To compare mining profitability across BTC, LTC, DOGE, ZEC and KAS, estimate each compatible mining setup’s combined daily revenue in the same currency, then subtract electricity and other operating costs. Use consistent observation periods and account for uptime, pool fees, and eligible merged-mining rewards once.

This approach compares operating results. When choosing hardware to buy, also consider acquisition cost and the period over which you expect to operate it.

Why Nominal Hashrate Cannot Be Compared Across Coins

A larger hashrate number does not automatically mean a more profitable miner. Bitcoin uses SHA-256, Litecoin and Dogecoin use Scrypt, Zcash uses Equihash, and Kaspa uses kHeavyHash. These algorithms involve different computational work.

TH/s and GH/s are different scales of hashes per second and can be converted: 1 TH/s equals 1,000 GH/s. However, converting units does not make SHA-256 work comparable to Scrypt or kHeavyHash work. Zcash mining performance is commonly expressed in Sol/s or KSol/s—Equihash solutions per second, rather than individual hashing-function executions.

The same limitation applies to efficiency ratings. Compare J/TH, J/GH, or J/KSol only within the same algorithm, after normalizing units and measurement conditions. Two machines both rated in J/TH are not directly comparable if one mines BTC and the other mines KAS.

Step 1: Identify What the Machine Can Actually Mine

ASICs are designed for specific algorithms. A SHA-256 ASIC can mine compatible SHA-256 networks; a Scrypt ASIC can participate in LTC/DOGE merged mining through a supporting pool; a Zcash-compatible Equihash ASIC can mine ZEC; and a compatible kHeavyHash ASIC can mine KAS.

Confirm the exact machine’s supported algorithm and parameters, then check the pool’s supported coins and payout rules. An Equihash label alone does not establish compatibility with every Equihash-based network.

For an existing ASIC, the available choices are limited by hardware compatibility. Comparing BTC, Scrypt, ZEC, and KAS setups usually means comparing different machines.

Step 2: Build a Like-for-Like Revenue Comparison

Use consistent assumptions for every setup:

• Observation time and period: Capture network conditions and prices at the same time for projections. For historical results, compare rewards earned over matching periods, rather than mixing a short snapshot with a daily average.
• Quote currency: Convert expected coin output into the same reference currency using a consistent price snapshot. For historical comparisons, state the valuation convention used.
• Pool-fee treatment: Record the applicable fee for each reward component and whether it is already deducted.
• Payout method: State the actual method used. PPS+, PPLNS, and solo mining can be compared on an expected-revenue basis, but their fees, variability, and payment timing differ.

A basic estimate of daily subsidy income is:

Expected coins per day = (miner hashrate ÷ network hashrate) × expected network blocks per day × miner subsidy per block

Use the same algorithm and normalized units for miner and network hashrate, with comparable measurement periods. For ZEC, use compatible solution-rate measurements. The miner subsidy must exclude any protocol allocation to other recipients.

If the input is the machine’s hashrate while operating, adjust expected output for productive uptime and applicable work losses. If a full-period effective hashrate already includes those effects, do not deduct them again. Likewise, do not reapply downtime or rejection adjustments to rewards already credited for that period.

This is a screening estimate under stated network conditions. Add eligible transaction-fee income and merged-mining rewards separately, apply the relevant pool fees, and convert the resulting coin amounts into the chosen currency. A higher coin price increases their currency value; it does not directly increase the number of coins mined.

Step 3: Combine LTC and DOGE Revenue

A Scrypt ASIC connected to a supporting pool can contribute the same underlying work to Litecoin and Dogecoin through merged mining. The miner does not need to divide its hashrate into separate LTC and DOGE mining jobs. The pool handles the auxiliary proof-of-work process and reward distribution. See the Dogecoin mining documentation.

The relevant operating comparison therefore includes the combined value of LTC, DOGE, and any other eligible auxiliary rewards earned over the same period.

For ViaBTC LTC merged mining, the official tutorial specifies PPS+ or PPLNS eligibility, while auxiliary rewards are distributed under PPLNS. Those rewards can vary with actual mining results. Check the ViaBTC LTC merged-mining tutorial for the applicable rules.

Apply the same inclusion principle to every setup: include eligible auxiliary rewards wherever supported. Before adding them to a calculator estimate or accounting total, check whether they are already included.

Step 4: Calculate Electricity Cost From Wall Power

Use measured wall power at the intended operating settings where available. Manufacturer-rated power can serve as a clearly labeled estimate.

For a machine drawing constant power while operating:

Daily energy use (kWh) = wall power (W) ÷ 1,000 × powered operating hours per day

Daily energy charge = daily energy use (kWh) × electricity rate per kWh

For example, a hypothetical 3,500 W miner running for 24 hours consumes 84 kWh. At an illustrative $0.06/kWh, its daily energy charge is $5.04. These are example inputs, not a current hardware specification or electricity-price benchmark.

Productive uptime and powered operating time are not always equal. A machine may continue drawing power during a network interruption even though it earns no rewards. Include that consumption, and account for different power levels separately where relevant.

Add cooling and facility electricity costs if the miner pays them. Demand and fixed charges should be allocated separately, or included in an effective all-in rate derived from a matching billing period. If a hosting fee already includes electricity, do not add the same electricity cost again.

Step 5: Compare Net Operating Results

Keep device specifications, pool measurements, credited rewards, and financial results distinct. Rated hashrate describes the machine’s specification; pool-estimated hashrate reflects submitted work and may fluctuate over short windows. Neither is interchangeable with an actual reward statement.

For a projection:

Estimated net operating result = estimated mining revenue after pool fees − electricity cost − other operating costs

Other operating costs can include hosting charges that exclude electricity, maintenance, and applicable service charges. Deduct each cost once.

For historical comparisons, use rewards attributable to the same operating period and state how they are valued. A withdrawal received today may contain rewards earned on earlier days, so withdrawal timing should not determine which day’s operating costs it is compared against. If coins remain unsold, distinguish their reference-currency valuation from cash sale proceeds.

For BTC, mining income includes both the block subsidy and transaction fees. ViaBTC PPS+ applies PPS to the subsidy component and PPLNS to transaction-fee distribution. Pool luck therefore does not affect those components in the same way. Under PPLNS, payouts depend on the pool’s actual block results. See ViaBTC’s payment-method explanation.

Coin-Specific Notes

ZEC: Under the subsidy allocation described in the official Zcash economics documentation, miners receive 80% of the 1.5625 ZEC block subsidy: 1.25 ZEC per block, before transaction fees and pool accounting. Using 1.5625 ZEC as the miner subsidy overstates that issuance-based amount by 25%: (1.5625 − 1.25) ÷ 1.25. Verify the applicable subsidy and allocation when refreshing an estimate.

KAS: Crescendo increased Kaspa’s target block production rate from 1 to 10 blocks per second and adjusted the per-block subsidy to preserve the emission schedule. More frequent blocks did not by themselves multiply issuance per unit time. Use the current subsidy and block rate together, or a current daily earnings estimate, because the subsidy also changes with the emission schedule. See Kaspa KIP-14.

Use a Mining Calculator for Scenarios, Not a Guaranteed Return

A mining profitability calculator estimates results under specified inputs. ViaBTC’s Help Center explains that its calculator estimates PPS+ earnings, with PPS treatment for the subsidy component and an estimate of transaction-fee income distributed under PPLNS. Actual results may differ with the selected payout method, difficulty, transaction fees, and pool results. See the ViaBTC calculator explanation.

Use the ViaBTC Profit Calculator to obtain earnings estimates for supported coins, then record each scenario in a separate worksheet. Check included rewards and fee deductions, account for productive uptime once, and subtract electricity and other operating costs.

Use a common electricity-price and uptime scenario when isolating differences between machines. If actual tariffs or operating availability differ, include a separate scenario using those conditions. Compare net operating results rather than the earnings line alone, and refresh the inputs before making a decision.

A Concise Comparison Checklist

Before concluding that one setup is more profitable, confirm:

• Each machine supports its intended network; hashrate and efficiency figures are not compared directly across algorithms.
• Revenue estimates use consistent observation periods, currency valuation, and explicit payout-method and fee assumptions.
• All eligible rewards are included once, including LTC/DOGE merged-mining income where applicable.
• ZEC uses the miner subsidy, and KAS uses current emission inputs.
• Productive uptime affects projected output, while electricity reflects actual powered operation.
• Pool fees, electricity, hosting, and other costs are each deducted once.
• Daily operating profit is distinguished from the return on purchasing hardware.

FAQ

Can I compare J/TH efficiency between a BTC ASIC and a KAS ASIC?

No. SHA-256 and kHeavyHash represent different computational work, even when both efficiency figures use J/TH. Compare efficiency within the same algorithm after normalizing units and operating conditions. Across algorithms, compare estimated revenue and operating costs for each compatible setup.

Is DOGE always more profitable to mine than LTC on the same Scrypt hardware?

For a supporting merged-mining pool, the relevant comparison is the combined value of LTC and DOGE rewards from the same work. Their individual revenue contributions can differ, but the miner generally does not have to choose one instead of the other.

Why does a calculator’s estimated BTC yield differ from what I received?

Differences can arise from hashrate, productive uptime, difficulty, payout method, transaction fees, and pool results for reward components that depend on actual blocks. Also check that the estimate and credited rewards cover matching periods; a withdrawal may include earlier earnings.

Should I use the full ZEC block subsidy when estimating mining revenue?

No. Use the portion allocated to miners. With a 1.5625 ZEC subsidy and an 80% miner allocation, that is 1.25 ZEC per block before transaction fees and pool accounting.