GPUs vs ASICs
Can GPU rigs mine Bitcoin directly?
No. Bitcoin uses SHA-256 which is completely dominated by ASICs. GPUs excel at ASIC-resistant algorithms:
| Algorithm | Coins | Why GPU-Optimised |
|---|---|---|
| KawPow | RVN, EVR | Memory-hard, resists ASIC development |
| Etchash | ETC | Modified Ethash, requires large GPU memory |
| Autolykos | ERG | Memory-bound, designed for GPU fairness |
| ProgPow | EPIC, ZANO | Programmable PoW, mirrors GPU architecture |
| Blake3 | ALPH, DCR | Modern hash, energy-efficient on GPUs |