How Much Ethereum Can I Mine in a Day with a 3060?

As of 2024, mining Ethereum with a GeForce RTX 3060 offers a fascinating mix of profitability and technical insight. With Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake (PoS) having largely taken over the mining landscape, many wonder how much can still be mined with the RTX 3060. The RTX 3060 is a mid-range GPU from NVIDIA, known for its efficiency in various computational tasks, including cryptocurrency mining.

To understand its mining capabilities, we need to delve into the key factors affecting its performance:

Mining Efficiency

The RTX 3060 is capable of delivering a hash rate of approximately 25-30 MH/s (Mega Hashes per second) when mining Ethereum. This range can fluctuate based on factors such as overclocking, the specific model of the card, and thermal management.

Mining Difficulty and Ethereum's Transition

The Ethereum network has seen varying levels of mining difficulty, which significantly impacts earnings. As of late 2024, the network’s difficulty is relatively high, making it more challenging to mine Ethereum effectively. Moreover, with Ethereum's transition to PoS, the scope of traditional mining has reduced, impacting overall potential profitability.

Electricity Costs

Electricity costs play a crucial role in determining mining profitability. The RTX 3060 consumes about 170 watts during mining. Given average electricity prices, miners must calculate their costs carefully to determine net gains. For instance, with a typical electricity cost of $0.10 per kWh, running the RTX 3060 could incur significant expenses, impacting overall profitability.

Estimated Earnings

With the aforementioned hash rate and considering current network difficulty and block rewards, an RTX 3060 can mine approximately 0.005 to 0.007 ETH per day. This estimate assumes optimal conditions and does not account for potential fluctuations in network difficulty or Ethereum’s price.

Profitability Analysis

To analyze profitability, let’s break down the costs and earnings. Here’s a simplified table for a clearer perspective:

Parameter	Value
Hash Rate	25-30 MH/s
Power Consumption	170 watts
Electricity Cost	$0.10 per kWh
Daily Electricity Cost	$0.41
Ethereum Mined Daily	0.005 - 0.007 ETH
Current ETH Price	$1,600 (variable)
Daily Revenue	$8.00 - $11.20
Net Profit	$7.59 - $10.79

Future Outlook

The future of mining with the RTX 3060 is intricately tied to Ethereum’s ongoing developments. As the network continues to evolve, miners must stay informed about changes in PoS and its implications for mining profitability.

Conclusion

While the RTX 3060 is not the most powerful mining GPU available, it still provides a reasonable return under current conditions. Understanding its mining efficiency, costs, and the broader network dynamics will help potential miners make informed decisions.