Best Cryptocurrency Mining Software (2024) – Complete Guide
Choosing the right mining software is critical for maximising hashrate, reducing rejected shares, and protecting your hardware. This guide covers every major open-source and commercial miner available today, organised by GPU brand, CPU, and ASIC – including supported algorithms, download links, ready-to-use command-line examples for MiningMadness, developer fees, and honest performance notes.
Replace YOUR_WALLET with your address and check the
Mining page for the exact stratum port of each coin.
Quick Navigation
NVIDIA GPU
AMD GPU
CPU
Algorithm → Software Quick Reference
| Algorithm | Popular Coins | NVIDIA | AMD | CPU | ASIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethash / Etchash | ETC, ERG, UBQ | T-Rex, lolMiner, NBMiner | lolMiner, TeamRedMiner | — | — |
| KawPow | RVN, FIRO | T-Rex, NBMiner, GMiner | TeamRedMiner, SRBMiner | — | — |
| Autolykos2 | ERG | T-Rex, lolMiner, NBMiner | lolMiner, TeamRedMiner, SRBMiner | — | — |
| Octopus | CFX | T-Rex, NBMiner | lolMiner | — | — |
| BeamHash III | BEAM | lolMiner, GMiner, miniZ | lolMiner | — | — |
| Equihash 125,4 | ZEL | lolMiner, GMiner, miniZ | lolMiner | — | — |
| Equihash 144,5 | BTG, ZEC | GMiner, miniZ | lolMiner | — | — |
| RandomX | XMR, ZEPHYR | — | — | XMRig, SRBMiner | — |
| SHA-256 | BTC, BCH | — | — | — | CGMiner, BFGMiner |
| Scrypt | LTC, DOGE | — | — | cpuminer-opt | CGMiner, BFGMiner |
| GhostRider | RTM | — | — | XMRig, cpuminer-opt | — |
NVIDIA GPU Miners
T-Rex Miner
T-Rex is one of the most popular closed-source NVIDIA miners, consistently delivering top hashrates on a wide range of algorithms. It features a built-in HTTP API, dual-mining support, watchdog, and fine-grained power/temperature control. Actively maintained with frequent updates.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Best-in-class NVIDIA Ethash/Etchash hashrates
- Dual-mining (e.g. Ethash + Blake3) available
- Stable for 24/7 operation; low CPU usage
- RTX 30/40 series: full LHR unlock support
Example Commands
lolMiner
lolMiner is a multi-platform, multi-algorithm miner supporting both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Renowned for its outstanding AMD Ethash performance and excellent Equihash family support, it is the go-to choice for AMD miners and competitive on NVIDIA as well. One of the lowest developer fees in the industry.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Top AMD Ethash/Etchash performance (#1 for many AMD cards)
- Full LHR unlock for NVIDIA 30-series
- Lowest dev fee for Equihash variants (0.7%)
- Highly stable; recommended for large farms
Example Commands
NBMiner
NBMiner (NebuTech Miner) supports both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs and is particularly strong on Octopus (Conflux) and Ergo mining. It was the first miner to support LHR unlock for NVIDIA Ampere GPUs. Includes built-in API for remote monitoring.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Best Octopus (CFX) hashrate on NVIDIA
- Pioneer of NVIDIA LHR unlock technology
- Higher dev fee on some algos (3% for Octopus)
- Competitive Ergo (Autolykos2) performance
Example Commands
GMiner
GMiner excels in Equihash and Cuckatoo/Cuckaroo algorithms and is a strong contender for ZEC, BEAM, BTG, and Grin mining. It offers a clean API, low rejected share rate, and one of the lowest dev fees for Equihash (0.65%).
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Industry-leading Equihash 144,5 (BTG, ZEC) performance
- Lowest dev fee for Equihash (0.65%)
- Very low rejected-share ratio
- Excellent choice for Beam (BeamHash III)
Example Commands
miniZ
miniZ is a closed-source NVIDIA Equihash specialist. It consistently tops benchmarks for Equihash 125,4 (ZelHash/Flux) and Equihash 210,9 (AION), making it a favourite for Zcash-family coins. Simple configuration and reliable operation.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Best NVIDIA ZelHash (Flux) hashrates
- Top performer for Equihash 210,9 (AION)
- Simple flag-based configuration
- Higher dev fee (2%) than GMiner
Example Commands
AMD GPU Miners
lolMiner (AMD focus)
On AMD hardware lolMiner is the strongest Ethash/Etchash miner available, often outperforming TeamRedMiner on RX 6000-series cards. It also leads on Equihash variants and BeamHash III for AMD. Full AMD ROCm / OpenCL support on both Windows and Linux.
See the lolMiner entry above for download links and commands — the same binary handles both NVIDIA and AMD.
TeamRedMiner
TeamRedMiner (TRM) is the best-optimised dedicated AMD GPU miner. It achieves record hashrates on KawPow and Ethash for GCN and RDNA architectures, and provides deep power-tuning options for RX 4xx / 5xx / 6xxx / 7xxx series. Excellent Linux HiveOS / RaveOS integration.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Best AMD KawPow performance on RX 5000/6000
- Advanced power tuning per-CU (compute unit)
- 0.75% dev fee on Ethash – very competitive
- Tight HiveOS / RaveOS / mmOS integration
Example Commands
SRBMiner-MULTI
SRBMiner-MULTI supports an unusually large number of algorithms for both AMD GPU and CPU simultaneously. It is the preferred miner for AMD GPU + CPU dual-mode setups, letting you earn from CPU-friendly algorithms (like RandomX) at the same time as GPU algorithms.
Supported Algorithms (selected)
Performance Notes
- Simultaneous CPU + GPU mining
- Supports 50+ algorithms – widest selection
- Good choice for niche/low-cap coin mining
- Active development; frequent new algo additions
Example Commands
CPU Miners
XMRig
XMRig is the de-facto standard CPU miner and the definitive choice for RandomX (Monero / XMR). It is open-source, actively maintained, highly optimised for modern x86-64 and ARM processors, and can optionally run with zero developer fee. The GPU backend supports OpenCL / CUDA for secondary mining.
Supported Algorithms
Performance Notes
- Best-in-class RandomX performance on all CPU brands
- Huge Pages / NUMA optimisation built-in
- Zero dev fee possible (open-source, self-compile)
- Lightweight; runs on VPS, home servers, Raspberry Pi
Example Commands
cpuminer-opt
cpuminer-opt is a highly optimised, open-source CPU miner supporting over 80 algorithms. It is the standard choice for Scrypt (LTC, DOGE), GhostRider (RTM), Yescrypt, and many niche CPU-minable coins. Zero developer fee.
Supported Algorithms (selected)
Performance Notes
- 80+ algorithms – unmatched coverage
- No developer fee (fully open-source)
- AVX-512 and AVX2 optimised builds available
- Ideal for niche CPU coins and testing
Example Commands
ASIC Miner Software
CGMiner
CGMiner is the original open-source ASIC miner, supporting SHA-256 and Scrypt ASICs from Bitmain (Antminer), MicroBT (Whatsminer), and others. It provides full device control via command line or API, including fan speed, frequency, and pool failover. The most widely deployed ASIC management tool in the industry.
Supported Algorithms
Compatible hardware: Antminer S-series, Whatsminer M-series, AvalonMiner, Innosilicon
Performance Notes
- Full ASIC device control (frequency, voltage, fans)
- Multi-pool failover with priority ordering
- JSON-RPC API for remote monitoring
- Zero dev fee – fully open-source
Example Commands
BFGMiner
BFGMiner is a fork of CGMiner focused on advanced ASIC and FPGA support with dynamic clocking, monitoring, and fanspeed support for a wide range of mining hardware. It includes a built-in stratum proxy and getblocktemplate support for solo mining.
Supported Algorithms
Compatible with FPGA boards and most SHA-256 / Scrypt ASICs
Performance Notes
- Built-in stratum proxy – reduce pool connections
- Getblocktemplate (GBT) for solo / local node mining
- FPGA device support (Icarus, Cairnsmore, etc.)
- Curses-based live dashboard
Example Commands
Getting Started with MiningMadness
- Choose your miner. Use the Algorithm Reference Table above to find the best software for your hardware and target coin.
- Download and extract. Get the latest release from the official GitHub / website link for your OS (Windows .zip or Linux .tar.gz).
- Find your stratum details. Visit the Mining page, select your coin, and note the stratum host and port shown there.
-
Edit the start script. Replace
YOUR_WALLETwith your receiving address and set the stratum URL from step 3. - Run and monitor. Start the miner and check your hashrate, accepted shares, and temperature in the console output or the miner's built-in HTTP dashboard.
- Check your earnings. Visit the worker dashboard to see live stats, balance, and payment history.
Performance & Optimisation Tips
Hardware Tuning
- Keep GPU drivers up to date (latest Game Ready / Pro drivers)
- Reduce GPU core clock by 100–200 MHz to lower heat and power
- Increase memory clock (+500–1500 MHz on GDDR6X) for Ethash
- Enable power limit reduction (60–80% for Ethash/ETC)
- Use the Overclocking Database for proven settings
Connectivity
- Use a wired (Ethernet) connection for stable share submission
- Set up 2–3 backup pool addresses for failover
- Choose the stratum region closest to you for lower latency
- Aim for < 5% stale share rate; investigate if higher
Thermal Management
- Keep GPU core temperature below 80 °C, memory below 95 °C
- Clean dust filters and fans every 4–8 weeks
- Replace dried thermal paste on GPUs older than 2 years
- Ensure 5–10 cm clearance between GPUs in a rig
Security & Stability
- Always download miners from official GitHub / websites
- Verify SHA256 checksums before running any executable
- Use a dedicated mining OS (HiveOS, RaveOS) for better isolation
- Enable watchdog/auto-restart on crash for 24/7 uptime
Ready to Start Mining?
Pick your miner above, then connect to MiningMadness for reliable PPS+ payouts and 24/7 uptime.
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