October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Ethereum GPU Mining Ended on September 15, 2022—not September 19

September 19, 2022 was inside Ethereum’s expected Merge window. The transition actually happened September 15, ending proof-of-work mining on Ethereum mainnet—not GPU mining everywhere.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

No. September 19, 2022 was within the expected window for Ethereum’s transition, but Ethereum’s official Merge documentation records that it happened on September 15. The change ended proof-of-work mining on Ethereum mainnet, including mining with GPUs. It did not end GPU mining on every other network.

Why September 19 was an estimate, not the final date

Ethereum’s transition was scheduled around Terminal Total Difficulty, a threshold tied to proof-of-work difficulty. Because it was difficult to predict precisely when the network would reach that threshold, announcements gave an estimate rather than a fixed appointment.

  • August 12, 2022: Ethereum Foundation author Danny Ryan named September 15 as the target and cautioned that the estimate could be off by about a week. Read the Ethereum Foundation update.
  • August 24, 2022: The Foundation’s Protocol Support Team said the threshold was expected between September 10 and 20 and warned mainnet miners that proof-of-stake would take over after the Merge. Read the announcement.
  • September 15, 2022: Ethereum’s documentation records the Merge’s execution on this date. A September 19 news report described it as having happened earlier that week, reflecting the distinction between the event and the expected window. See Ethereum’s Merge documentation.

So the title’s September 19 date belongs to the period’s forecasts and discussion; it was not the date Ethereum actually switched.

What the Merge changed for miners

The Merge connected Ethereum Mainnet’s execution layer to the Beacon Chain proof-of-stake consensus layer. Before the change, miners used proof-of-work to compete to produce blocks. After it, staked validators proposed and attested to blocks. Ethereum states that “Mining is no longer the means of producing valid blocks.”

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Kingwin 8 GPU Miner Rig Case Frame – Premium Stackable Aluminum Mining Rig Enclosure for Efficient Crypto Mining, Test Bench PC Case.
  • ✅Premium Aluminum Construction: Constructed from high-quality aluminum for enhanced durability and heat dissipation, ensuring longevity and optimal performance.
  • ✅ Accommodates 8 GPUs: Designed to house up to 8 graphics cards, providing ample space for expanding your mining setup and maximizing efficiency.
  • ✅ Superior Airflow and Cooling: Engineered with optimized airflow design to prevent overheating and maintain optimal operating temperatures for prolonged mining sessions.
  • ✅ Easy Assembly: Simple and straightforward assembly process allows for quick setup, getting you up and running in no time.
  • ✅ Sleek and Space-Saving Design: Compact and minimalist design saves space while adding a professional touch to your mining rig setup.
Ethereum mainnet Before the Merge After the Merge
Consensus Proof-of-work Proof-of-stake
Block production Miners competed to produce blocks Staked validators propose and attest to blocks
GPU mining GPUs could perform proof-of-work mining GPUs cannot mine Ethereum mainnet; proof-of-work no longer produces valid blocks

Ethereum.org estimates that the transition reduced the network’s energy consumption by approximately 99.95%. That is Ethereum’s estimate of the network-level change, not a measure of a particular miner’s electricity bill or GPU efficiency.

Can you still mine Ethereum with a GPU?

No—not Ethereum mainnet. Its post-Merge consensus is proof-of-stake, so adding a GPU or mining software cannot make valid mainnet blocks. The Merge did not abolish GPU mining on other proof-of-work networks; whether any alternative network is profitable is a separate question that depends on current coin prices, mining difficulty, electricity costs, hardware, and pool terms.

Rank #2
8GPU Mining Rig Frame, Steel Open Air Miner Mining Computer Frame Rig Case for Crypto Coin Currency Bitcoin ETH ETC ZEC Mining Accessories Tools - Frame Only, Fans & GPU is not Included
  • 6/8 SLOTS - Support to 6/8 GPU . (GPU is not included).
  • MATERIAL - The open air mining frame case is made up of the highest quality stainless steel material, strong, durable and available. Fully protecting your GPU and eectronic device.
  • PERFECT DESIGN - Professional design for mining rig frame, accelerating the air convection, super cooling design for heat dissipation. Enough space reserved between the graphics cards.
  • EASY TO INSTALL - This mining case is easy to install and is with strong structure. Keep all cables clean and organized, along with everything in your mining machine.For installation steps, please refer to the user manual
  • NOTICE - This mining rig frame is the Frame Only, not includes Fans or other CPU, GPU, PSU, Motherboards, Cables. If you are not 100% satistifed with this Miner, please feel free to contact us, we will offer you a satisfactory soluiton within 24 hours.

Ordinary ETH holders did not need to move their ETH or change wallets because of the Merge. The protocol transition changed how mainnet reaches consensus, not the basic need for holders to manage their own wallet and account security.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the change does—and does not—say about GPU prices

The end of Ethereum GPU mining changed one major source of demand for graphics cards, but it does not establish what happened to retail prices, used-card supply, or chipmakers’ financial results by itself. A Moneycontrol report published September 19, 2022 discussed possible market effects, including GPUs returning to the market and an analyst’s view about chip-company exposure to crypto cycles. Those were contemporaneous interpretations, not proof of a particular price decline or a causal effect on later company results. Read the September 19 report.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
AAAwave 12GPU Mining Rig Frame - Sluice V2 Open Frame Case - Black
  • Durable: Constructed with high-quality metal, this mining frame ensures long-lasting durability and full protection for your GPU mining rig and electronic devices.
  • Efficient Cooling: Designed for enhanced air convection, this mining case maximizes heat dissipation, helping to extend the service life of your GPUs during intensive mining operations.
  • Professional Build: Features non-slip rubber feet and EVA foam on the crossbar to prevent damage to your graphic cards. Perfect for securing and protecting your GPUs in a mining rig setup.
  • Stackable Design: This mining frame supports stackable configurations, allowing you to expand your GPU mining setup easily with additional mining cases or stacking brackets (sold separately).
  • Stable and Secure: Equipped with rubber feet, this mining case prevents shaking and moving, keeping your mining rig stable during operation.

Similarly, a mining pool’s notice planned for Ethereum’s September 10–20 transition window and suggested that users consider other proof-of-work pools. That does not show that another coin was profitable or suitable for every former Ethereum miner. Read f2pool’s notice.

For a former miner deciding what to do with a card, compare the value of selling or repurposing it with the full cost of running it for another workload. The historical Merge date alone cannot answer that personal-finance calculation.

Best Value
Mining Rig Frame for 12GPU, Steel Open Air Miner Mining Frame Rig Case, Support to Dual Power Supply for Crypto Coin Currency Bitcoin ETH ETC ZEC Mining Tools - Frame Only, Fans & GPU is not Included
  • SLOT - 6/8/12 GPU slots, support 2 ATX power supplies.
  • MATERIAL - The open air mining frame case made up of the highest quality stainless steel material, strong, durable and available. Fully protecting your GPU and eectronic device.
  • PERFECT DESIGN - Professional design for mining rig frame, accelerating the air convection, super cooling design for heat dissipation. Enough space reserved between the graphics cards.
  • EASY TO INSTALL - Easy to install and strong structure. Keep all cables clean and organized, along with everything in your mining machine.
  • NEED TO ASSEMBLE BY YOURSELF - For installation steps, please refer to the user manual. The Frame Only, Not includes Fans or other CPU, GPU, PSU, Motherboards, Cables. If you are not 100% satistifed with this Miner, please feel free to contact us, we will offer you a satisfactory soluiton within 24 hours.
Rank #4
Baseltek 6 GPU Aluminum Mining Rig Open Air Frame Case
  • All aluminum alloy profiles, strong and durable, full protection of graphics cards and electronic devices, can be firmly superimposed
  • Included motherboard power switch saves you the hassle of manually jumping the motherboard with wires and tools that expose your machine to danger, supports up to 2 PSU (power supplies)
  • Adjustable holder frames make it fits any size of video cards. Supercooling design for heat dissipation. Significantly increase the distance between the graphics cards
  • Stackable and durable. Side and clear bottom panels provide full protection of GPUs and other electronic components
  • Item DOES NOT include Fans. (Supports 5 x 120mm fans). However, fan mounts and brackets are provided in case you need to install fans.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.