Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner is a free, open-source GPU mining program built for Nvidia graphics cards. It is aimed at hobbyist miners who want a transparent tool for the Autolykos v2 algorithm, which is used by the Ergo network, and who are comfortable installing CUDA components and running a command-line application.
Because the miner targets Nvidia hardware through CUDA, its performance and setup depend heavily on driver and toolkit versions. The project is free to use and its source code is publicly available on GitHub, so advanced users can review or build it themselves. Note that the latest release is 4.2.0 and the project has had no code updates since November 2021, so expect it to be a legacy tool compared with newer miners.
What Is Autolykos v2 and Why Does It Matter for GPU Miners?
Autolykos v2 is a proof-of-work algorithm used by the Ergo blockchain. Like other GPU-friendly algorithms, it asks graphics cards to repeatedly compute hashes until one meets the network's difficulty target. The reward goes to the miner who finds a valid block first.
For a hobbyist, the practical question is how many hashes per second a card can produce and how much power it draws while doing so. Those two numbers together determine whether mining makes sense for a given setup. The algorithm is one of the reasons dedicated Autolykos miners such as this one exist: a tool built for a single algorithm can be tuned more closely than a general-purpose program.
Who Is Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner For?
The program suits people who already own Nvidia GPUs and want to experiment with mining Ergo or to understand how GPU mining works at a lower level. Because it is open source and command-line driven, it appeals to users who like to read configuration files and tweak settings rather than click through a graphical wizard.
It is a weaker fit for someone who wants a polished interface, automatic overclocking profiles or support from a commercial vendor. Newcomers who are unsure whether mining is worth their electricity bill should first run a profitability calculator with their own power price and card model before committing time to setup.
How Mining Pools and Solo Mining Fit In
Most GPU miners connect to a mining pool, which combines the hash power of many participants and splits rewards in proportion to the work each one contributes. Pools smooth out payouts, so a small rig earns something regularly instead of waiting for a rare block win. Solo mining keeps the full reward when you find a block but can take a very long time with modest hardware.
A miner like this one connects to whichever pool or node you configure. The choice between pool and solo mining is mostly a question of variance tolerance: steady small payouts versus occasional large ones. Pool fees, payout thresholds and minimum withdrawal amounts vary by operator, so read their terms before you join.
Understanding Hashrate, Power Draw and Efficiency
Hashrate is the speed at which a card computes hashes, usually measured in megahashes per second. Power draw is measured in watts. Efficiency is the ratio of the two: how many hashes you get for each watt consumed. For many miners, efficiency matters more than raw speed, because electricity is the largest recurring cost.
Tuning typically involves adjusting core clock, memory clock and power limits through vendor tools. Lowering the power limit often reduces heat and power consumption with only a small drop in hashrate, which can improve the bottom line. Keep card temperatures in a safe range and make changes gradually so you can see the effect of each one.
Key features
Autolykos v2 support
CUDA acceleration on Nvidia cards
Built-in HTTP info page
Open-source codebase
Cross-platform heritage
Supported coins
The documentation mentions Bitcoin (BTC) and Ergo (ERG) in the context of the software's coverage. The algorithm the miner is built for is Autolykos, which is the mining method associated with Ergo. Check the project's documentation for the current list of supported networks before you configure a pool connection.
How to install Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner on Windows
- 1
Check your hardware and drivers
Confirm that you have an Nvidia GPU and install a recent Nvidia driver. Then check the CUDA compatibility table to find a CUDA Toolkit version that matches your driver. Mismatched versions are the most common cause of the miner failing to start.
- 2
Install the CUDA Toolkit
Download the CUDA Toolkit from Nvidia's official developer website and follow its installation guide for Windows. Accept the default options unless you have a specific reason to change them. Restart the computer when the installer asks.
- 3
Get the miner from the official source
Download the program only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page. Avoid mirror sites and file-sharing links, which often bundle malware. Look for the release that matches your platform and read the release notes before downloading.
- 4
Verify the download
Compare the file's SHA-256 checksum with the value published by the developers. On Windows, open PowerShell and run Get-FileHash with the SHA256 algorithm. If the hash does not match, delete the file and download it again from the official page.
- 5
Install the required libraries
The project relies on libcurl and OpenSSL 1.0.2. Install them following the project's instructions, and keep the DLL files in the folder where the miner can find them or in a directory listed in the system PATH.
-
Configure and start
Create a configuration with your pool address, wallet address and worker name. Start the miner from a command prompt so you can read its output, and confirm that the hashrate appears and that shares are being accepted by the pool.
System requirements
- An Nvidia graphics card that supports CUDA
- A compatible Nvidia driver and a CUDA Toolkit version that matches it
- Windows operating system
- Sufficient power supply and cooling for the installed GPU
- Installed libcurl and OpenSSL 1.0.2 libraries
How to use Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner
Once the miner is installed and verified, the basic workflow is straightforward. Start with a single card and a conservative setup so you can learn how the program reports its status before you scale up.
- Open a command prompt in the folder containing the miner.
- Enter your pool address, wallet address and worker name in the configuration file or on the command line, following the project's documentation.
- Start the miner and watch the first minute of output for errors such as driver or library messages.
- Check the reported hashrate and compare it with what other owners of the same card report for the algorithm.
- Open the HTTP info page at the default address on your mining node to see the status of the rig from a browser.
- Monitor temperatures and power draw with a separate tool while the miner runs.
- Adjust power limits or clocks one step at a time and note how each change affects hashrate and efficiency.
- Keep a log of your results so you can decide which settings give the best balance over several days.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and open source, so the code can be inspected
- Targets Nvidia CUDA hardware directly
- Built-in HTTP status page for monitoring a rig
- Configurable port and build options for advanced users
- Source code and releases are publicly available on GitHub
- No code updates since November 2021, so it may lag behind newer drivers and algorithm changes
- Requires manual installation of CUDA, libcurl and OpenSSL components
- Command-line focused, with little beginner-friendly guidance
- Older OpenSSL dependency can be awkward to maintain on modern systems
- Antivirus software may flag it, which requires careful verification
Is Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner safe?
Mining software handles your wallet address and network connections, so treat the download with care. Get the program only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature against the value the developers publish before running it. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website or in a miner's configuration; a mining program needs only a public wallet address.
Mining tools are frequently flagged by antivirus products, sometimes as false positives. If your antivirus reports the file, first confirm the hash matches the official release and check the project's issue tracker. Do not disable your protection entirely to get the miner running. Because this project has had no code updates since 2021, review its source and be cautious about running old binaries on a machine that holds valuable data.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/mhssamadani/Autolykos2_NV_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
Several other GPU miners cover similar hardware and, in some cases, the same algorithm family. GMiner, lolMiner and BzMiner are actively used tools that support Nvidia cards and offer broader algorithm coverage, which can be useful if you want to switch between coins. T-Rex Miner and NBMiner are also Nvidia-focused, though their development has stopped, so they share some of the same maintenance concerns as this program.
Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner stands apart by being narrowly focused on Autolykos v2 and by being fully open source with a small codebase. A dedicated AMD sibling, Autolykos2 AMD Miner, exists for Radeon cards, and Rigel is another Nvidia option with a different feature set. For a Windows user who wants a single-algorithm tool with transparent code, this miner is a reasonable choice; for a more actively maintained, multi-algorithm setup, the alternatives are worth comparing.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- 4.2.0
- Last update
- 7 Nov 2021
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/mhssamadani/Autolykos2_NV_Miner
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the program is free and open source. You can download it from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page. Because the software costs nothing, your main expenses will be electricity, hardware wear and any pool fees charged by the mining operator you choose.
The project lists Windows among its supported platforms. On Windows you will need a compatible Nvidia driver, the CUDA Toolkit and the required libcurl and OpenSSL libraries installed. Download a ready-made build from the official releases where available, and verify its checksum before running it.
The miner is built for the Autolykos v2 algorithm, which is used by the Ergo network. The project documentation also mentions Bitcoin, but the algorithm focus is Autolykos. Confirm the current supported networks in the documentation before setting up a pool connection.
Antivirus programs often flag mining software because the same code that computes hashes can be misused in unauthorized mining. This is frequently a false positive. Verify the file's SHA-256 checksum against the official release, and add an exception only for the verified file rather than turning off your protection.
Yes. The miner uses Nvidia's CUDA platform, so the CUDA Toolkit must be installed and must match your installed driver version. Check the official CUDA compatibility table to choose the right combination before you install either component.
No, this version targets Nvidia cards through CUDA. The project also has a separate sibling program, Autolykos2 AMD Miner, designed for AMD Radeon GPUs. Use the correct build for your hardware, since the Nvidia miner will not take advantage of an AMD card.
Profitability depends on your card's efficiency, local electricity prices, the network difficulty and the coin's market price, all of which change over time. The program itself cannot guarantee any income. Use an up-to-date profitability calculator with your own numbers before deciding whether mining makes sense for you.
Verdict
Autolykos2 Nvidia Miner is a transparent, free option for Nvidia owners who want to mine Autolykos v2 and are comfortable with command-line tools and manual setup. Its open-source code and simple monitoring page appeal to hobbyists who value control. Because development stopped in 2021, it suits people who will verify every download and check the latest release and driver compatibility before relying on it. Beginners may prefer a more actively maintained alternative.