Dual mining is a process that allows cryptocurrency miners to simultaneously mine two different coins using the same hardware setup. This guide focuses on the specific combination of Ethereum (ETH) and Sia (SC), two prominent projects in the blockchain space that utilize different mining algorithms, making them compatible for dual operations.
Ethereum is a leading smart contract platform that enables the creation of decentralized applications (DApps) and tokens. Sia offers a decentralized cloud storage solution, creating a global marketplace for unused hard drive space. Their mining algorithms—Ethash for Ethereum and Blake2b for Sia—work efficiently together without significantly degrading each other's performance.
Beyond Sia, several other coins can be dual mined with Ethereum-based Ethash coins, including Decred (DCR), LBRY Credits (LBC), and Pascal (PASC). This guide will walk you through the entire setup process.
Essential Preparations Before You Start
Before diving into the configuration, two preliminary steps are crucial for a smooth mining experience.
First, ensure your graphics cards (GPUs) have the latest drivers installed. Manufacturers frequently release updates that can improve performance and stability, which is vital for mining efficiency.
Second, most mining software is mistakenly flagged as malicious by antivirus programs. This is because some viruses use similar resource-intensive behaviors. To prevent your antivirus from quarantining the mining software, you should add an exclusion for the miner's folder. A good practice is to create a dedicated folder for all your mining tools and set a full exclusion for it within your antivirus settings.
Choosing a Mining Pool
While solo mining is technically possible, it is highly impractical for most individuals. The random nature of finding a block means payouts could be extremely infrequent. Mining pools combine the hashing power of many participants, resulting in more consistent, smaller payouts shared among members based on their contributed work.
For dual mining ETH and SC, selecting a pool that supports both currencies simplifies the process. Nanopool is one such option, with dedicated pools for both coins and servers located across the globe (US, EU, Asia, Australia). It charges a 1% fee on Ethereum mining and a 2% fee on Sia mining.
Using a unified pool like this means you can manage your earnings from a single platform, making tracking your statistics more straightforward.
Understanding GPU Mining Software
For this tutorial, we will use Claymore's Dual Miner, a popular and versatile software compatible with both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs on Windows and Linux systems. It is important to note that this software includes a developer fee: 1% for solo Ethash mining and 1.5% when dual mining.
The software operates by executing a batch file (on Windows) or a script (on Linux) that contains your specific configuration parameters, including your wallet addresses and pool information.
Configuration for NVIDIA GPUs
After downloading the miner, create a new text file in its folder, rename it with a .bat extension (e.g., start_mining.bat), and edit it with the following command structure.
EthDcrMiner64.exe -epool stratum+tcp://eth-us-west1.nanopool.org:9999 -ewal YOUR_ETH_WALLET -eworker OPTIONAL_WORKER_NAME -epsw x -esm 0 -asm 0 -mode 0 -dcoin sc -dpool stratum+tcp://sia-us-west1.nanopool.org:7777 -dwal YOUR_SC_WALLET -dpsw x -gser 2 -allpools 1 -allcoins 1Key Parameters to Replace:
- YOUR_ETH_WALLET: Your Ethereum wallet address.
- YOUR_SC_WALLET: Your Sia coin wallet address.
- OPTIONAL_WORKER_NAME: A name to identify this specific mining rig if you have multiple.
- Pool Server: You can change
us-west1to a server closer to your location (e.g.,eu1,asia1).
Once saved, double-click the .bat file to launch the miner. The console window will display your hash rates for both coins, GPU temperatures, fan speeds, and accepted shares.
Configuration for AMD GPUs
The process for AMD cards is very similar but often requires additional environment variables to be set for optimal stability, especially for Vega series cards. Your batch file should include the following lines at the top.
setx GPU_FORCE_64BIT_PTR 1
setx GPU_MAX_HEAP_SIZE 100
setx GPU_USE_SYNC_OBJECTS 1
setx GPU_MAX_ALLOC_PERCENT 100
setx GPU_SINGLE_ALLOC_PERCENT 100
EthDcrMiner64.exe -epool stratum+tcp://eth-us-west1.nanopool.org:9999 -ewal YOUR_ETH_WALLET -eworker OPTIONAL_WORKER_NAME -epsw x -esm 0 -asm 1 -mode 0 -dcoin sc -dpool stratum+tcp://sia-us-west1.nanopool.org:7777 -dwal YOUR_SC_WALLET -dpsw x -gser 2 -allpools 1 -allcoins 1Note the -asm 1 flag, which is often necessary for AMD GPUs. If you encounter issues, you can try troubleshooting by adjusting the intensity with the -ethi flag (e.g., -ethi 6) or ensuring your system has enough virtual memory allocated (often 16GB or more per GPU).
Monitoring Your Performance and Earnings
After launching the miner, it's important to monitor its output. Watch for the number of "stale" or "rejected" shares. A high rate of stale shares suggests network latency issues, and you should try a pool server closer to your location. Many rejected shares could indicate an unstable overclock or a need to reduce the mining intensity.
To accurately estimate your potential earnings, online calculators are indispensable tools. They allow you to input your total hash rate, power consumption, and electricity costs to model profitability.
When using a calculator, remember to factor in all costs:
- Pool Fees: Nanopool's 1% for ETH + 2% for SC.
- Dev Fee: Claymore's 1.5% for dual mining.
- Electricity Cost: Your per-kilowatt-hour rate from your utility provider.
It is also critical to assess whether dual mining is truly profitable for your specific setup. 👉 Explore more strategies for calculating mining profitability. Dual mining typically causes a slight reduction in your primary coin's hash rate. You must calculate if the value of the secondary coin earned outweighs this loss and the additional electricity cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dual mining still profitable today?
Profitability fluctuates constantly based on coin prices, network difficulty, and electricity costs. While it can be profitable, it requires continuous monitoring and calculation. Use online calculators to run the numbers for your specific hardware and location before committing.
Can I use any wallet for my earnings?
No, you must use a wallet compatible with each specific cryptocurrency. For Ethereum, you need an ETH wallet (e.g., MetaMask, a hardware wallet). For Sia, you need a dedicated SC wallet, such as the official Sia UI or a supported exchange wallet. Always double-check wallet addresses before you start mining.
Do I need a special rig to dual mine?
A standard GPU mining rig is sufficient. The key components are powerful graphics cards (from NVIDIA or AMD), a reliable power supply unit (PSU) with enough wattage, a stable internet connection, and adequate cooling to manage the additional heat generated.
What does the "developer fee" mean?
The developer of the mining software, Claymore in this case, collects a small percentage of the mining rewards as a fee for maintaining and updating the software. This is typically taken as mining time; for example, the miner will divert 1.5 minutes of every 100 minutes to mine to the developer's address.
Why is my antivirus software flagging the miner?
Antivirus programs are designed to detect patterns that resemble malicious activity. Mining software uses GPU resources intensively, which can mimic the behavior of certain malware. This is almost always a false positive. The solution is to add the miner's folder to your antivirus exclusion list.
How often will I get paid?
Payout frequency depends on the pool's rules. Nanopool, for instance, has a minimum payout threshold for each coin. You will receive a payment once your mined balance exceeds this threshold, which could be multiple times a day or once every few days, depending on your mining power.