Karlsen Miner is a free, open-source mining program for Windows that mines Kaspa (KAS) using the KarlsenHash algorithm. It is aimed at hobbyist miners and anyone who wants to test GPU or CPU mining on the Kaspa network without paying for closed-source software. The project is written in Rust and published on GitHub, so the code is public for anyone to read.
Karlsen Miner supports NVIDIA graphics cards through CUDA, AMD cards through OpenCL, and plain CPU mining. The Windows download is the GPU version, so graphics cards are the intended hardware on that platform. A developer fee setting, devfund-percent, controls the share of blocks sent to the devfund, and its default is 0%. The latest release is v3.1.0, and the last code update was made in June 2025.
What Kaspa Mining Involves and How KarlsenHash Fits In
Kaspa is a proof-of-work cryptocurrency, which means miners compete to find a hash that meets the network's difficulty target. Each attempt is a guess, and the miner that finds a valid result gets to propose the block. The algorithm defines the rules of that guessing game, including how the data is hashed and how a result is checked.
Karlsen Miner implements KarlsenHash, the algorithm it is named for. Because the algorithm sets the work a miner performs, software written for a different algorithm will not simply work on the same network. This is why the choice of miner depends on the coin and algorithm you intend to mine, not only on the hardware you own.
For a beginner, the key idea is that more guesses per second, called hashrate, generally improves your chance of finding blocks. Hashrate depends on the hardware, the driver, and the miner's own efficiency. Comparing a program's hashrate against another program on the same card is the most reliable way to judge performance.
Who Karlsen Miner Is For
Karlsen Miner suits people who already have a Windows PC with a graphics card and want to mine Kaspa with an open-source tool. It also fits hobbyists who like to understand what their software does, since the code is public and written in Rust. Miners who prefer a single-purpose program over a multi-coin suite will find its focus appealing.
Developers form another group. The workspace layout and separate plugin packages make the project a reasonable starting point for anyone who wants to study a Rust mining codebase or build a custom variant. Readers in this group should use the source as a learning resource rather than a production system without testing.
The program is less suited to people who expect a polished graphical interface or a plug-in-and-forget experience. Setting up the command line, checking drivers, and reading the output are part of the workflow. If you are comfortable with those steps, the program can be a clean and transparent choice.
Understanding Hashrate, Power Use, and Realistic Expectations
Hashrate is only one part of a mining setup. Power draw, heat, electricity prices, and the network's current difficulty all shape what a rig produces over time. A card that hashes quickly but draws a lot of power may not be the most efficient option in your location.
Before running any miner for long periods, watch temperatures and fan behavior. Sustained high load can shorten the life of a graphics card, especially in a poorly ventilated case. Setting a conservative power limit through your vendor's tools is a common way to reduce heat while keeping most of the output.
No mining program can guarantee income, and results change as network conditions move. Treat Karlsen Miner as a tool for learning and measured experimentation. Track your costs and output for a few weeks, and only then decide whether the numbers make sense for you.
Key features
NVIDIA and AMD GPU Support
CPU Mining Option
Adjustable Developer Fee
Modular Rust Codebase
Supported coins
Karlsen Miner is built for Kaspa (KAS) and uses the KarlsenHash algorithm. It runs on NVIDIA graphics cards through CUDA, AMD graphics cards through OpenCL, and on CPUs. Its scope is centered on this one coin, so check the project's documentation before attempting to mine anything else with it.
How to install Karlsen Miner on Windows
- 1
Get the Official Build
Open the project's GitHub Releases page at github.com/karlsen-network/karlsen-miner. The release page includes precompiled binaries for Windows, labeled as the GPU version, so choose the Windows file from the latest release instead of building from source. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases.
- 2
Verify the File
Before running the program, calculate the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded archive. In PowerShell, run Get-FileHash with the SHA256 algorithm and compare the output with the checksum published on the release page. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again.
- 3
Extract to a Dedicated Folder
Unpack the archive into a folder with a short, simple path, such as a dedicated Miners folder on your system drive. Keeping the miner, its configuration, and its logs together makes troubleshooting easier. Avoid running it from a temporary folder or from inside a downloads cache.
-
Prepare Your Graphics Drivers
Install the current driver for your graphics card. NVIDIA cards need a driver that supports CUDA, and AMD cards need a driver that supports OpenCL. Restart the computer after updating so the miner can detect the device cleanly.
System requirements
- Windows operating system
- NVIDIA graphics card with CUDA support, AMD graphics card with OpenCL support, or a CPU
- Up-to-date graphics driver for the device you plan to use
How to use Karlsen Miner
Karlsen Miner runs from the command line, so the setup is a short sequence of commands rather than a graphical wizard. Work through the steps below in order, and keep the output window open so you can see errors as they appear.
- Prepare a Kaspa (KAS) wallet address that you control, where mined rewards should be sent.
- Open Command Prompt inside the folder where you extracted the program.
- Check the built-in help to see the exact options your version accepts.
- Set devfund-percent if you want a developer fee. The default is 0%, and the minimum is also 0%.
- Start the miner with your chosen options and watch the first minutes of output for hashrate figures and error messages.
- Monitor GPU temperature, fan speed, and power draw with your vendor's monitoring tools.
- Stop the miner with Ctrl+C when you are finished, and keep a log of the settings you used so you can compare runs later.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code publicly available on GitHub
- Supports NVIDIA (CUDA), AMD (OpenCL), and CPU hardware
- Ships a precompiled Windows build, so you do not need a compiler
- Developer fee is configurable and defaults to 0%
- Also published for Linux, so the same project covers two platforms
- The Windows download is labeled as the GPU version, so check the release notes before relying on CPU mining on Windows
- Focused on a single coin, Kaspa (KAS)
- Command-line workflow can feel unfamiliar to people who prefer graphical tools
- Earnings depend heavily on hardware, electricity costs, and network conditions, none of which the program controls
Is Karlsen Miner safe?
Karlsen Miner is open source, and the official releases are published on GitHub, which is the source you should use. Download only from the official website or GitHub Releases, then verify the SHA-256 checksum before running the file. Antivirus tools often flag mining software because it generates heavy CPU or GPU load and network traffic. If that happens, add an exception for the specific program folder instead of disabling your protection entirely. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website, and remember that a miner does not need your seed phrase at all. The last code update was made in June 2025, so confirm that v3.1.0 is still the latest release on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/karlsen-network/karlsen-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
Karlsen Miner is narrower than several popular alternatives. GMiner and lolMiner support multiple GPU vendors and are commonly used for a range of algorithms, while TeamRedMiner concentrates on AMD hardware. Karlsen Miner targets KarlsenHash on Kaspa, whereas the Kaspa Miner entries in this catalog are built around the kHeavyHash algorithm, so they are not interchangeable. If you want a Kaspa-focused tool with a public Rust codebase, Karlsen Miner is worth a look. If you run mixed rigs or need broader algorithm support, a general-purpose GPU miner may fit better. NBMiner and T-Rex Miner are no longer in active development, which makes them less suitable for new setups.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v3.1.0
- Last update
- 9 Jun 2025
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/karlsen-network/karlsen-miner
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Karlsen Miner is free and open source. You can download the official build from GitHub Releases and read the source code before running it. The program has a developer fee setting, devfund-percent, whose default is 0%, so no fee is applied unless you configure one yourself.
Yes, Karlsen Miner supports Windows through a precompiled build. The Windows release is labeled as the GPU version, so it is intended for NVIDIA cards using CUDA or AMD cards using OpenCL. Download it from the official GitHub Releases page and verify its SHA-256 checksum before running it.
Karlsen Miner mines Kaspa (KAS) and uses the KarlsenHash algorithm. Its documented scope is centered on this coin, so it is not a general tool for mining other cryptocurrencies. Check the project documentation before attempting to use it with a different network.
CPU mining is listed among the supported hardware options, but the Windows download is the GPU version. Read the release notes for the version you plan to use to confirm whether a CPU mode is available on Windows. Expect lower output from a CPU than from a dedicated graphics card.
The devfund-percent setting determines what percentage of blocks is sent to the developer fund. The minimum is 0%, and the default is also 0%. Changing it is optional, and you should review the value before every launch so you know exactly how your output is split.
Antivirus heuristics often flag mining software because it runs sustained high CPU or GPU load and communicates over the network. This does not automatically mean the file is malicious. Verify the checksum, then add an exception for the program folder rather than turning off your protection.
Karlsen Miner focuses on Kaspa and its KarlsenHash algorithm, while lolMiner supports NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs across multiple algorithms. If you mine only Kaspa on a single-vendor rig, Karlsen Miner may be simpler to manage. For broader hardware or algorithm support, lolMiner is the more flexible option.
Verdict
Karlsen Miner suits Windows users who want a free, open-source tool dedicated to Kaspa (KAS) on NVIDIA, AMD, or CPU hardware. It rewards people who are comfortable with the command line and who value transparent, public code. Its focus on one coin and a command-line workflow make it less appealing for those who want a broad feature set or a graphical interface. Before installing, verify the download with its SHA-256 checksum and confirm the current version on the official website for Karlsen Miner for Windows.