Beginner's Guide to ETH Mining on Windows

For blockchain developers starting out, setting up a private Ethereum (ETH) chain on Windows provides a practical learning environment. While actual cryptocurrency mining requires significant resources, this guide walks you through ETH mining setup locally.

Step 1: Install Geth

Download the official Geth client matching your OS version. Install it to a dedicated directory (e.g., E:\BlockChain\ETH\Geth).

👉 Get the latest Geth version here

Step 2: Configure Genesis File

Create genesis.json in your Geth directory with this template:

{
  "config": {
    "chainId": 10,
    "homesteadBlock": 0,
    "eip155Block": 0,
    "eip158Block": 0
  },
  "alloc" : {},
  "coinbase" : "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "difficulty" : "0x02000000",
  "extraData" : "",
  "gasLimit" : "0x2fefd8",
  "nonce" : "0x0000000000000042",
  "mixhash" : "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "parentHash" : "0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
  "timestamp" : "0x00"
}

Step 3: Initialize Blockchain

Run in Command Prompt:

geth --datadir "E:\BlockChain\ETH\Geth\data" init genesis.json

Step 4: Start Node Service

Execute:

geth --datadir=E:\BlockChain\ETH\Geth\data --rpc --rpcport 8545 --rpcaddr "0.0.0.0" --rpcapi "personal,db,eth,net,web3" console

Step 5: Create Wallet Account

In the Geth console:

personal.newAccount("your_password")

This returns your ETH wallet address.

Step 6: Start Mining

miner.start(1)  // 1 = thread count (adjust as needed)

👉 Learn advanced mining strategies

Step 7: Monitor Mining

Check status: eth.mining
View block height: eth.blockNumber
Check balance: eth.getBalance(eth.accounts[0])
Stop mining: miner.stop()

Optional: ETH Wallet Installation

Download Mist Wallet
Point installation to your Geth data directory (E:\BlockChain\ETH\Geth\data)

FAQ Section

Q: How long does ETH mining take to show rewards?

A: On a private chain, rewards appear immediately after block validation. Real network mining requires days/weeks with competitive hardware.

Q: Can I mine ETH with a regular PC?

A: Private chain mining works on any PC. Public network mining now requires ASICs or GPU farms due to high difficulty.

Q: Is Geth the only client for ETH mining?

A: No – alternatives like OpenEthereum exist, but Geth remains the most stable for beginners.