mhssamadani Fork is an open-source GPU miner built for the Autolykos algorithm, which secures the Ergo (ERG) network. It is aimed at hobbyist miners who own NVIDIA graphics cards and want to experiment with a free, source-available tool rather than a commercial closed-source product.
The project is a fork of a community Autolykos GPU miner and is published on GitHub. Its code has not been updated since August 2020, so it should be treated as a legacy tool. Before you run it, read the safety section below and compare it with more actively maintained miners listed on this page.
What Is Autolykos and Why Ergo Uses It
Autolykos is a proof-of-work algorithm designed to be efficient on graphics cards. Like other GPU-friendly algorithms, it asks miners to repeatedly compute hashes until one meets the network's difficulty target. The goal is to keep mining accessible to people with consumer hardware rather than concentrating it in specialized chip farms.
Ergo is the blockchain that uses Autolykos. Miners who secure the network receive the native ERG token as a reward. Whether that reward is worth the electricity and hardware wear depends on prices, difficulty and your own costs, so calculate those numbers before you start.
Who This Miner Is For
This program suits technically comfortable hobbyists who already own NVIDIA GPUs and want a free, open-source option for Ergo mining. It is also useful for developers who want to study how a CUDA-based Autolykos implementation is structured.
It is less suitable for people who need a polished graphical interface, automatic driver management or ongoing vendor support. Beginners often find more mature miners easier to configure, and the lack of updates since 2020 means you may encounter compatibility issues with newer drivers or operating systems.
Real-World Scenarios for GPU Miners
A common scenario is a gaming PC that sits idle overnight. Some owners point a GPU miner at a pool during those hours to offset electricity costs, though the net result depends heavily on local power rates and the card's efficiency. Another scenario is a home lab where someone tests mining configurations on spare hardware before committing to a larger setup.
Researchers and students sometimes use open-source miners to understand proof-of-work mechanics. Reading the code of a relatively small project is a practical way to see how hashing, network communication and share submission fit together.
Key Terms Every Miner Should Know
Hashrate is the speed at which a device computes hashes, usually measured in MH/s for Autolykos. Higher hashrate generally means more chances to find valid shares, but it is only one part of profitability. Power draw, measured in watts, determines how much electricity you pay for.
A mining pool combines the hashing power of many participants and splits rewards by contributed work. Solo mining is possible but rarely produces steady income for small GPU rigs. Understanding these terms helps you compare any miner on fair terms.
Key features
CUDA-based GPU mining
Open source code
Autolykos algorithm support
Linux-style build dependencies
Windows and Linux platforms
Supported coins
The project's documentation mentions Ergo (ERG) as the supported network, using the Autolykos algorithm on NVIDIA hardware.
How to install mhssamadani Fork on Windows
- 1
Check your hardware and drivers
Confirm that your computer has an NVIDIA GPU and that the driver is up to date. Because the project depends on CUDA, the driver must be compatible with the CUDA Toolkit version you intend to use. Check NVIDIA's compatibility table before installing either component.
- 2
Get the program from the official source
Download only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page. Avoid mirrors and file-sharing sites, since miners are a common disguise for malware.
- 3
Verify the download
If the release page publishes a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it with your downloaded file before running anything. A mismatch means the file was altered or corrupted, and it should be discarded.
- 4
Install dependencies
Install the CUDA Toolkit, a compatible CUDA driver and the required libraries listed in the project documentation, including libcurl and OpenSSL 1.0.2. If you are not building from source, follow the instructions for the ready-made package or release you downloaded.
-
Configure and test
Create a configuration file with your pool address and wallet address, then run the miner for a short test period. Watch the reported hashrate, error messages and GPU temperature before leaving it running unattended.
System requirements
- NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support
- CUDA-compatible NVIDIA driver matching the installed CUDA Toolkit
- Windows or Linux operating system
How to use mhssamadani Fork
Once the software is installed and verified, running it is a matter of pointing it at a pool and checking that it works. Start with a small test so you can catch configuration errors before the miner runs for hours.
The general workflow looks like this:
- Open a command prompt in the folder containing the miner executable.
- Prepare your configuration with the pool address, port, and your Ergo wallet address.
- Launch the miner with the configuration and watch the first few lines of output.
- Confirm that the reported hashrate is stable and that shares are being accepted by the pool.
- Monitor GPU temperature and fan speed for at least the first hour.
- Check the pool dashboard to verify that your rig is credited.
- Stop the miner and adjust settings if you see errors, rejected shares or overheating.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with code available for inspection
- Focused on a single algorithm, which keeps the codebase relatively small
- Runs on NVIDIA GPUs using the widely supported CUDA platform
- Useful for learning how a GPU miner is built
- No code updates since August 2020
- Build instructions are written mainly for Linux
- Dependency on older library versions such as OpenSSL 1.0.2
- Limited documentation for Windows users
- Supports only one network and one algorithm
Is mhssamadani Fork safe?
Mining software is a frequent target for malware authors, so treat every download with caution. Get the program only from the official GitHub repository, and check the SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is published. Never run a file obtained from a third-party site, a forum attachment or a chat message.
Antivirus tools often flag miners as potentially unwanted programs, even when they are legitimate. Review the detection, confirm the file's hash and source, and add an exception only for the verified file. Do not disable your antivirus entirely. Because this project has not been maintained since 2020, it may contain unpatched weaknesses, so keep it isolated from accounts and wallets you cannot afford to lose.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/mhssamadani/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
Compared with actively maintained GPU miners, mhssamadani Fork is a narrow and dated tool. Many alternatives, such as lolMiner, GMiner and Rigel, receive regular updates, support a broader set of algorithms and offer more mature configuration options. Nanominer and BzMiner also target multiple algorithms and are better suited to users who want flexibility.
The main advantage of this fork is its open-source nature and its narrow focus on Autolykos. Users who want to study or modify the code may prefer it over closed-source binaries. For everyday mining with current drivers, a maintained miner is usually the safer choice. Note that RustChain is a different kind of project, a blockchain rewarding vintage hardware, and is not a direct substitute.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 18 Aug 2020
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/mhssamadani/Autolykos-GPU-miner
Frequently asked questions
It can be, provided you download it only from the official GitHub repository and verify the file's checksum or signature when available. Because the project has not been updated since 2020, it may have unpatched issues. Run it on an isolated machine and never on a computer holding sensitive wallets or personal data.
The project lists Windows as a supported platform, but its build documentation is written mainly for Linux. Windows users should confirm that a ready-made build or installer is available for their version before proceeding, and install the CUDA Toolkit and compatible NVIDIA driver first.
The documentation identifies Ergo (ERG) as the supported network. The program uses the Autolykos algorithm, so it is not designed for Bitcoin, Ethereum or other coins that use different proof-of-work schemes.
Yes. The miner relies on CUDA, which is NVIDIA's parallel computing platform. AMD and Intel graphics cards are not supported by this fork, so AMD owners should look at miners such as lolMiner or GMiner instead.
Antivirus programs often flag mining software because it uses significant GPU resources and is sometimes bundled with malware. A detection does not automatically mean the file is malicious, but you should verify the source and checksum before adding an exception. Never disable your protection completely.
Profitability depends on the Ergo price, network difficulty, your GPU's efficiency and your local electricity cost. There are no guarantees, and some setups lose money. Use a profitability calculator with current figures before committing hardware or power to mining.
Check the project's compatibility guidance and NVIDIA's driver compatibility table to choose a CUDA Toolkit version that matches your driver. Mismatched versions are a common cause of startup errors, so install the driver first and confirm it works with the toolkit you pick.
Verdict
mhssamadani Fork suits experienced hobbyists who own NVIDIA GPUs, want a free open-source Autolykos miner and are comfortable troubleshooting build and driver issues. Its lack of updates since 2020 makes it a poor choice for anyone who needs current compatibility or ongoing support. If you mainly want to mine Ergo reliably, consider a maintained alternative from the list on this page, and verify any download before running it.