Mining ETH used to be one of the most attractive ways to make money in the crypto world. But if you still hope to start mining ETH in 2026, I have to say you are too late.

The Merge event on September 15, 2022, officially ended the era of Ethereum mining. The network transitioned from the Proof of Work (PoW) algorithm to Proof of Stake (PoS), which means no more miners earning rewards from solving complex mathematical equations. Over the previous 7 years, there were up to 3,271,518 blocks mined with a total reward of 9,836,656 ETH. An enormous number.

But wait — if you can no longer mine ETH, why am I writing about it? Because many people are still confused, and understanding why ETH mining is no longer feasible will help you find better ways to earn money from Ethereum.

Back then, investors used graphics cards like AMD Radeon RX 480 or NVIDIA GTX 1070 to build mining rigs. A popular 8-card setup cost about 16 million VND, with a hash rate of 230 MH/s and power consumption of 1100W. Daily profit could reach up to $9.85, but after deducting electricity costs ($2.64) and pool fees (1%), you’re left with about $6, equivalent to 135,000 VND. Not an impressive figure for such an initial investment.

And that’s why, when The Merge happened, about 1 million miners with equipment worth over $10 billion felt lost. Some were lucky enough to switch to mining Ethereum Classic (ETC), but most realized that mining ETH is no longer a viable option.

But Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, currently trading at $2,080. So how can you make money from ETH if mining is no longer possible?

First, you can buy and sell ETH on reputable exchanges. This method requires understanding technical analysis and market psychology, but the profits can be much higher than mining ETH in the past.

Second, staking is a great option. After The Merge, Ethereum established a staking pool in August 2022. You can deposit your ETH there and earn profits without worrying about electricity costs or device maintenance. Returns depend on the amount of ETH you stake and the reward rate of the pool.

Third, margin trading allows you to profit from both upward and downward market trends, with lower capital requirements.

At one time, mining software like ETHminer, Claymore, CGMiner, WinETH, and EasyMiner were indispensable tools for anyone wanting to mine ETH. But today, they are just relics in the crypto world.

It’s important to understand that blockchain technology never stands still. Ethereum has transitioned to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Those still passionate about technology and wanting to participate in the crypto ecosystem need to adapt to these changes.

If you’re looking for ways to make money from ETH without mining anymore, consider staking or trading. Both methods can yield good profits if you know how to manage risks. The era of ETH mining has passed, but there are still many opportunities to earn from Ethereum.