Mining Ethereum with a Raspberry Pi 4 is a popular topic among cryptocurrency enthusiasts who want to explore mining with minimal investment. While Ethereum transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in September 2022, ending the ability to mine ETH using GPUs, many still experiment with the Raspberry Pi for educational purposes and for mining other coins that rely on Proof-of-Work (PoW). This guide covers the essential steps to set up an Ethereum mining environment on a Raspberry Pi 4, from hardware requirements to software configuration.
Hardware Requirements
To get started, you will need a Raspberry Pi 4 model B with at least 2GB of RAM (4GB or 8GB recommended for better performance). A high-quality microSD card (16GB or more, Class 10) is essential for the operating system and mining software. Use a reliable USB-C power supply (3A) and consider an active cooler or heatsink to prevent thermal throttling during continuous operation. A wired Ethernet connection provides more stable connectivity than Wi‑Fi for mining.
Software Setup Steps
- Install a 64‑bit operating system such as Ubuntu Server or Raspberry Pi OS Lite.
- Update system packages and install required dependencies (build‑essential, cmake, git).
- Choose mining software compatible with ARM64 architecture. For Ethereum (pre‑PoS) options included Ethminer or Geth; for other coins, miners like XMRig work well.
- Create an Ethereum wallet address (or a wallet for the chosen coin) and select a mining pool (e.g., Ethermine, F2Pool, or pool appropriate for your coin).
- Configure the mining software with your wallet address and pool connection details.
- Start the miner and monitor your hashrate and pool dashboard to confirm activity.
Performance and Considerations
The Raspberry Pi 4’s CPU can produce a modest hash rate — approximately 1–5 MH/s for Ethash (pre‑PoS). This is far below the profitability threshold for ETH, but the experience is valuable for learning. The device consumes only 5–10 watts, making it a very low‑cost experimental platform. To maintain stability during 24/7 operation, adequate cooling is recommended. After the PoS transition, the same hardware can mine Monero (XMR) using XMRig, offering a continued educational path.
Alternatives After Proof-of-Stake
Since Ethereum can no longer be mined, the Raspberry Pi 4 setup can be repurposed for other PoW cryptocurrencies such as Monero, Ravencoin, or Ergo. Each has its own software and configuration nuances, but the fundamental hardware setup remains the same. This extends the useful life of your mining rig and broadens your understanding of different mining algorithms.
For more detailed information on cryptocurrency mining and profitability, explore the Crypto category on CryptoGava and check out the popular articles below.