Ways for keeping cpu/gpu mining profitable

By yanis | little crypto guides | 9 Aug 2020

Some cryptocurrencies like monero or ethereum allows CPU/GPU miners to stay profitable. But, how is it made ?

Algorithm change

An ASIC is made for only one algorithm (a sha256 asic cannot compute scrypt), so algo changes make last-gen ASICs unusable (only costly radiators).

This method is used by monero and is efficient against ASICs

Pros

an algo change blocks ALL asics

Cons

many hard forks (possible security problem)
*I only like new-coin hard fork (free coins xD)

High ram consuption

ASICs aren't known for their high amount of ram (normal, it haven't), because ram is very expensive. So algos using too much ram cannot be ported to.

Currently, ethereum (ethash), zcash (equihash), monero (randomx) and all coins using same algos use this system.

Pros

not too much forks

Cons

also blocks some cpu/gpu configs (DAG size with ethereum)

Multi-algo coin

Some coins like digibyte (DGB) doesn't use only one algo. If one block is found with one algo (for example, scrypt), difficulty will increase on this algo but decrease on other.

Pros

each hardware has its algo (one for cpus, another for gpu...), that allows everyone to mine
a 51 attack is harder because of hacker has to control 51% of all algos

Cons

complicated

Proof-of-Research (PoR)

Instead of making hashes, the principle is making distributed scientific computing. It isn't a way for mining, but I love gridcoin. It doesn't secure directly blockchain (that is secured by proof of stake) but helps research and is very interesting.

It's good for cpus/gpus because earnings are proportional to ur percentage of project power (and there're cpu or gpu projects), and doesn't need for 24/7 internet access (tasks are downloaded and can run offline)

Pros