Education 7 min read

How To Mine Kaspa (KAS) In 2024

Kaspa (KAS) is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency that implements a blockDAG structure, designed to solve the limitations of traditional blockchain architectures.

Unlike standard blockchains, which form a single chain of blocks, Kaspa’s blockDAG allows multiple blocks to be added simultaneously. This parallelism improves scalability and transaction throughput while maintaining decentralization and security.

Kaspa achieves fast confirmation times by reducing the block interval to just one second. Its security model is rooted in the GHOSTDAG consensus algorithm, which allows Kaspa to scale efficiently while offering strong resistance against 51% attacks.

As a PoW token, users can mine KAS and earn passive income. It’s among the top 30 cryptocurrencies in the market and has a market cap of over $30 million. So, if you’re looking to know how to mine Kaspa, here’s a detailed guide.

Key takeaways

  • Use high-performance ASICs like KS3 or KS5, or GPUs such as the NVIDIA RTX 3090. Connect to a mining pool with software like Gminer or lolMiner and configure your wallet for payouts.
  • The current block reward is 82.41 KAS per block, with one block generated every second. Rewards decrease monthly based on Kaspa’s unique emission schedule.
  • Kaspa mining can be profitable, especially when using efficient hardware and managing electricity costs. Profitability depends on the current price of KAS and network difficulty.

The current state of Kaspa mining rewards

As of 2024, the current mining reward for Kaspa (KAS) is approximately 82.41 KAS per block. Kaspa’s emission schedule follows a gradual reduction in block rewards over time, meaning the rewards will continue to decrease in the future.

This design controls the coin’s supply and aims to sustain long-term value by reducing inflation. With one block produced every second, miners receive frequent, though decreasing, rewards.

What do you need to mine Kaspa?

To mine Kaspa, you need specific hardware and software tailored for its proof-of-work algorithm, KHeavyHash. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Mining hardware

  • ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits): ASICs are the most efficient hardware for mining Kaspa. ASIC models like the KS3, KS5, and KS5 Pro are designed for Kaspa mining. These machines offer higher hashrates and energy efficiency, making them more profitable compared to GPU mining.
  • GPUs (Graphics Processing Units): Kaspa can also be mined using GPUs. High-performance GPUs, such as NVIDIA and AMD cards, can be used, although they may not be as profitable as ASICs due to power consumption and lower hashrates compared to ASIC miners.

2. Mining software

  • Gminer and lolMiner: These are popular mining software options that support the KHeavyHash algorithm used by Kaspa. They are compatible with both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs and offer user-friendly interfaces with optimized performance for Kaspa mining.
  • ASIC Firmware: If you’re using ASICs, the firmware specific to Kaspa mining devices is pre-installed or can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

3. Mining pool

  • While solo mining is an option, joining a mining pool is often more efficient. Kaspa mining pools, such as woolypooly and 2Miners, aggregate the hashrate of multiple miners, offering more consistent payouts by distributing block rewards among participants.

4. Wallet

  • You’ll need a Kaspa-compatible wallet to receive your mining rewards. Options include the official Kaspa Wallet or hardware wallets like Ledger that support KAS.

5. Electricity and cooling

  • Efficient cooling systems and affordable electricity are essential to maintain profitability, especially when using ASICs, which tend to consume more power than GPUs.

Is Kaspa (KAS) mining profitable?

The most common formula to calculate mining profitability is:

Profitability = (Block Reward * Price of KAS * Hashrate) – (Electricity Cost * Power Consumption)

You can use online mining profitability calculators, such as minerstat or whattomine, to estimate earnings based on your hardware, electricity rates, and other factors.

While Kaspa mining can be profitable, it largely depends on the efficiency of your mining setup and the fluctuating price of KAS. Investing in high-efficiency ASICs and operating in regions with lower electricity costs can significantly improve returns.

Here are some of the key metrics to determine the profitability of Kaspa mining:

Block Reward The current block reward is 82.41 KAS per block.
Block Time Kaspa produces one block every second.
Difficulty The network difficulty is currently around 1.11E.
Profitability Mining profitability depends on several factors such as hardware efficiency, electricity costs, and the current price of KAS. For instance, using ASICs like the KS5 Pro, miners can expect daily earnings of about $9.13, depending on power consumption and market conditions.
Halving Events Kaspa follows a unique emission model that decreases rewards on a monthly basis instead of traditional halving every four years.
Mining Pool Support There are numerous pools supporting Kaspa mining, such as 2Miners and K1Pool.
Market Price $0.138

How to mine Kaspa – step by step

Step 1: Build your Hardware

  • Select mining hardware: Kaspa mining can be done using either ASICs or GPUs, but ASICs like the KS3 or KS5 are more efficient for mining Kaspa. Ensure that your hardware is capable of running the KHeavyHash algorithm, which is optimized for Kaspa.
  • Power & cooling: Mining hardware consumes significant power, so make sure your setup has enough power capacity and effective cooling solutions to avoid overheating.

Step 2: Download mining software

  • Choose software: Depending on your hardware, download mining apps such as GminerlolMiner, or Team Red Miner. These are optimized for Kaspa’s KHeavyHash algorithm.
  • Configure software: Once installed, you’ll need to set up the software to connect to your mining pool and specify your mining settings like hash rate, pool address, and wallet information.

Step 3: Join a mining pool

  • Select a pool: Mining pools like 2Miners or K1Pool allow miners to combine their computing power, increasing the chances of earning rewards consistently. Pool fees usually range from 0.5% to 1%.
  • Sign up and configure: After selecting a pool, sign up on the pool’s website, then configure your mining software with the pool’s address. Mining pools typically provide clear instructions on how to connect.

Step 4: Connect your wallet

  • Get a wallet: You need a Kaspa-compatible wallet to receive your mining rewards. You can use the official Kaspa wallet or cold wallets like Ledger.
  • Configure wallet in Software: Input your wallet address into your mining software configuration to ensure that all mined KAS is automatically sent to your wallet.

Step 5: Start mining

  • Run the software: Once your hardware, software, and pool settings are ready, launch the mining software. You will start contributing your computing power to validate transactions on the Kaspa network.
  • Monitor performance: Keep an eye on performance metrics such as hashrate, temperature, and power consumption. Adjust settings if needed to optimize efficiency and profitability.

Other coins you can mine as well

Here are some of the best cryptos to mine besides Kaspa.

How does mining even work?

Mining cryptocurrencies involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and secure the network, often using high-performance GPUs. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how mining works:

Step 1: Connecting to the network

Miners connect their hardware to the blockchain network, allowing their system to participate in verifying and adding new transactions. Through this connection, miners can start contributing computing power to the network.

Step 2: Receiving transactions

Once connected, miners receive transaction data waiting to be processed. These transactions need to be verified to ensure they are valid and not fraudulent or double-spent.

Step 3: Hashing

Miners process these transactions by hashing them, which involves solving cryptographic puzzles. They use their GPUs or ASICs to run these computations, aiming to find the correct hash that meets the network’s difficulty level.

Step 4: Broadcasting the block

Once a miner successfully finds the correct hash, they create a new block and broadcast it to the network. This block contains all the validated transactions along with the proof of work.

Step 5: Verification by nodes

Other nodes on the network verify the new block to ensure it follows the consensus rules. If the block is valid, the network accepts it, and the miner who created the block is eligible for a reward.

Step 6: Adding to the blockchain

After the block is verified, it gets added to the blockchain, becoming a permanent part of the distributed ledger. This chain of blocks provides a secure and immutable history of all transactions.

Step 7: Block reward

The miner who successfully creates and broadcasts a valid block receives the block reward as an incentive. This reward is a fixed amount of cryptocurrency and may also include transaction fees from the processed transactions.

Final thoughts

Mining Kaspa can be a worthwhile endeavor, especially due to its efficient blockDAG structure and fast block time, which ensures consistent rewards. Its unique emission schedule, with gradual monthly reductions in block rewards, provides a more stable mining environment compared to sudden halving events in other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, profitability heavily depends on factors such as electricity costs, hardware efficiency, and the current market price of KAS.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. 01.

    What can you mine Kaspa with?

    You can mine Kaspa using ASICs or GPUs. ASICs like the KS3 and KS5 Pro provide the highest efficiency, while powerful GPUs such as the NVIDIA RTX 3090 are also suitable for mining.

  2. 02.

    How to mine on a Kaspa pool?

    To mine on a Kaspa pool, download mining software like lolMiner or Gminer, configure it with the pool’s address, and link it to your wallet. Pools like 2Miners provide step-by-step guides to connect easily.

  3. 03.

    Is Kaspa profitable to mine?

    Kaspa mining can be profitable, especially when using efficient ASICs and mining in areas with low electricity costs. Profitability also depends on the current market price and network difficulty.

  4. 04.

    Can I GPU mine Kaspa?

    Yes, Kaspa can be mined using high-performance GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 3090 or AMD RX 6800 XT, though ASIC miners tend to offer better efficiency.

  5. 05.

    Can I solo mine Kaspa?

    Yes, solo mining is possible, but it requires significant computational power. Pool mining is generally recommended for more consistent payouts.

  6. 06.

    Can I mine Kaspa with ASIC?

    Yes, ASIC miners such as the KS3 and KS5 are optimized for mining Kaspa and offer high efficiency compared to GPUs.

  7. 07.

    Can I mine Kaspa with a laptop?

    Mining Kaspa with a laptop is not recommended due to insufficient cooling and power capabilities, which can lead to overheating and damage to the hardware.

Mohammad Shahid @ CryptoManiaks
Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad is an experienced crypto writer with a specialisation in cybersecurity. He covers a wide variety of topics spanning everything from blockchain and Web3 to the retail crypto space. He has also worked for several start-ups and ICOs, gaining insight into the mindset and motivation of the founders behind the projects.