Transition from Proof-of-Work: Ethermine Ends Ethereum Mining Support

In a significant move signaling the final phase of Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), Bitfly, the company behind the widely used Ethermine mining pool, has announced the official shutdown of its Ethereum (ETH) mining operations effective September 15, 2022. This marks the end of an era for GPU and ASIC miners who have long contributed computational power to secure the Ethereum network under the Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism.

Once the transition—commonly referred to as "The Merge"—is complete, Ethereum will no longer support PoW mining. As a result, miners will no longer be able to generate new ETH blocks or earn block rewards through traditional mining methods.

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What Happens After September 15?

Following The Merge, Ethermine will shift its ETH mining pool into withdrawal-only mode. This means:

• Miners can continue submitting hashes and mining ETH up until the exact moment of the network transition.
• A real-time countdown timer will be displayed on the miner dashboard, providing transparency and precise timing for the final block.
• After the switch, all backend services supporting ETH mining will be permanently disabled.
• Users will no longer be able to connect their mining rigs to the Ethermine ETH pool.
• However, miners will retain full access to withdraw any remaining unpaid balances from their accounts.

This phased approach ensures a smooth wind-down process while safeguarding user assets during one of the most anticipated upgrades in blockchain history.

No Dedicated Support for PoW Forks

One of the most notable aspects of Bitfly’s announcement is its decision not to support any planned PoW fork of Ethereum.

Despite speculation and community efforts to maintain a PoW version of Ethereum post-Merge—such as EthereumPoW (ETHW)—Bitfly has stated it will not operate a dedicated mining pool for these alternative chains.

This strategic choice reflects both technical and economic considerations:

• Maintaining separate infrastructure for a potentially fragmented chain requires significant resources.
• Market uncertainty around the long-term viability of PoW forks makes investment risky.
• Bitfly aims to align with Ethereum’s official roadmap and avoid contributing to chain fragmentation.

While some third-party pools may step in to support ETHPoW or similar forks, Ethermine users should not expect official backing from Bitfly.

Continued Mining Support for Other Proof-of-Work Coins

Although Ethereum mining is ending on Ethermine, the platform remains committed to the broader mining ecosystem. Bitfly will continue operating mining pools for several established PoW cryptocurrencies, including:

• Ethereum Classic (ETC)
• Ravencoin (RVN)
• Ergo (ERG)
• Beam (BEAM)

These networks still rely on decentralized mining and offer opportunities for miners seeking alternatives after Ethereum’s transition. Each coin serves distinct use cases—from smart contract execution (ETC) to privacy-focused transactions (Beam) and asset issuance (RVN)—providing diversity in post-Ethereum mining strategies.

Miners looking to pivot can leverage existing hardware, especially GPUs, which remain effective for mining these algorithms.

Understanding The Merge: Why Ethereum Is Moving Away From Mining

The shutdown of Ethermine’s ETH pool isn’t an isolated event—it’s part of a much larger technological evolution. Ethereum’s transition to PoS eliminates the need for energy-intensive mining by replacing it with staking.

Key Benefits of The Merge:

• Energy efficiency: PoS reduces Ethereum’s energy consumption by over 99.95%, making it far more environmentally sustainable.
• Improved security: Validators must stake 32 ETH as collateral, creating strong economic incentives against malicious behavior.
• Greater decentralization potential: Lower hardware barriers allow more participants to run nodes compared to high-cost mining farms.
• Faster network upgrades: PoS enables smoother implementation of future improvements like sharding.

This shift doesn’t just affect miners—it reshapes how users interact with the network, opening doors to scalable DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What exactly happens to my miner on September 15?

After The Merge completes, your miner will no longer be able to submit valid work to the Ethermine ETH pool. The connection will fail, and you’ll stop earning ETH. You should either switch to another supported coin (like ETC or RVN) or consider upgrading to staking if you hold ETH.

Q: Can I still withdraw my mined but unclaimed ETH after the shutdown?

Yes. Ethermine will maintain withdrawal functionality for a reasonable period after the transition. All users are encouraged to monitor their dashboards and ensure timely withdrawals.

Q: Will there be any new tokens issued on a PoW fork? Should I care?

If a PoW fork occurs (e.g., ETHW), holders of ETH at the time of the fork may receive an equivalent amount of the new token. However, Bitfly will not support this chain, and trading or holding such tokens carries risks due to low adoption and potential scams.

Q: Is GPU mining dead after Ethereum’s transition?

Not entirely. While Ethereum was the largest GPU-mined cryptocurrency, alternatives like Ravencoin, Ergo, and Monero still offer viable mining opportunities. Additionally, new projects may emerge that prioritize ASIC-resistant algorithms.

Q: How do I start staking Ethereum instead of mining?

You can become a validator by staking 32 ETH directly on the Beacon Chain. For those with less capital, staking pools allow fractional participation through services that pool user funds and distribute rewards proportionally.

Q: What should miners do now?

Evaluate your options:

• Switch to another PoW coin supported by Ethermine.
• Sell or repurpose hardware.
• Explore cloud computing or rendering workloads using idle GPUs.
• Consider entering the staking economy using platforms that support liquid staking derivatives.

The Future of Decentralized Networks Beyond Mining

The closure of Ethermine’s ETH pool symbolizes a broader transformation in blockchain technology. As networks mature, they increasingly prioritize sustainability, scalability, and security over raw computational competition.

For participants, this means adapting to new roles—from miner to validator, from hardware operator to digital asset manager.

Platforms like OKX are already enabling this shift by offering accessible staking solutions, advanced trading tools, and educational resources for navigating post-mining ecosystems.

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Final Thoughts

Bitfly’s decision to shut down Ethermine’s Ethereum mining pool on September 15 marks a definitive end to one chapter—and the beginning of another. While GPU miners face disruption, the broader ecosystem gains unprecedented efficiency and long-term sustainability.

Whether you're a seasoned miner or a casual observer, understanding this transition is crucial for staying ahead in the fast-evolving world of blockchain and digital assets.

By embracing change and exploring new avenues like staking, alternative mining coins, or decentralized finance, users can remain active participants in the next generation of decentralized networks.

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