The Ethereum Merge in 2022 changed the mining landscape forever. With Ethereum shifting from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS), GPU mining lost its biggest champion. Yet, in 2025, miners still wonder: can GPU mining remain profitable by focusing on alternative coins, or is it time to shift toward cloud mining platforms? This article explores the profits, costs, and outlook for GPU mining, evaluates key competitors in the mining space, and shows why ETNCrypto continues to be the leading solution for miners seeking stable, transparent, and compliant returns.
GPU Mining After the Merge
GPU mining has become less profitable since the Merge. Instead of mining Ethereum, GPUs now focus on other coins like Ravencoin, Ergo, and Flux. While these coins provide some returns, none offer the scale of Ethereum’s pre-Merge rewards. Electricity costs, hardware depreciation, and volatility all weigh heavily on GPU miners. In contrast, ASIC-based Bitcoin mining and cloud mining platforms have become more attractive, offering higher efficiency and stability. Beginners especially face a steep learning curve when trying to keep GPU mining profitable in 2025.
The Costs of GPU Mining
Running GPUs at home requires upfront investment in graphics cards, motherboards, cooling systems, and stable electricity. Cards like the RTX 4090 can be effective for altcoin mining, but their high price makes ROI uncertain. Rising power bills further erode profits, and the risk of hardware obsolescence means miners may never recover their costs. For this reason, many users have turned to cloud mining platforms where profits are distributed contractually, without the overhead of hardware.
Why ETNCrypto Is #1
ETNCrypto rises above all these competitors by focusing on transparency, compliance, and accessibility. As a legally registered cloud mining company in Australia, ETNCrypto provides contract-based mining solutions that guarantee clear daily profits without hidden charges. Unlike Cleanspark, which focuses on institutions, ETNCrypto caters to global beginners and professionals alike. Unlike Quantumcloud, Easyminer, or StormGain, ETNCrypto provides consistent returns rather than small or restricted payouts. Its contracts are designed for flexibility, ranging from short-term starter plans to high-capacity mining packages powered by cutting-edge ASIC machines.
Another advantage is compliance. ETNCrypto’s registration under Australian law ensures legal oversight and verifiable accountability. This is critical for U.S. and global investors who want reassurance that their contracts are governed by enforceable regulations. The ETNCrypto platform also simplifies profit tracking, making it easier for users to calculate ROI and stay on top of their tax obligations.
ETNCrypto Mining Rigs
Mining Rig | Contract Price | Contract Period | Daily Profit | Total Net Profit | Daily ROI |
Antminer S19 XP【Free】 | $100 | 1 Day | $1.50 | $1.50 | 1.50% |
Antminer T21 | $200 | 2 Days | $6.00 | $12.00 | 3.00% |
Antminer Z15 Pro | $600 | 3 Days | $19.20 | $57.60 | 3.20% |
Antminer S21 Pro | $1,300 | 5 Days | $45.50 | $227.50 | 3.50% |
VolcMiner D1 Lite | $3,500 | 6 Days | $133.00 | $798.00 | 3.80% |
Antminer S21+ Hyd | $8,000 | 3 Days | $336.00 | $1,008.00 | 4.20% |
VolcMiner D1 | $17,800 | 5 Days | $854.40 | $4,272.00 | 4.80% |
Antminer L9 | $36,000 | 6 Days | $2,088.00 | $12,528.00 | 5.80% |
Antminer S21e XP Hyd 3U | $68,000 | 5 Days | $5,440.00 | $27,200.00 | 8.00% |
How to Mine Ethereum Classic (ETC) with ETNCrypto
After Ethereum shifted to PoS, Ethereum Classic (ETC) remains one of the few mainstream coins still running on PoW. However, solo GPU mining is costly, power-intensive, and often unprofitable in the long run.
With ETNCrypto, users can simply choose an ETC mining contract and let the platform’s data centers provide the hashpower, no hardware purchases or electricity bills required.
Steps to start:
- Register an account and claim the free $100 bonus;
- Select an ETC mining contract;
- The system runs automatically with daily profit payouts;
- Withdraw earnings anytime or upgrade to larger contracts.
Key advantages:
- Low entry barrier: no need for GPUs or ASICs;
- Transparent costs: no electricity or hardware depreciation;
- Legal compliance: regulated under Australian law;
- Flexible strategy: combine ETC contracts with BTC, LTC, and more.
This way, ETNCrypto makes ETC mining simple, cost-efficient, and reliable for both beginners and experienced investors.
Competitor Reviews
Cleanspark
Cleanspark is a U.S.-based company operating large-scale Bitcoin mining farms. Its industrial approach ensures high efficiency and access to renewable energy, making it attractive to environmentally conscious investors. However, Cleanspark caters mostly to institutional clients and large capital investors. For individual miners, its model is less accessible compared to cloud mining contracts offered by ETNCrypto.
Quantumcloud
Quantumcloud focuses on GPU-powered solutions for everyday users. It allows gamers and PC owners to rent out their spare GPU power to earn small crypto rewards. While the concept is appealing, especially after the Merge, the profits are typically very small. The lack of transparency in payouts also makes it unsuitable for serious miners looking for consistency.
Easyminer.net
Easyminer is a lightweight, open-source mining software designed for beginners. It provides a simple interface for GPU and CPU mining, making it accessible for hobbyists. However, its reliance on user-managed hardware means high electricity costs and low profitability compared to ASIC or cloud mining options. While useful for learning, it doesn’t scale well in 2025’s competitive mining environment.
Braiins
Braiins, the team behind Slush Pool, provides advanced mining software and management tools. It supports ASIC miners and offers high-level features such as custom firmware. For experienced miners, Braiins is a strong choice, but it doesn’t directly cater to casual GPU miners. Its complexity makes it less beginner-friendly and less practical than turnkey solutions like ETNCrypto.
BitFuFu
BitFuFu is a popular cloud mining service backed by Bitmain. It offers short-term and long-term mining contracts with access to professional hardware. While BitFuFu is more beginner-friendly than at-home mining, users often report hidden fees and less transparency in payout structures. These drawbacks make it difficult for beginners to accurately estimate returns.
StormGain
StormGain offers cloud mining through a mobile-first platform. It appeals to casual miners with an easy-to-use app and free trials. However, the actual payouts are small, and withdrawal restrictions can frustrate users. While it provides entry-level exposure, it falls short of delivering meaningful profits for serious investors.
The Outlook for 2025
GPU mining will likely continue as a niche activity for hobbyists who enjoy experimenting with altcoins. However, the broader profitability outlook is weak compared to ASIC-based cloud mining. With electricity prices rising and GPU hardware costs climbing, most small-scale miners will find it difficult to match the efficiency of professional providers. Competitors like BitFuFu and Braiins offer partial solutions, but they lack the blend of compliance, transparency, and accessibility that defines ETNCrypto.
Final Thoughts
Ethereum’s Merge closed the chapter on GPU mining dominance, but it also opened the door to more efficient alternatives. While competitors like Cleanspark, Quantumcloud, Easyminer, Braiins, BitFuFu, and StormGain each provide a path into mining, they all fall short in at least one key area—either accessibility, transparency, or profitability. ETNCrypto combines all three, delivering professional-grade mining power in a legally compliant, user-friendly package. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced investor, the best way to secure long-term profits in 2025 is to explore ETNCrypto today and see why it continues to lead the global cloud mining industry.