Which graphics cards will be mined on in 2026: analysis of GPU performance and profitability

Choosing a graphics card for cryptocurrency mining is a strategic decision that determines the profitability of the entire operation. What graphics cards are mined today? The answer depends on a combination of factors: current hardware prices, regional electricity rates, and target hashing algorithms. We analyzed the GPU market and identified the most effective models that truly work.

How to choose graphics cards for different mining scenarios

Before answering which graphics cards are used for mining, you need to determine the scale of your operation. The same GPU can be ideal for a home setup but unprofitable for a large farm. This depends on electricity economics and equipment depreciation speed.

Professional farms require maximum performance and minimal electricity cost per hash. Modern high-performance GPUs with optimized power consumption are suitable for such operations.

Semi-professional setups (several GPUs connected to one computer) seek a balance between equipment cost and potential profitability.

Home mining on one or two graphics cards makes sense only with low regional electricity rates.

Modern NVIDIA graphics cards: where to find the optimum

RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 — new generation for large-scale operations

The RTX 50 series from NVIDIA represents the latest in GPU mining technology. These cards mine the most profitable algorithms thanks to large GDDR7 memory and a wide 512-bit data bus.

RTX 5090 — flagship model of 2025 with 32 GB of VRAM. Its hash rate is impressive: 216 MH/s on Ethereum Classic, 96 MH/s on Ravencoin, and 2.0 GH/s on Kaspa. With a nominal power draw of 575 W, this card requires a reliable power supply and advanced cooling. The new card costs around $2000.

RTX 5080 — a more affordable alternative with 16 GB memory and a 256-bit bus. Performance is 130 MH/s (ETC), 60 MH/s (RVN), and 1.3–1.4 GH/s (Kaspa) at about 360 W consumption. Price stays around $1000.

Both models are ideal for those building a professional farm and ready to invest in quality cooling.

Proven NVIDIA previous-generation models

What other graphics cards are still mined on? Outdated but still relevant models from NVIDIA, available on the secondary market at attractive prices.

RTX 4090 (2022) remains a benchmark. With 24 GB GDDR6X, it delivers 127 MH/s on ETC, 65 MH/s on RVN, and impressive 5 GH/s on Bitcoin (via NiceHash). At 450 W, it’s still a performance king. On the secondary market, available for $1200–1500.

RTX 4070 Ti (2023) offers the best compromise: 65 MH/s (ETC) at just 285 W. New, costs $750–800; used — $500.

RTX 3080 (2020) — legendary GPU that started the era of mining. Even now, it yields 95–100 MH/s on ETC. Rare find on the secondary market for about $400.

RTX 3060 Ti (2020) — ideal for beginners: 60 MH/s, 200 W consumption, used price $200–250.

AMD graphics cards: competition and niche solutions

Radeon RX 9070 XT — NVIDIA challenge

AMD released two models in 2025 based on RDNA 4 architecture. RX 9070 XT with 16 GB GDDR6 shows impressive hash rates: 215 MH/s on Ethereum Classic, 95–100 MH/s on Ravencoin, 1.07 GH/s on Kaspa. With 304 W consumption, this offers a great performance-to-power ratio. Price around $600.

RX 9070 (base version) consumes only 220 W and yields 180 MH/s (ETC), making it ideal for small farms. Cost about $550.

AMD RDNA 3 and 2 series on the secondary market

RX 7900 XTX (2022) with 24 GB memory was a flagship: 101 MH/s on ETC, 355 W power draw. New card costs $800–900; used — $600–700.

RX 6800 XT (2020) — reliable choice: 65 MH/s, 300 W, used for $300–350.

RX 6600 XT (2021) — for minimalists: 32 MH/s, only 160 W, used for $150–170.

What happened after Ethereum migrated to PoS

On September 15, 2022, Ethereum switched from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake, removing GPUs’ main income source. Millions of miners quickly switched to Ethereum Classic, Ravencoin, Beam, and Ergo. This event reshaped the market: hash rates soared, difficulty increased, and ROI for GPUs extended from months to years.

On the secondary market, there was an oversupply of used equipment. For some older models, payback periods exceeded 7–8 years. Therefore, those deciding which graphics cards to mine on today must carefully calculate profitability.

How to calculate if a graphics card is a good investment

Whattomine is the main calculation tool. Enter your GPU’s specs, select the algorithm, and specify your local electricity rate. The service shows how much your card can earn per day and how many months it will take to recoup.

NiceHash offers its own profit calculator, helping compare profitability of different GPUs in real time. Especially useful for tracking current algorithm profitability.

Key metrics for calculation:

• Your GPU’s hash rate on the target algorithm
• Network difficulty and block reward
• Power consumption in watts
• Local electricity cost per kWh
• Equipment cost

Example: RTX 4090 consumes 450 W, yields 127 MH/s on ETC. With electricity at $0.10 per kWh and ETC price at $20, the card can earn $8–12 daily. Buying used for $1200, ROI is 3–4 months. At $0.20 per kWh, ROI doubles.

Which algorithms are most profitable now

After Ethereum’s exit, miners dispersed across various coins. Today, the most profitable are:

• Ethereum Classic (Ethash) — requires fast memory, ideal for GDDR6X cards
• Ravencoin (KawPow) — an alternative to ETC, less memory demanding
• Kaspa (Blake3) — a young algorithm with good profitability
• Bitcoin (SHA-256 via NiceHash) — for versatile solutions

Profitability profiles constantly change, so automatic pool switching (like in NiceHash) helps adapt to market conditions.

Where to buy graphics cards and how not to overpay

New equipment

Manufacturers and authorized distributors guarantee authenticity and support. New cards cost 2–3 times more than used but offer warranty and maximum performance, justified for serious operations.

Secondary market

Avito, OZON, and specialized forums offer used equipment for $150–1500. Advantages: low price, ability to assemble a rig for a modest sum. Risks: no warranty, possible hidden defects, unknown history.

Before buying used, check:

• Visual damage
• Functionality upon startup
• Temperature under load (test via 3DMark or stress test)
• Documentation or receipts (if available)

Final recommendations on which graphics cards to mine with today

For professional farms: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RX 9070 XT. High performance pays off at scale.

For semi-professional setups: RTX 4090, RTX 4070 Ti, RX 7900 XTX on the secondary market. Balance of price and power.

For home mining: RTX 3060 Ti, RX 6600 XT used, or one RTX 4070 Ti. Power consumption and cost remain reasonable.

Always precisely calculate ROI via Whattomine or NiceHash before buying. Consider not only hardware costs but also electricity, cooling, and maintenance. What graphics cards are mined on? Those where the calculator shows positive profitability.

What beginners need to know about GPU mining

Mining is the process of solving cryptographic problems in the network to verify transactions and create new coins. Miners provide computational power and receive rewards in cryptocurrency.

Graphics card (GPU) is well-suited for mining due to thousands of parallel cores. The CPU is much slower for this task. Specialized chips (ASICs) are even more powerful but work only with one algorithm.

Overclocking a GPU involves increasing core and memory frequencies to boost performance. But overclocking generates extra heat and requires good cooling.

Mining pool is a group of miners combining their power to find blocks more often. The reward is shared among participants.

Staking is an alternative to mining, where you hold coins in a wallet and earn rewards for validation. It consumes less electricity but offers lower income.

Frequently asked questions

Which graphics card is best for mining in 2026? RTX 5090 leads in absolute performance, but RX 9070 XT offers the best price-to-performance ratio.

Will a graphics card pay off in 2026? Depends on hardware price, electricity rates, and chosen algorithm. Use Whattomine for a personal estimate.

Which cryptocurrency to mine with a GPU? Ethereum Classic (ETC), Ravencoin (RVN), Kaspa. You can also mine Bitcoin via pools like NiceHash.

Is a graphics card needed for home use? RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 4070 Ti, or RX 6600 XT consume acceptable amounts. But always calculate profit beforehand.

Where to buy mining graphics cards? New — from manufacturers and official dealers. Used — on Avito, OZON, or specialized crypto forums.