Autolykos GPU Miner is a free, open-source program that mines Ergo (ERG) on NVIDIA graphics cards under Windows. It suits hobbyist miners and developers who want to run the original Autolykos v1 algorithm on their own hardware and read the code behind it. Its status matters before you start: the project has had no code updates since August 30, 2020, so treat it as legacy software rather than actively maintained.
Autolykos v1 is described as the previous version of the algorithm, so the Ergo network has moved past it. The miner remains useful for studying how GPU mining works, testing a rig, or reviewing an older open-source codebase. Before you connect a real wallet, read the safety section below and compare the options in our catalog.
What Is Autolykos and How Ergo Mining Uses It
Autolykos is the proof-of-work algorithm that Ergo has used for mining. In proof-of-work networks, miners use their hardware to repeatedly compute hashes, looking for a result that meets the network's target. The first miner to find a valid result for a block earns the block reward, and everyone else on the network can verify that work.
GPU mining means the calculations run on a graphics card rather than a central processor. Graphics cards contain many parallel cores, which suits the repetitive hashing that proof-of-work requires. That is why a program built on CUDA, NVIDIA's parallel computing platform, is a natural fit for this kind of work.
The v1 version covered by this miner is the earlier form of the algorithm. Software written for one algorithm version does not automatically work with another, so a miner must match what the network currently uses. Checking that before you spend time configuring a rig will save frustration.
Who Benefits Most From a Legacy Ergo Miner?
Hobbyists with an NVIDIA card often start with a single machine and want to see how mining works in practice. A legacy miner with readable source code can serve as a learning tool. You can watch hashrate, follow how the program connects to a pool, and understand the moving parts before choosing a newer tool.
Developers and researchers may find the open code more useful than the mining itself. Anyone interested in how a specific proof-of-work algorithm is implemented can read the repository, compare it with other miners, or build a personal test environment on spare hardware.
Some people should look elsewhere. Anyone who needs a miner that receives security and compatibility updates should choose an actively maintained option. Operators running large farms, and anyone with AMD cards, will also find the tool limited, because it is built around NVIDIA CUDA. For those cases, review the other GPU miners in our catalog and check each project's status before committing hardware time.
Hashrate, Pools and Developer Fees Explained
Hashrate is the speed at which your hardware computes hashes, usually shown in hashes per second. A higher number means more attempts per second, but your actual earnings depend on network difficulty, the pool's rules and your electricity cost. Hashrate alone does not tell you what you will earn.
Most individual miners join a mining pool, which combines the hashrate of many participants and splits rewards according to contributed work. The pool needs its server address, and you need a wallet address to receive payouts. Keep that wallet in a wallet you control, and make sure the address you enter is the one you intend to use.
A developer fee is a small share of mined work that some mining programs direct to their developers. Read the documentation of any miner to see how it handles fees, and factor them into your calculations. Pool statistics also separate shares, which are accepted partial results, from blocks found, so it helps to know which figure you are reading.
Key features
NVIDIA CUDA Acceleration
Autolykos Algorithm Support
Windows and Linux Builds
Open Source Code
Free to Use
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Ergo (ERG) as the coin this miner works with, and the algorithm it targets is Autolykos. Hardware support centers on NVIDIA GPUs using CUDA. Because the program is tied to the first Autolykos version, it is a focused tool for Ergo rather than a general miner for other coins or algorithms.
How to install Autolykos GPU Miner (v1) on Windows
- 1
Get the program from GitHub or the official project page
Open the project's GitHub Releases page or the official repository linked from the project. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid mirror sites or file-sharing pages that repackage the miner.
- 2
Verify the download
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the file with the value published alongside the release, and check the signature if one is provided. If the values do not match, delete the file and do not run it.
- 3
Prepare the NVIDIA driver and CUDA components
Install a CUDA-compatible NVIDIA driver. The project's documentation points to a CUDA Toolkit installation guide and a compatibility table, so follow both to match driver and toolkit versions before you start mining.
-
Run the program and confirm your GPU is detected
Extract the package or run the Windows installer, then start the miner from a command prompt. Check that it detects your NVIDIA card before you add any pool or wallet settings.
System requirements
- Windows, using the ready-made build or installer
- NVIDIA graphics card with CUDA support
- CUDA-compatible NVIDIA driver that matches the installed toolkit version
How to use Autolykos GPU Miner (v1)
Setting up the miner is straightforward once the driver is in place. Work through these steps in order and test on a small scale first.
- Create or open an ERG wallet address that you control, and copy the address.
- Choose a mining pool that accepts Ergo and note its server address.
- Open a command prompt in the folder where the miner is installed. Enter the pool address and your wallet address using the format shown in the program's documentation.
- Start the miner and confirm that it detects your NVIDIA card and reports hashrate.
- Watch accepted and rejected shares for a while to confirm the connection works as expected.
- Stop the miner by closing the window, and keep your settings for future runs so you can reproduce a working configuration.
Pros & cons
- Free to download and use
- Open source, with code published on GitHub for review
- Windows build or installer avoids compiling from source
- Focused on the Autolykos v1 algorithm used by Ergo
- Useful for learning how GPU mining works on NVIDIA hardware
- No code updates since August 30, 2020
- Limited to NVIDIA CUDA hardware, with no AMD support
- Legacy algorithm version that may not match the current Ergo network
- Requires careful matching of CUDA driver and toolkit versions
- Documentation leans toward developers who are comfortable with build steps
Is Autolykos GPU Miner (v1) safe?
This program has had no code updates since August 30, 2020, so it will not receive security fixes and may not work correctly with the current Ergo network. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub Releases page. After downloading, compare the SHA-256 checksum with the value published there, and verify the signature if one is provided. Do not run a file that does not match. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, and keep wallet keys offline where possible. Antivirus tools often flag mining software. That can be a false positive, but do not disable your protection entirely. Instead, add an exception only for the verified file, and check the project page for the latest version before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ergoplatform/Autolykos-GPU-miner. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Autolykos GPU Miner is narrower than most miners in our catalog. It handles one algorithm, Autolykos v1, for Ergo, and it targets NVIDIA cards through CUDA. Other GPU miners, such as lolMiner, cover a wider hardware range, and lolMiner supports NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs. NBMiner and T-Rex Miner are also discontinued, so they share the same maintenance concern as this program. If you want open code and a focused tool for the original Autolykos version, this miner is worth examining. If you want active development and broader hardware coverage, a multi-vendor option usually fits better.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 30 Aug 2020
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ergoplatform/Autolykos-GPU-miner
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program is free to download and use, and it is open source with its code published on GitHub. There is no license fee. Your main costs will be electricity, hardware wear and cooling, since a GPU running at full load draws significant power over long sessions.
The software can be used safely if you take precautions, but it has had no code updates since August 30, 2020. Verify the SHA-256 checksum of every download, keep your wallet keys away from third-party websites, and do not disable antivirus protection entirely. Treat it as legacy software and review its status before use.
The miner is documented for Ergo (ERG) and uses the Autolykos algorithm, specifically the first version of that algorithm. Because it is tied to this single algorithm, it is not a general tool for mining other coins. Check that the network you plan to join still uses Autolykos v1 before you configure a rig.
No, the miner is built around NVIDIA CUDA, so AMD cards are outside its scope. If you have AMD hardware, look at multi-vendor miners in our catalog, such as lolMiner, which supports NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs. Always check that a miner's status and supported hardware match your rig before you install it.
Yes, the project lists both Windows and Linux as supported platforms. The Windows build or installer is the simpler route for most users on Windows. Linux users may need to pay closer attention to driver and CUDA versions, so follow the project documentation for the compatible setup.
Many antivirus programs flag mining software in general, because miners use the GPU heavily and communicate with pools over the network. A flag does not prove the file is malicious, but it is also not a reason to disable protection. Verify the checksum of the download first, then add an exception only for that verified file if needed.
The project documentation references the CUDA Toolkit and a CUDA driver compatibility table, so yes, you should have a matching driver and toolkit in place. Follow the installation guide and compatibility table to pick versions that work together. Mismatched versions are a common reason a miner fails to detect a GPU.
Verdict
Autolykos GPU Miner is a free, open-source option for NVIDIA owners who want to study or test the original Autolykos v1 algorithm on Ergo under Windows. It suits hobbyists, developers and learners who understand the risks of legacy software. It is not the right choice for anyone who needs ongoing updates, AMD support or a tool that tracks current Ergo network conditions. Weigh the lack of updates since 2020 against your goals, and verify every download before you run it.