payout manually; the pool sends it automatically when your balance reaches the threshold. Check the official Ethermine dashboard or documentation for the exact minimum thresholds and payout frequencies in 2026, as they can be adjusted based on network conditions.

Note that Ethermine might deduct a small transaction fee from your payout to pay the network miners. This fee is separate from the pool fee and depends on the current congestion of the coin network.

What fees does Ethermine charge?

Ethermine charges a pool fee that is deducted from your mining rewards, and it also pays the network transaction fee when sending your payout. The standard pool fee for Ethermine is around 1% of your earnings, though this number can change at any time; check the official site for the current fee schedule. The network fee is not set by the pool and fluctuates with network congestion, so your actual received amount may be slightly less than what you earned. There are no hidden costs for registering or using the dashboard. When comparing pools, be aware that some pools advertise 0% fees but may pay lower rewards, so it's important to compare effective real-world earnings. Ethermine has historically been transparent about its fee structure, publishing the exact breakdown in the help pages. If you are a beginner, just assume that about 1% plus transaction fees will be subtracted from your gross mining revenue.

You can see the current fee in the footer of the Ethermine website. If you want to avoid high network fees, consider setting a higher payout threshold so you receive fewer but larger transactions.

What are the pros and cons of using Ethermine?

Ethermine's biggest advantages are its long reputation, user-friendly monitoring tools, automatic payouts, and low payout minimums, but its main disadvantages are the pool fee and the fact that it no longer supports mining Ethereum itself. Pros include:

  • Well-established pool with a large hashrate
  • Clear and beautiful stats dashboard
  • Multiple payout currencies and thresholds
  • Regular blog updates and transparent status

Cons include:

  • A standard pool fee of around 1%
  • No built-in exchange service
  • Potential confusion for newcomers who still expect to mine Ethereum

Also, because Ethermine is one of the largest pools, it has a lot of hashrate, which means rewards are split among many miners; however, that also means more frequent block discoveries, making income more predictable. For a beginner who wants stable payouts and a trusted platform, Ethermine is a solid choice, but you should compare your net earnings after fees with two or three smaller pools before locking in.

The most important pro is simplicity: once your mining software is configured, Ethermine automatically tracks everything. The biggest con for many miners is that their payouts are in ETC, so you need to manage the price volatility of that coin.

Ethermine vs 2Miners: which mining pool is better?

Ethermine and 2Miners are both reputable mining pools that support Ethereum Classic, but they differ in server locations, payout options, and fees, so the "better" choice depends on your location, hardware, and preference for instant or manual payouts. Ethermine tends to be larger and offers a polished dashboard, while 2Miners supports a wider variety of coins and has a built-in exchange feature that lets you get paid in Bitcoin or other assets. For example, 2Miners offers the "Ethereum Classic + exchange to BTC" option, which can be convenient if you want to avoid creating an ETC wallet. In terms of fees, both pools charge around 1%, but 2Miners sometimes offers solo mining and other payment schemes. As a beginner, the safest approach is to test both pools with a small amount of hashrate and compare your daily earnings on each. Also check ping times to pool servers, as lower latency directly improves your share submission and rewards.

Keep in mind that pool performance changes over time due to network difficulty and pool luck. Check third-party comparison sites, but also trust your own measured results.

When did Ethermine stop supporting Ethereum and why?

Ethermine stopped supporting Ethereum mining in September 2022, when the Ethereum blockchain switched from proof-of-work (mining) to proof-of-stake (staking) in an event called "The Merge," making it impossible to mine ETH with GPUs. After the transition, Ethermine pivoted to mining Ethereum Classic (ETC), the original Ethereum chain that still uses proof-of-work, as well as other GPU coins like Ravencoin and Ergo. The reason was simple: Ethereum no longer rewards miners, so Ethermine had to change its business model or shut down. The pool's existing infrastructure was adapted for ETC and other algorithms. If you see older guides telling you to mine Ethereum via Ethermine, be sure to update your software and coin selection. As of 2026, Ethermine's focus continues to be on ETC and other GPU-mineable assets, so always check the official site for the current supported list.

Final Thoughts

Ethermine remains a trusted gateway for beginner miners, but you need to understand that Ethereum itself is no longer minable. Before you buy hardware or download software, review the current coin list, fees, and payout thresholds on the official Ethermine website. Start small, test your configuration, and monitor your dashboard to learn how mining works in practice.

Mining in 2026 is competitive and profitability varies, so always calculate electricity costs and compare pools. The best education comes from experimenting, but always use official sources and secure wallets. With patience and careful research, Ethermine can be a reliable first mining pool for GPU miners.