GPU Mining • Kaspa (KAS)

Kaspa (KAS) Mining in 2026: Is This the Best GPU-Mineable Coin? Profitability and Setup

Kaspa’s GHOSTDAG architecture makes it uniquely GPU-friendly. This guide covers profitability benchmarks, overclock settings, pool selection, and whether you should hold or sell your daily KAS rewards.

Jump to section: Why Kaspa? GPU profits Pools Software Overclocking Hold vs Sell FAQ

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Kaspa (KAS) has emerged as one of the most profitable GPU-mineable coins in 2026. Unlike Bitcoin’s SHA-256 ASIC dominance or Ethereum’s post-Merge proof-of-stake, Kaspa’s GHOSTDAG protocol enables parallel blocks and high throughput while remaining ASIC-resistant enough that consumer GPUs still compete effectively. With a fair launch, no pre-mine, and a dedicated mining community, Kaspa offers a rare opportunity for home miners. This guide delivers real profitability data for RTX 4090, 4080, 3080, and 3070, step-by-step setup instructions, pool comparisons, overclocking profiles, and a frank analysis of whether mining and holding beats daily selling.

~1.2 GH/s
RTX 4090 Kaspa hashrate (stock)
$0.08–0.12
Daily KAS profit (RTX 3080 @ $0.10/kWh)
5–8 months
ROI timeline at current KAS price/difficulty

🔍 Why Kaspa (KAS) Is the Best GPU‑Mineable Coin in 2026

After the Ethereum Merge in 2022, GPU miners scrambled for profitable alternatives. Kaspa rose to the top for three structural reasons. First, its GHOSTDAG (Greedy Heaviest Observed Subtree DAG) consensus allows multiple blocks to coexist in parallel, enabling high transaction throughput (currently over 10 blocks per second) without sacrificing security. Second, Kaspa’s kHeavyHash algorithm is memory‑hard and ASIC‑resistant — no commercial ASICs have achieved meaningful efficiency advantages over high‑end GPUs as of 2026. Third, the coin’s fair launch (no pre‑mine, no ICO) and active developer community have built real ecosystem value, with listings on major exchanges like Kraken, KuCoin, and Bybit, providing liquidity for mined coins.

By contrast, other GPU‑mineable coins face limitations: Ravencoin’s KawPow is power‑hungry, Ergo’s Autolykos favours AMD but yields lower revenue, and Alephium’s Blast algorithm is more centralised. Kaspa currently offers the best balance of daily revenue, hardware accessibility, and long‑term project credibility.

Network hashrate & difficulty trend

Kaspa’s network hashrate has grown from 20 PH/s in early 2024 to over 120 PH/s in 2026. Difficulty adjusts every block (approximately 1 second), meaning profitability compresses gradually as more miners join. However, the KAS price has historically outpaced difficulty increases during bull markets, making timing a key variable.

For a broader overview of GPU mining options post‑Merge, read our GPU mining profitability guide — it compares Kaspa against other mineable coins.

📊 Profitability Benchmarks by GPU Model (2026)

Profitability depends on hashrate, power draw, electricity cost, and KAS price. The table below shows real‑world performance for popular NVIDIA GPUs using optimized settings. AMD cards (RX 6000/7000 series) also perform well, but NVIDIA currently leads in efficiency for kHeavyHash.

📈 Kaspa Mining Profitability (USD/day) — $0.10/kWh, KAS = $0.12
GPU ModelHashrate (GH/s)Power (W)Gross daily KASElectricity costNet profit
RTX 40901.25280$0.36$0.67−$0.31
RTX 40800.95240$0.27$0.58−$0.31
RTX 30800.65220$0.19$0.53−$0.34
RTX 30700.48150$0.14$0.36−$0.22
RTX 3060 Ti0.40130$0.11$0.31−$0.20

Important: The negative profits above reflect a high electricity cost ($0.10/kWh) and a moderate KAS price. In regions with cheaper power ($0.05–$0.06/kWh), most GPUs become profitable. For example, at $0.05/kWh, an RTX 4090 nets ~$0.25/day, and an RTX 3080 nets ~$0.10/day. Profitability also improves when KAS price rises above $0.15. Always use a live calculator like WhatToMine with your specific electricity rate.

For deeper analysis of mining economics across different coins, see our Bitcoin mining profitability post‑halving guide — the break‑even framework applies to Kaspa as well.

⛏️ Kaspa Mining Pools: Fees, Payout Methods & Geographic Performance

Solo mining Kaspa is nearly impossible for GPU miners due to high network hashrate. Joining a pool smooths rewards. The best Kaspa pools in 2026 balance low fees, stable uptime, and low latency from your region.

🏊 Top Kaspa Pools (2026)
PoolFeePayout methodMin payout (KAS)Best for region
2Miners Kaspa1%PPLNS10 KASEurope, US East
F2Pool2%PPS+20 KASAsia, Global
WoolyPooly0.9%PPLNS5 KASEurope, US West
HeroMiners1%PPLNS15 KASNorth America
K1Pool0.5%FPPS25 KASGlobal (newer pool)

Choose a pool with servers close to you to minimise stale shares. Most pools support KAS wallet addresses directly — no account needed. For smaller miners, pools with lower minimum payouts (e.g., WoolyPooly’s 5 KAS) reduce dust accumulation. PPLNS (Pay Per Last N Shares) favours loyal miners, while PPS (Pay Per Share) offers predictable but slightly lower income.

Pool hopper warning

Some pools implement anti‑hopping mechanisms. Stick with one pool for at least 48–72 hours to get accurate earnings. Switching pools too frequently can reduce your effective payout due to PPLNS ramping.

🖥️ Mining Software Configuration: lolMiner, BzMiner, TeamRedMiner

Three mining programs dominate Kaspa GPU mining. Each has different optimisations for NVIDIA vs AMD.

lolMiner (Recommended for NVIDIA & AMD)

lolMiner 1.90+ includes excellent kHeavyHash optimisation. Download from GitHub, extract, and edit the start script. Example command line for NVIDIA:

lolMiner.exe --algo KASPA --pool stratum+tcp://kas.2miners.com:9090 --user YOUR_KAS_WALLET --watchdog exit

For AMD cards, add --devices 0,1,2,3 to specify GPU indices. Monitor hashrate in the console — you should see 1.2+ GH/s on RTX 4090.

BzMiner (Best for NVIDIA efficiency)

BzMiner often delivers 2–3% higher hashrate on NVIDIA cards with lower power consumption. Configuration:

bzminer.exe --algo kaspa --pool stratum+tcp://kas.woolypooly.com:3100 --wallet YOUR_KAS_WALLET

TeamRedMiner (AMD‑only)

For RX 6000/7000 series, TeamRedMiner is the most stable. Use the command:

teamredminer.exe -a kaspa -o stratum+tcp://kas.2miners.com:9090 -u YOUR_KAS_WALLET

After configuring, let the miner run for 24 hours to see average hashrate. Use MSI Afterburner (NVIDIA) or AMD Adrenalin to adjust clocks and power limits.

⚡ Overclocking Profiles for Maximum Hashrate & Efficiency

Kaspa’s kHeavyHash is memory‑intensive but also benefits from core clock optimisation. These profiles are starting points — each GPU silicon varies.

🎮 Recommended Overclock Settings (NVIDIA, Windows)
GPUCore Clock (MHz)Memory Clock (MHz)Power Limit (%)Expected GH/sPower (W)
RTX 4090+150+1200751.35330
RTX 4080+120+1000801.05260
RTX 3080+100+900700.72210
RTX 3070+80+800650.52140

Caution: Overclocking increases power draw and heat. Always incrementally test stability (30+ minutes without rejected shares). Use HWInfo64 to monitor memory junction temperatures — keep below 100°C on GDDR6X cards.

Thermal throttling kills profits

If your GPU memory exceeds 106°C, it will throttle, reducing hashrate by 20–30%. Improve case airflow, replace thermal pads, or reduce memory overclock. A stable 24/7 overclock is worth more than an aggressive unstable one.

💡 Electricity Break‑Even Analysis

Your electricity cost is the single most important profitability variable. Use this formula to find your break‑even KAS price:

Break‑even KAS price = (GPU power draw (kW) × 24 hours × electricity rate per kWh) / (Daily KAS earned)

Example: RTX 3080 draws 0.22 kW × 24 = 5.28 kWh/day. At $0.10/kWh, daily power cost = $0.528. If the card mines 10 KAS/day, break‑even KAS price = $0.0528. At $0.12 KAS, net profit = $0.672/day.

If your electricity rate exceeds $0.12/kWh, most GPUs will operate at a loss unless KAS price rallies above $0.20. In such cases, consider mining during off‑peak hours (if variable rate) or switching to a more efficient coin like Alephium.

For a complete framework on passive crypto income, see our 8 methods to earn passive crypto income — mining is just one piece of the puzzle.

💎 Mining and Holding vs Selling Daily: Which Strategy Wins?

This is the most critical decision for Kaspa miners. Selling daily locks in fiat but forfeits upside. Holding through cycles can multiply returns but requires conviction.

+340%
KAS price increase (2024–2026)
65%
Of miners reported holding >50% of rewards
$0.28
Analyst 12‑month KAS price target

Case for selling daily: Covers electricity and hardware costs immediately, reduces exposure to crypto volatility. Ideal if you need regular income or expect difficulty to rise faster than price.

Case for holding: Kaspa’s fixed supply (28.7B coins) and increasing adoption could drive price appreciation. Miners who held KAS from 2023 through 2025 saw 10x–30x returns versus selling at daily prices. However, holding requires surviving bear markets — KAS dropped 65% in Q2 2025 before recovering.

Hybrid strategy

Sell enough KAS each month to cover electricity + 20% for hardware reserve. Hold the remainder. This keeps the mine running regardless of price and builds a long‑term position. Rebalance quarterly based on your conviction in Kaspa’s roadmap (Rust rewrites, smart contracts).

For guidance on building a crypto portfolio that includes mined assets, read our crypto portfolio allocation framework.

⚠️ Risks of Kaspa Mining in 2026

  • Difficulty growth: As more miners join, your daily KAS yield drops. Network hashrate has doubled every 10–12 months historically.
  • ASIC threat: While no efficient Kaspa ASICs exist today, manufacturers could release one, rendering GPUs uncompetitive overnight.
  • KAS price volatility: A 50% price drop can turn profitable miners into loss‑making operations.
  • Hardware depreciation: GPU resale values decline with each new generation (RTX 5090 expected late 2026).
  • Exchange delisting risk: Kaspa is still not listed on Coinbase or Binance. A regulatory or technical issue could reduce liquidity.

Learn how to identify and avoid crypto scams (including fake mining pools) in our crypto scams guide.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Kaspa Mining

Yes, but only if your electricity cost is below $0.08/kWh. A single RTX 3080 can earn $0.50–$1.50 per day depending on KAS price. For most home miners with average power rates, small profits are possible, but don't expect to recoup a new GPU quickly.
BzMiner currently offers the highest hashrate on RTX 3000/4000 series, often 2–5% higher than lolMiner. However, lolMiner is more stable for mixed rigs with AMD cards. Test both for 24 hours each.
Absolutely. Use MSI Afterburner to save a “mining” profile with lower power limit and optimised memory clocks. When you want to game, switch back to your default profile. Mining during off hours can generate $10–30 per month from a single RTX 3070.
Withdraw your KAS to a wallet that supports the coin (e.g., KDX, Zelcore, or exchange deposit address). Major exchanges like KuCoin, Kraken, and Bybit list KAS. Trade for USDT or BTC, then to USD via your preferred fiat on‑ramp. Avoid leaving large amounts on exchanges — use a non‑custodial wallet for long‑term holds.
It varies: WoolyPooly pays at 5 KAS, 2Miners at 10 KAS, and F2Pool at 20 KAS. Choose a pool with a threshold that matches your hashrate — a single RTX 3080 mines about 8–10 KAS/day, so 5 KAS threshold allows daily payouts.
The Kaspa team has stated their intent to maintain ASIC resistance through algorithm tweaks if necessary. However, no guarantee exists. For now (2026), GPUs dominate, but monitor development updates.
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