Rigel is a free, open-source cryptocurrency miner built for NVIDIA graphics cards, aimed at Windows and Linux users who want direct control over their GPU mining setup. If you own an NVIDIA card and want a terminal-based miner with pool failover and built-in monitoring, this program deserves a close look.
The project is actively maintained: the latest version is 1.23.2 and the most recent code update landed in April 2026. Rigel supports several mining algorithms and reports temperatures, clocks and fan speeds from the same window. It is free to use, though it includes a developer fee, which is a common model for open-source miners. This page covers what the program does, how to install it safely, and how it compares with other GPU miners.
What Is Rigel and Who Is It For?
Rigel is a cryptocurrency mining program written for NVIDIA graphics cards. It turns the GPUs in a PC into mining hardware, connects them to a mining pool, and reports what the cards are doing while they work. The project is open source, so developers and experienced operators can read the code and see how it behaves.
The typical user already owns NVIDIA hardware and wants more control than a simple one-click tool offers. A home miner with a single gaming card can use it to test a setup. A small rig operator with several cards can manage multiple GPUs from one terminal interface, with consistent settings across machines.
It is less suited to someone who has never opened a command prompt. The terminal interface rewards people who are comfortable reading logs, editing settings and checking hardware readouts. Beginners can still learn it, but they should expect a slower start than with a graphical miner and should practice on a single card before scaling up.
How Mining Pools and Failover Work in Practice
Most GPU miners do not solve blocks alone. Instead, they join a pool, where many miners combine their computing power and share the results. The pool tracks the shares each miner submits and distributes rewards according to its own payout rules, so the pool you choose matters as much as the software.
Failover is a safety net for that connection. You list a primary pool and one or more backups. If the primary stops responding, the miner switches to the next address on the list and keeps working. Without failover, a network interruption overnight could leave expensive hardware idle until someone notices in the morning.
Failover does not fix a bad pool, a wrong wallet address or an unstable power supply. Check your settings after any change, and watch the share counts during the first hour. A pool that accepts shares slowly or rejects many of them is a sign to investigate, not to wait.
What the Developer Fee Means for Open-Source Miners
Rigel is free to download, but it includes a developer fee. Open-source miners often fund ongoing work this way: a small share of the mining output goes to the developer rather than the operator. It is a common model, but it means the software is not a no-cost tool in every sense.
The fee is a trade-off. Users get a maintained program with monitoring and overclocking support, and the developer gets a reason to keep updating it. The practical question is whether the fee is acceptable for your expected output. Check the current terms in the project documentation and compare them with other miners before committing.
When you compare miners, look at the full picture: fee terms, supported hardware, pool compatibility, update frequency and how easy the tool is to troubleshoot. A miner with a low fee and no maintenance is not necessarily a better deal than one with a fee and a steady release history.
Key features
Windows and Linux Support
Terminal User Interface
Failover Pool Support
Temperature, Clock and Fan Monitoring
GPU Overclocking with Per-Coin Settings
Temperature Limits and Fan Control
Supported coins
Rigel's documentation names Ravencoin (RVN), Ergo (ERG) and Zano as supported networks. On the algorithm side, the miner covers SHA-256, Ethash, Etchash, KawPow, Autolykos, Octopus, KarlsenHash, NexaPoW and SHA512256d. Because the algorithm determines which hardware performs well, it helps to confirm which algorithm a target network uses before you configure a run. Hardware support centers on NVIDIA GPUs through CUDA, and CPU mining is also listed among the options.
How to install Rigel on Windows
- 1
Get the Release
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page at github.com/rigelminer/rigel. Pick the latest Windows build, which is version 1.23.2 at the time of writing. Avoid files from mirrors, forums or file-sharing sites, since they may be altered.
- 2
Verify the File
Calculate the SHA-256 hash of the downloaded file. Windows PowerShell includes a Get-FileHash command for this. If the project publishes a checksum or signature for the release, compare your result with it. If the values do not match, delete the file and download it again.
- 3
Extract to a Dedicated Folder
Unpack the archive into its own folder inside a Mining directory rather than your Downloads folder. A separate folder keeps configuration files together and makes it easier to replace the program files when you update.
- 4
Prepare the NVIDIA Driver
Install a current NVIDIA driver with CUDA support before the first launch. Outdated drivers are a common reason miners fail to detect a card, and checking this step first saves time when troubleshooting.
-
Run and Confirm Detection
Start Rigel from a terminal window and confirm that your GPU appears before pointing the miner at a pool. If a card is missing, recheck the driver and the card's power connections, then restart the program.
System requirements
- Windows, using the official Windows version of Rigel
- NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support
How to use Rigel
Rigel runs from a terminal, so the setup happens in text. Work through the steps below on a single card first, then add more GPUs once the first one runs cleanly.
- Open a terminal window in the folder where you extracted Rigel.
- Choose an algorithm that matches your target network. For example, KawPow is used by Ravencoin and Autolykos by Ergo.
- Enter your pool address and your wallet address. A miner needs only a public wallet address, never a seed phrase.
- Add at least one backup pool so that failover can take over if the primary pool goes offline.
- Start mining and watch the first few minutes closely. Confirm that shares are being accepted and that hashrate looks stable.
- Check temperature, clock and fan readings. If a card runs hot, lower its power or clock target before trying anything else.
- Adjust overclocking settings one at a time. After each change, let the rig run for a while and check for crashes or falling hashrate.
- Keep a written note of settings that work for each card. This makes it much easier to recover after a restart or a driver update.
Pros & cons
- Free to use, with open-source code that anyone can review
- Runs on both Windows and Linux
- Failover pool support helps keep mining online during connection problems
- Built-in temperature, clock and fan monitoring in one terminal view
- Overclocking support with separate settings for ZIL
- Actively maintained, with the latest code update in April 2026
- Built around NVIDIA GPUs, so AMD and Intel cards are outside its focus
- The terminal interface has a learning curve for beginners
- A developer fee applies to mining output
- Mining software is often flagged by antivirus tools, which can require configuration work
Is Rigel safe?
Mining software needs extra care because it runs continuously and touches your hardware and wallet. Download Rigel only from the official project pages, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running any file. Never type a seed phrase into a mining program or any third-party website; a miner needs only a public wallet address. Antivirus tools often flag mining programs, sometimes as false positives, but do not disable protection entirely. Instead, add a narrow exclusion for the Rigel folder after you have verified the file. Confirm the current version, 1.23.2 at the time of writing, on the official site before you update.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/rigelminer/rigel. 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
Rigel competes with several NVIDIA-focused miners. T-Rex Miner and NBMiner are both listed with development stopped, so Rigel is the more current option if you want ongoing updates. GMiner and BzMiner are GPU miners that serve a similar audience and are worth testing side by side. lolMiner stands out because it covers NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs, while Rigel concentrates on NVIDIA hardware. Nanominer targets a related set of users, and Cpuminer Multi suits CPU-only setups. Choose based on your hardware, your algorithms and how comfortable you are with the terminal.
Specifications
- Price
- Free (developer fee)
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- 1.23.2
- Last update
- 6 Apr 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (official Windows version)
- Source code
- github.com/rigelminer/rigel
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Rigel is free to download and use, and its source code is public on GitHub. The program includes a developer fee taken from mining output, so it has no purchase price but is not zero cost to run. Check the project documentation for the current fee terms before you start mining.
No. Rigel is built for NVIDIA GPUs and relies on CUDA. If your rig uses AMD or Intel hardware, look at alternatives such as lolMiner, which supports NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs. Mixed rigs are better served by a miner that covers every card in the system.
Rigel is open source and actively maintained, which makes its code easier to review than many closed tools. Safety still depends on where you get the file and how you handle it. Verify the SHA-256 checksum, never enter a seed phrase anywhere, and keep antivirus enabled. If it flags the miner, add a targeted exclusion rather than turning protection off.
The project documentation mentions Ravencoin (RVN), Ergo (ERG) and Zano. Algorithm support matters as much as the coin list, because the same algorithm can serve more than one network. Confirm that the network you want uses an algorithm on Rigel's list before configuring a run.
No, Rigel uses a terminal user interface. Hashrate and hardware readings appear as text, which many operators find easy to scan on remote machines. Users who prefer buttons and menus may want a graphical miner instead, though they should expect a different set of features and settings.
Yes. Rigel is available for both Windows and Linux, and this page focuses on the official Windows version. If your rig runs Linux, check the GitHub Releases page for the build that matches your system and verify its checksum before running it.
The latest version is 1.23.2, and the most recent code update was made in April 2026, so the project is actively maintained. Watching the GitHub Releases page lets you see new builds as they appear. Always verify the checksum of each new download before replacing your existing files.
Verdict
Rigel is a strong choice for operators who run NVIDIA GPUs on Windows or Linux and want a free, open-source miner with failover, monitoring and overclocking in one tool. It suits people who are comfortable with a terminal and willing to tune settings carefully. If your rig mixes AMD cards or you prefer a graphical interface, look at lolMiner or GMiner instead. Test with one card first, confirm the current version on the official site, and watch temperatures closely during the first run.