PhoenixMiner vs. LolMiner: A Comparison of Ethereum Classic Miners

In this article, we discuss two popular miners for Ethereum Classic: PhoenixMiner and LolMiner . We examine their speed, developer fees, support for various GPUs, unique features (including “zombie mode”), and also offer tips on storing ETC.

Why is interest in Ethereum Classic growing?

It would seem that mining should have faded into oblivion after Ethereum’s transition to the Proof-of-Stake algorithm, but Ethereum Classic (ETC) continues to thrive and attract miners. It’s a fork of the original Ethereum that retained Proof-of-Work, allowing miners to use their hardware to mine ETC and earn rewards. Some experts note that the Etchash algorithm, which powers the network, allows the same GPUs to be used as before, while the DAG file size grows more slowly, extending the lifespan of older GPUs.

Mining farms continue to redistribute their capacity, monitoring the profitability of various coins. Forums and social media are filled with discussions about which mining software is best: some choose PhoenixMiner for its speed and low fees, while others praise LolMiner for its flexibility and support for low-memory cards. Let’s find out.

🦅 PhoenixMiner — fast and economical

One of the oldest and most popular miners is PhoenixMiner . Crazy-Mining.org calls it “the fastest, and possibly the fastest, Ethash miner” and notes that the program supports both AMD and Nvidia hardware, including mixed rigs. The developers boast that the hashrate is, on average, higher than Claymore (by approximately 0.4–1.3%, although results vary depending on the specific hardware).

A nice bonus is the developer’s low fee . PhoenixMiner charges just 0.65% for standard ETH/ETC mining (35 seconds every 90 minutes), and 0.9% for dual Ethash/Blake2s mining. This is significant for enthusiasts: every additional 1% fee reduces overall profits.

Additional PhoenixMiner features include:

Support for all popular AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, including the RX 5000/6000 series and the new RTX 30×0.
Partial unlocking of Nvidia LHR cards: the miner can remove performance limitations on most models.
A sophisticated statistics system: the actual difficulty value for each share, the effective hashrate on the pool, a display of estimated income, and detailed information on each card (temperature, fan speed, etc.).
The ability to set an infinite number of backup pools and encrypted SSL/TLS connections helps avoid downtime and attacks.

Cool-Mining.org’s review of version 5.1c also emphasizes that PhoenixMiner remains “the fastest Ethash miner” and supports 4 GB GPUs with the right settings, which is vital for ETC mining. The author notes the low fees and the ability to run on Windows and Linux, but also warns of the need to update drivers and closely monitor DAG epochs.

Overall, PhoenixMiner is often chosen for its performance, cross-platform support, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is closed-source, and the developers publish releases on their own website. Therefore, it is important to download the program only from trusted sources (for example, crazy-mining.org or a Bitcointalk thread, as recommended by the authors) to avoid counterfeits.

🧿 LolMiner is flexible and friendly to older maps

While PhoenixMiner focuses on maximum speed, LolMiner prioritizes flexibility. On the Minerstat website, this miner is described as a solution “focused on AMD graphics cards,” supporting Windows and Linux with a 1% fee . The developer, working under the pseudonym Lolliedieb, regularly updates the program and adds new algorithms: LolMiner now supports not only Etchash but also dozens of others (BeamHash, CuckooCycle, Autolykos2, etc.), making it suitable for a wide range of coins.

The introduction of the so-called “zombie mode” was particularly enthusiastic . Crypto-Mining.blog reported that LolMiner developers had found a way to force 4 GB video cards to continue mining Ethereum and Ethereum Classic even after increasing the DAG file size: the hashrate gradually decreases, but mining continues. The article quotes the author, who explains that older cards operate like “living dead”—slower, but still capable of generating profit.

Important features of LolMiner:

Open source code and fast updates. The miner can be configured via the command line or configuration files, and it is available as pre-built binaries for Windows and Linux.
Support for a wide range of algorithms and coins, including Etchash (for ETC). This is convenient if you want to switch your mining rig between different cryptocurrencies.
Zombie mode allows you to use a 4 GB video card. The developers recommend a parameter keepfreefor adjusting the amount of memory left free for the operating system—56 MB by default in Windows and 5 MB in Linux. This helps extend the lifespan of older devices.

The main difference from PhoenixMiner is its higher commission . 1% may seem like a small difference, but it’s noticeable at higher volumes. Furthermore, LolMiner doesn’t always offer the same speed for Nvidia cards as it does for AMD, especially when it comes to modern RTX cards with LHR limitations. However, many users appreciate its flexibility and ease of management.

⚖️ Compare speed and convenience

Performance

Practical tests show that PhoenixMiner often delivers better hashrate on Nvidia and AMD cards thanks to its optimized OpenCL and CUDA cores. Cool-Mining.org reports a 0.4–1.3% speed improvement over Claymore. LolMiner performs slightly worse, especially on Nvidia cards, but the gap isn’t dramatic. On older AMD cards (RX 470/480/580/590), the hashrate of both miners is similar.

Hardware support

PhoenixMiner works well with the latest generation of graphics cards (RX 6000, RTX 30×0) and even partially removes LHR limitations. LolMiner, on the other hand, has historically been more AMD-oriented: the Minerstat description emphasizes its focus on these GPUs. For owners of older 4GB cards, LolMiner remains virtually unbeatable due to its zombie mode.

Developer’s commission

PhoenixMiner’s low DevFee (0.65%) is more attractive than LolMiner’s 1%. This is important if you’re mining at high speeds or using multiple rigs—the savings can amount to tens of dollars per month. It’s worth noting that when dual mining (Ethash + Blake2s), PhoenixMiner increases its fee to 0.9%, but still remains lower than many competitors.

Convenience and settings

LolMiner offers flexible parameters and open documentation. For 4 GB cards, there are specific recommendations: set keepfreeand run benchmarks at each DAG epoch increase. PhoenixMiner also supports fine-tuning: you can set the card’s shutdown temperature, fan speed, memory limits, and even control overclocking directly from the miner, as detailed in the manual on Crypto-Mining.blog . However, many users complain that PhoenixMiner is less transparent due to its closed source code, and its launch is sometimes blocked by antivirus software.

🔐 Where to store mined ETC

Regardless of the miner you choose, you’ll need a wallet to store Ethereum Classic. Crypto-Wallets.org explains how to connect the popular Metamask wallet to the ETC network. The instructions explain that Metamask doesn’t see the Etchash network by default, but you can add your own RPC server by specifying the URL—https://www.ethercluster.com/etc—the chain ID, and the currency symbol. After saving the settings, you’ll be able to view your ETC balance and interact with decentralized applications on the Ethereum Classic network. This is an important step for miners who want to control their funds.

Remember about security: write down your seed phrases, use hardware wallets if you hold large sums, and download software only from trusted sites (crazy-mining.org, crypto-mining.blog, cool-mining.org, crypto-wallets.org).

🌿 Conclusion: Who won?

Choosing between PhoenixMiner and LolMiner in 2026 depends on your situation:

If you have modern Nvidia or AMD cards and want maximum hashrate and minimal fees, PhoenixMiner is a good choice. It starts quickly, supports dual mining, and places minimal strain on your hardware.
If you’re mining on 4GB AMD cards and need to squeeze the most out of your aging hardware, LolMiner with zombie mode can generate additional income. It’s also suitable for enthusiasts experimenting with different algorithms.

Personally, I often try both miners, as actual performance depends on the specific graphics card model, drivers, and even BIOS settings. It’s worth testing both options on your hardware and choosing the one that yields the most profit. Be flexible, follow the news on the websites mentioned, and may your farms be productive!