Zcash Mining with Software Miners (EWBF, GMiner, miniZ)

Майнинг Zcash программными майнерами (EWBF, GMiner, miniZ) — подробное руководство

How to mine Zcash (ZEC) with software miners in 2025: an overview of EWBF, GMiner, miniZ, and other GPU miners, step-by-step bat file setup, pool selection, optimization, and FAQ.

What is Zcash and why is Equihash important?

Zcash (ZEC) is a private cryptocurrency that supports zk-SNARKs, allowing the sender, recipient, and transaction amount to be hidden. It uses Equihash (200.9) mining algorithm , a memory-intensive proof-of-work algorithm, and was originally designed to be GPU-friendly.

Over time, the market shifted toward ASIC miners , but software miners for video cards are still actively used:

for experiments and training (wallet → miner → pool);
if you already have a powerful gaming PC or a small farm;
for mining other coins on Equihash, not just ZEC itself.

In the first article, we discussed Zcash ASIC miners. This article focuses on software miners : EWBF, GMiner, miniZ, and others.

When does it make sense to mine Zcash with software miners?

Fair play:

For maximum profit, ASIC is almost always more profitable now;
For practice and to “get a feel for mining with your own hands,” software miners are ideal.

Software mining of Zcash makes sense if:

You already have a gaming video card (or a rig), but you don’t want to buy a separate ASIC.
Need content/experience : create an article, blog, YouTube video, or improve your skills.
If you plan to mine not only ZEC , but also other Equihash coins, the software is the same, but the coins are different.
If you want to receive payouts in BTC/USDT through pools with automatic exchange , you can even count ZEC.

If the goal is purely to make the most money, then in 2025, it’s better to look at the Antminer Z15/Z15 Pro and similar ASICs. However, as an advanced “tutorial” option and an easy entry point , Zcash + GPU miners are still relevant.

A Review of Popular Software Miners for Zcash and Equihash

Zcash is all about Equihash 200.9 and personalization ZcashPoW—that’s what differentiates ZEC blocks from other coins using the same algorithm.

The most commonly used miners for Equihash are:

Miner	GPU	OS	Examples of Equihash variants	Dev fee (approximately)
EWBF Equihash Miner	NVIDIA	Windows, Linux	200.9; 192.7; 144.5; 96.5; 210.9	~2%
GMiner	NVIDIA, AMD	Windows, Linux	96.5; 144.5; 150.5; 192.7; 210.9	~1–2%
miniZ	NVIDIA, partly AMD	Windows, Linux	125.4; 144.5; 150.5; 192.7; 210.9	~2%
Bminer	NVIDIA	Windows, Linux	Equihash, Zhash	~2%
lolMiner	NVIDIA, AMD	Windows, Linux	Zash and other Equihash variants	~1–2%
NiceHash / Awesome Miner	Different kernels	Windows	GUI frontends for EWBF, GMiner, and miniZ	depends on the kernel

For pure Zcash , always make sure that:

algorithm – Equihash (200.9) ;
personalization – ZcashPoW;
The bullet clearly states that it is ZEC and not any other Equihash coin.

What you need to prepare before running a Zcash miner

ZEC Wallet

We need an address to which the pool will send rewards:

official Zcash wallet;
exchange address (for tests and small amounts);
Multi-currency wallet with ZEC support.

The main thing is not to confuse it with the addresses of other coins (BTC, LTC, etc.).

Suitable video card

ZEC software miners make sense if:

This is a modern NVIDIA/AMD with 3–4+ GB of video memory;
preferably RTX 20/30/40 or RX 5000/6000/7000 series;
There is normal cooling and a power supply with a reserve.

OS and drivers

Windows 10/11 or any popular Linux distribution (HiveOS, RaveOS, Ubuntu, etc.);
Current drivers for your video card.

Zcash pool

Well-known pools for ZEC:

2Miners
Flypool
F2Pool
Luxor
Mining Pool Hub

Important parameters: commission, minimum payout, server geography (the closer, the better the ping).

EWBF Equihash Miner – a Zcash classic for NVIDIA

Where to download EWBF

Safe sources:

official/old GitHub EWBF;
Large mining sites with direct links to the original archives.

Your antivirus will complain—that’s normal for a miner. The main thing is to download only from trusted resources and compare hash files whenever possible.

Example of setting up EWBF on Windows

Download the EWBF archive and unpack it, for example, into C:\miners\ewbf-zec\.
In this folder, create a file zec-ewbf.bat.
Insert into it:

miner.exe --algo 200_9 --pers ZcashPoW ^
  --server eu1-zcash.flypool.org --port 3333 ^
  --user YOUR_ZEC_WALLET.RIG1 ^
  --pass x --pec
pause

Where:

--algo 200_9— the desired Zcash variant of Equihash;
--pers ZcashPoW— ZEC personalization (without it, the wrong thing will be mined);
--server/ --port— address and port of the selected pool;
YOUR_ZEC_WALLET— your ZEC address;
RIG1— name Riga;
--pec— shows efficiency (Sol/s per watt) directly in the console.

Save the file and run it.
Lines like this should appear in the console Accepted share.
Check the pool’s website to make sure your worker is active and your hashrate is coming in.

GMiner is a universal miner for NVIDIA and AMD.

GMiner is a “combine” for various algorithms. For Zcash, we’re interested in:

Equihash algorithm 200.9;
personalization ZcashPoW.

GMiner Zcash Mining Batch File Example (Windows)

miner.exe --algo 200_9 --pers ZcashPoW ^
  --server zec.2miners.com --port 1010 ^
  --user YOUR_ZEC_WALLET.RIG1 ^
  --pass x
pause

Transcript:

--algo 200_9— Equihash variant;
--pers ZcashPoW— personalization of Zcash;
zec.2miners.com:1010— example of ZEC pool;
YOUR_ZEC_WALLET— wallet address;
RIG1— the worker’s name.

Running GMiner on Linux

Create a file start-zec-gminer.sh:

#!/bin/bash
./miner --algo 200_9 --pers ZcashPoW \
  --server zec.2miners.com --port 1010\
  --user YOUR_ZEC_WALLET.RIG1 \
  --pass x

Further:

chmod +x start-zec-gminer.sh
./start-zec-gminer.sh

miniZ — a fast Equihash/Ethash/ProgPoW miner

miniZ is a miner known for its high speed on various Equihash and ProgPoW variants, especially on NVIDIA.

miniZ Features for Zcash and Equihash

supports many Equihash variants (125.4/144.5/150.5/192.7/210.9 etc.);
works on Windows and Linux;
capable of telemetry and web monitoring.

Example of running miniZ for Zcash

Example of a bat file:

miniz.exe --par=200.9 --pers=ZcashPoW ^
  --server zec.2miners.com --port 1010 ^
  --user YOUR_ZEC_WALLET.RIG1 ^
  --pass x --telemetry=0.0.0.0:20000
pause

--par=200,9— Equihash parameters for ZEC;
--pers=ZcashPoW— the required “signature” of the coin;
--telemetry— local miniZ web interface for monitoring via browser.

General structure of a batch file for Zcash mining

Almost any batch file for ZEC looks like this:

miner.exe [algo/params] [pers/extra] ^
  --server POOL_ADDRESS --port PORT ^
  --user WALLET_ADDRESS.WORKER_NAME ^
  --pass x [additional options]
pause

The main thing is not to forget:

correct algorithm (Equihash 200.9);
personalization ZcashPoW ;
ZEC wallet address (no errors or other people’s coins);
The pool address is specifically for Zcash, not another coin on Equihash.

Common mistakes when mining Zcash with software miners

1. Incorrect algorithm or coin

If you’ve reached Equihash 144.5 or 192.7, mine a different coin instead of ZEC. You need 200.9+ ZcashPoW.

2. AbsentZcashPoW

If you don’t specify this --pers ZcashPoW, some miners will not mine ZEC correctly at all, or the pool will reject shares.

3. Wallet errors

extra space;
extra character;
copied address of another coin.

Result: the reward does not go where it should.

4. Antivirus removes the miner

Defender or antivirus software may silently delete it miner.exe. Add the miner’s folder to the exceptions.

5. Overheating and over-aggressive overclocking

A classic: everything starts up, but after 10-20 minutes, errors and crashes start pouring in. Reduce your system clock, increase your fan speed, and improve your cooling.

Basic GPU optimization and overclocking for Zcash

A couple of practical tips:

keep the GPU temperature within 60–70 °C ;
Start with stock settings , make sure everything is stable → then gradually increase the overclocking;
Equihash responds most to memory , but memory search = errors and rejections;
Consider your electricity costs —sometimes it’s more profitable to lower your PL and sacrifice some hashrate for better ROI.

For home mining, the rule is simple: stability and temperature are more important than “pretty numbers” in the miner’s window.

Zcash Mining Software FAQ

Is it possible to mine Zcash on a GPU in 2025?
Yes, using EWBF, GMiner, miniZ, Bminer, lolMiner, and others. However, ASIC miners are significantly more profitable than GPUs, so GPU mining of ZEC is more suitable for practice and experimentation.

Which software miner is better for Zcash: EWBF, GMiner, or miniZ?

EWBF is a classic for Zcash/Equihash, a simple setup for pure ZEC.
GMiner is a universal miner for NVIDIA+AMD and various Equihash variants.
miniZ is one of the fastest Equihash/ProgPoW miners for modern NVIDIA platforms.

Typically, people try all three and choose the one that provides the best hashrate and stability on a specific video card.

Which pools are suitable for Zcash with software miners?
The most popular are 2Miners, Flypool, F2Pool, Luxor, and Mining Pool Hub. Consider the fees, minimum payout, user-friendliness of the interface, and the servers closest to you.

How much can you earn by mining Zcash with software miners?
It depends on:

hashrate of your video card;
network complexity;
ZEC rate;
cost of electricity.

You can estimate your profit using online Zcash calculators: enter your GPU hashrate, power consumption in watts, and your kWh rate to get an approximate profit/loss estimate.

Can NiceHash Miner be used for Zcash?
Yes. NiceHash and similar GUI frontends use the same EWBF/GMiner/miniZ internally. However, in this case, you sell your hashrate on the marketplace and typically receive payouts in BTC rather than directly in ZEC.

Results

Zcash runs on Equihash 200.9 , and software miners (EWBF, GMiner, miniZ) allow you to mine ZEC on video cards under Windows and Linux.
In 2025, ASICs win in profitability , but software miners are still useful for training, testing, and mining other Equihash coins.
The key to proper setup is the correct algorithm, personalization ZcashPoW, the correct pool, and a carefully written wallet in the bat file.