Mining Hardware
16/04/2026
Mining hardware refers to the computing devices used to perform Proof of Work calculations in cryptocurrency mining. The choice of hardware determines hashrate, power consumption, and overall profitability.
Hardware types
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
General-purpose processor found in every computer. Suitable only for algorithms specifically designed for CPU mining, such as RandomX (Monero).
GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)
Parallel processor originally designed for graphics. Efficient across many algorithms; flexible — the same card can mine different coins. Used for KawPow (Ravencoin), FishHash (Iron Fish), and others.
FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)
Reconfigurable chip offering better efficiency than GPUs. Requires technical expertise to configure. Used in niche scenarios before ASICs emerge.
ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
Purpose-built chip for a single algorithm. Highest hashrate and efficiency, but inflexible — cannot be repurposed. Dominates SHA-256 (Bitcoin), Scrypt (Litecoin), kHeavyHash (Kaspa), and other major algorithms.
Comparison
| Type | Efficiency | Flexibility | Entry cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Very low | Very high | Very low |
| GPU | Medium | High | Medium |
| FPGA | Medium–high | Medium | High |
| ASIC | Very high | None | High–very high |
