Altcoin Mining with ASICs: Litecoin, Kaspa and Others

Altcoin Mining with ASICs: Litecoin, Kaspa and Others

Many people think that ASIC mining = Bitcoin mining. This used to be true, but today many altcoins have dedicated ASIC miners. And what's really interesting: some of them are more profitable than BTC mining! Let's see what's happening in the world of altcoin ASICs in 2026.

Why Altcoin ASICs?

In my previous article, I showed that Bitcoin mining in Hungary is practically unprofitable at market electricity rates. But altcoins use different algorithms, and the machines' consumption, hashrate, and coin price give a completely different equation.

Moreover, among altcoin ASICs there are low-consumption, quiet models too — which can run in your living room without your family disowning you. Trust me, this is not a negligible consideration!

The World of Algorithms

Every cryptocurrency uses a different hash algorithm. ASICs are always optimized for one specific algorithm — you can't switch them to another. Here are the most important ones:

Scrypt Mining: Litecoin + Dogecoin = Double the Joy

A Bitmain L9 is one of the best investments on the market today, in my opinion. Why? Because the Scrypt algorithm simultaneously mines Litecoin AND Dogecoin (merged mining). Revenue from two coins, with the consumption of one machine.

L9 specifications:

• Hashrate: 17 GH/s
• Algorithm: Scrypt
• Dual mining: LTC + DOGE simultaneously

Litecoin is the "digital silver" — stable, established, accepted. And Dogecoin is... well, Elon Musk's favorite. Jokes aside, DOGE's market capitalization is serious, and the mining revenue is not negligible.

Kaspa (KAS): The New Favorite

If there's one altcoin that everyone in the mining community is going crazy about in 2025-2026, it's Kaspa. It uses the KHeavyHash algorithm, and the Bitmain KS5 Pro 20 TH/s hashrate is dominating the market.

What makes Kaspa special is that it uses blockDAG technology (not traditional blockchain), which theoretically provides better scalability. The price has risen significantly over the past two years, and the mining community is optimistic.

For those with smaller budgets, there's the Goldshell KA Box Pro: "only" 600W consumption, 35 dB noise level (acceptable in an apartment), and it mines Kaspa. You won't get rich from it, but as a hobby project? A perfect entry point.

Zcash (ZEC): The Privacy Veteran

A Bitmain Z15 Pro Runs on the Equihash algorithm, mines Zcash with 840 kH/s hashrate. The daily revenue is approximately $15.34 (based on early 2026 data).

Zcash is a privacy coin — transactions can optionally be completely anonymous (zk-SNARKs technology). It has a stable user base, and as long as the demand for privacy exists (spoiler: it always will), ZEC will have its place.

Alephium (ALPH): The Little Guy with Big Dreams

The IceRiver AL0 mines the Alephium network using the Blake3 algorithm. What's really attractive about it:

• Only 100W power consumption — that's about a strong light bulb
• 10 dB noise level — practically silent
• Apartment-friendly size and form factor

Alephium is a relatively new Layer 1 blockchain that uses BlockFlow sharding technology. It's a riskier investment than BTC or LTC, but due to the miner's low consumption, the entry threshold is low.

Monero (XMR): The Controversial ASIC

A Bitmain X9 is an interesting case. The Monero community in principle uses an ASIC-resistant algorithm (RandomX), which was originally optimized for CPU mining. The appearance of the Bitmain X9 sparked serious debates — many feel it works against decentralization.

Despite this, the X9 with 1 MH/s hashrate and daily ~$15.21 revenue isn't a bad deal — if you're willing to overlook the ethical questions.

Profitability Comparison

The Algorithm Diversification Strategy

In my experience, the smartest approach is not to go all-in on one coin, but to diversify. Just like you wouldn't put all your eggs in one basket with your investment portfolio.

A possible "home mining portfolio" in 2026:

• 1x IceRiver AL0 (ALPH) — low cost, low risk, quiet
• 1x Goldshell KA Box Pro (KAS) — medium risk, cool coin
• Turn it off in summer, in winter "heat" with it — at least you use the heat

This setup consumes about 700W total, which is ~16.8 kWh per day. At market rates, that's ~1,178 HUF/day — much more manageable than the 6,132 HUF an S21 XP demands.

Final Words

I think altcoin ASIC mining in 2026 is more exciting and more promisingthan Bitcoin mining — at least on a small scale, under Hungarian conditions. Low-consumption machines (AL0, KA Box Pro) are specifically suitable for hobby-level home mining without ruining your electricity bill or your marriage.

Of course, altcoins are riskier — a Kaspa or Alephium could easily disappear within 5 years. But if you diversify and don't invest more than you're willing to lose, this can be an entertaining and educational hobby.

So, which altcoin do you vote for? Kaspa, Alephium, or stick with classic Litecoin? Let us know in the comments!

Sources

• ASIC Miner Value — Altcoin ASIC comparison
• WhatToMine — Altcoin profitability calculator
• D-Central Tech — ASIC mining guides
• Compass Mining — Industry analyses
• CryptoMinerBros — ASIC purchasing and comparison

⚠️ Legal disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency mining and investing in altcoins involve significant risks, including the total loss of invested capital. Altcoin volatility can be particularly high. Before any investment decision, do your own research (DYOR) and consult a financial expert if needed.