Understanding Zcash Mining
- Algorithm: Zcash uses the Equihash algorithm, measured in Solutions per Second (Sol/s), not in Hashes per Second (H/s).
- Block Reward: Approximately 2.5 ZEC per block.
- Block Time: Roughly 75 seconds per block.
- Total Network Hashrate: Assumed to be around 10 MSol/s (10 million Sol/s) for this calculation.
Calculating Required Hashrate to Mine 1 Zcash Daily
1. Calculate Daily Network Rewards
Blocks per Day: 86,400 seconds/day ÷ 75 seconds/block ≈ 1,152 blocks/day
Total ZEC Mined per Day: 1,152 blocks/day × 2.5 ZEC/block = 2,880 ZEC/day
2. Calculate Required Share of Hashrate
To mine 1 ZEC per day, you need to own a fraction of the total network hashrate proportional to the fraction of ZEC you want to mine.
Required Share: 1 ZEC/day ÷ 2,880 ZEC/day ≈ 0.0003472
Required Hashrate: 10,000,000 Sol/s × 0.0003472 ≈ 3,472 Sol/s
3. Accounting for Mining Pool Fees and Luck
Mining Pool Fees: Typically around 1% to 2%.
Realistic Required Hashrate (including fees and variance): 3,472 Sol/s × 1.02 ≈ 3,541 Sol/s
Hardware Options
Option 1: ASIC Miner
| Model | Hashrate | Power Consumption | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitmain Antminer Z15 | 420 KSol/s | 1,510 W | $4,000 |
Number of Units Needed: 3,541 Sol/s ÷ 420,000 Sol/s ≈ 0.00843 units (1 unit is sufficient)
Adjusted Calculations
Excess Hashrate: You'll have more hashrate than needed.
Expected Daily Earnings: 420,000 Sol/s ÷ 10,000,000 Sol/s × 2,880 ZEC/day ≈ 120.96 ZEC/day
Note: This inconsistency suggests that the network hashrate is higher than 10 MSol/s.
Updated Network Hashrate Estimate
Assuming the network hashrate is around 15,000 MSol/s.
Required Hashrate: 15,000,000,000 Sol/s × (1 ZEC/day ÷ 2,880 ZEC/day) ≈ 5,208,333 Sol/s
Number of Z15 Units Needed: 5,208,333 Sol/s ÷ 420,000 Sol/s ≈ 12.4 units (rounded to 13 units)
Total Cost
Hardware Cost: 13 units × $4,000 = $52,000 USD
Total Power Consumption: 13 units × 1,510 W = 19,630 W
Daily Power Consumption: 19,630 W × 24 hours = 471.12 kWh/day
Daily Electricity Cost: 471.12 kWh/day × $0.15 USD/kWh = $70.67 USD/day
Monthly Electricity Cost: $70.67/day × 30 days = $2,120.10 USD
Internet Cost: $13.50/month
Mining Pool Fee (2%): 30 ZEC × $30/ZEC × 2% = $18 USD
Total Monthly Cost: $2,120.10 (Electricity) + $13.50 (Internet) + $18 (Pool Fee) = $2,151.60 USD
Monthly and Yearly Income
Monthly Revenue: 30 ZEC × $30 = $900 USD
Monthly Profit/Loss: $900 - $2,151.60 = -$1,251.60 USD
Total Annual Cost: $2,151.60/month × 12 months = $25,819.20 USD
Total Annual Revenue: $900/month × 12 months = $10,800 USD
Annual Profit/Loss: $10,800 - $25,819.20 = -$15,019.20 USD
Option 2: GPU Mining Rig
| Model | Hashrate per GPU | Power Consumption per GPU |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX 3090 | 120 Sol/s | 350 W |
Number of GPUs Needed: 5,208,333 Sol/s ÷ 120 Sol/s ≈ 43,402 GPUs (impractical for individual mining)
Mining Pool Addresses and Fees
- Flypool Zcash - Fee: 1% (Website: zcash.flypool.org)
- Nanopool - Fee: 1% (Website: zec.nanopool.org)
- Luxor Mining - Fee: 1% (Website: mining.luxor.tech)
- 2Miners - Fee: 1% (Website: 2miners.com)
Latest ASIC Miner Models for Zcash
| Model | Hashrate | Power Consumption | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitmain Antminer Z15 | 420 KSol/s | 1,510 W | $4,000 |
| Innosilicon A9++ ZMaster | 140 KSol/s | 1,550 W | $1,500 |
Conclusion
Mining 1 ZEC per day is not economically viable with current network conditions and costs. It's important to consider electricity costs, hardware expenses, and the fluctuating price of ZEC before making a decision.
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