How to Dual Mine Ethereum (ETH) and Sia (SC): Complete Beginner’s Guide

Dual mining Ethereum (ETH) and Sia (SC) allows you to maximize your mining rig's efficiency by simultaneously mining two cryptocurrencies. Ethereum operates on the Ethash algorithm, while Sia uses Blake2b, making them compatible for dual mining without significant performance loss. This guide covers everything from setup to optimization.

Compatible Coins for Dual Mining with Ethereum

You can dual mine Ethereum alongside these coins:

• Decred (DCR)
• Sia (SC)
• LBRY Credits (LBC)
• Pascal (PASC)

👉 Learn more about optimizing your mining rig

Pre-Mining Checklist

1. Update GPU Drivers: Ensure your graphics cards have the latest drivers.
2. Antivirus Exceptions: Mining software often triggers false positives. Exclude your mining folder from antivirus scans.

Choosing a Mining Pool

For consistent payouts, use a reputable pool like Nanopool. Key details:

• Ethereum Fee: 1%
• Sia Fee: 2%
• Global Servers: US, EU, Asia, Australia

GPU Mining Setup

Nvidia GPUs

Software: Claymore’s Dual Ethereum Miner (1–1.5% dev fee).

Batch File Example:

EthDcrMiner64.exe -epool stratum+tcp://eth-us-west1.nanopool.org:9999 -ewal YOUR_ETH_WALLET -eworker rig1 -epsw x -esm 0 -asm 0 -mode 0 -dcoin sc -dpool stratum+tcp://sia-us-west1.nanopool.org:7777 -dwal YOUR_SC_WALLET -dpsw x -gser 2 -allpools 1 -allcoins 1

Key Metrics to Monitor:

• ETH Hashrate (Red)
• SC Hashrate (Blue)
• GPU Temp/Fan Speed (Green)

AMD GPUs

Additional Commands:

setx GPU_FORCE_64BIT_PTR 1
setx GPU_MAX_HEAP_SIZE 100
setx GPU_USE_SYNC_OBJECTS 1

Note: Vega cards require -asm 1.

Troubleshooting

• Stale Shares: Switch to a closer server.
• Rejected Shares: Lower intensity (e.g., -ethi 6).
• Virtual Memory: Allocate 16GB per GPU (Vega: 16GB+).

👉 Troubleshoot common mining errors

Profitability Estimation

Use WhatToMine to calculate daily earnings:

1. Enter total hashrate (ETH in MH/s, SC in GH/s).
2. Input power consumption (watts).
3. Adjust electricity cost and pool fees.

Example:

• ETH: 30 MH/s → ~0.005 ETH/day ($10)
• SC: 3 GH/s → ~200 SC/day ($5)

Pro Tip: Compare dual mining profits vs. solo Ethereum mining to ensure profitability.

FAQ

1. Is dual mining profitable?

Yes, if the combined earnings exceed solo mining after accounting for power costs and hashrate losses.

2. Can I dual mine with CPUs?

CPU mining is unprofitable; GPUs are required.

3. How do I reduce rejected shares?

Lower mining intensity or use a stable pool server.

4. What’s the best GPU for dual mining?

Nvidia GTX 1080 or AMD Vega (optimized for Ethash/Blake2b).

5. How often are payouts?

Nanopool pays out every 2–12 hours, depending on your hashrate.

6. Do I need separate wallets?

Yes, one for ETH and one for SC.

Final Thoughts

Dual mining ETH and SC optimizes rig efficiency but requires careful monitoring. Use tools like WhatToMine to track profitability and adjust settings as needed.

👉 Explore advanced mining strategies