I heard that mining ETH has become a thing of the past, but why are people still interested? Today I want to share some things I’ve learned about the history and ways to make money from Ethereum.

Ethereum still ranks second after Bitcoin in market capitalization, and it has held this position for quite a while. That proves the real potential of this coin. However, mining ETH nowadays is no longer like before.

What’s happening? On September 15, 2022, Ethereum executed "The Merge" event — a historic milestone. After 7 years operating based on the Proof of Work (PoW) algorithm, the network transitioned to Proof of Stake (PoS). This also means the end of traditional ETH mining activities. During those 7 years, about 3.27 million blocks were mined with a total reward of 9.8 million ETH.

At that time, around 1 million miners owning equipment worth over $10 billion had to find new directions. Some switched to mining ETC (Ethereum Classic) to salvage part of their investments. But in reality, many realized that trading could be more profitable with lower capital requirements.

However, if you still want to learn about coin mining in general, or are simply curious about the technical aspects, there are some methods still being tried by many.

The first is mining with a phone. Mobile mining apps are quite simple — you just participate in games, complete tasks, and receive rewards. However, the amount of coins you earn is usually insignificant, mainly for entertainment.

The second way is mining on a computer. You can use specialized software like ETHminer, Claymore, or Phoenix Miner. This method is more effective, but the lifespan of your PC will be affected due to continuous heavy operation.

Another method I want to mention is mining ETH with a CPU. Using a CPU (central processing unit) for mining has the advantage of not needing to invest in expensive graphics cards. You just need to download the appropriate tool, install it on the CPU, and start mining. The main downside is that the computer heats up very quickly, which can damage hardware if there’s no good cooling system.

The fourth way is using a GPU (graphics card). This is a popular choice because of higher efficiency. A mining rig with multiple GPUs working together can perform quite powerfully. But you’ll need cooling fans to keep it cool, as these cards get very hot during continuous operation.

The last method is using ASIC — specialized devices designed specifically for mining. They are very powerful and efficient, but expensive and difficult to maintain.

Besides mining, there are many other ways to earn money from ETH. You can trade directly on exchanges, or try staking — depositing coins to earn interest. Some websites also allow you to earn free ETH by watching ads, participating in AirDrops, or creating content.

In summary, although traditional ETH mining has ended, there are still ways to participate in the crypto world. The key is choosing the method that suits your situation and capabilities. The current ETH price is about $2.14K, up 0.71% in the last 24 hours. If you’re interested, you can explore more about trading or investing in Ethereum on reputable exchanges.