Gate Flexible Mining Strategy: How to Efficiently Acquire BTC and ETH through Spot and Fixed-Term Modes

“The essence of mining is contributing resources to maintain the blockchain network and earning new tokens as rewards.” A market report from Gate Ventures at the beginning of 2026 pointed out that as institutional funds re-enter the market through channels like BTC ETFs, the demand for deploying digital assets into productive activities (such as staking or mining) has significantly increased.

Whether pursuing liquidity with flexible entry and exit or seeking stability with higher returns, on the Gate platform, users can find solutions to convert their held BTC and ETH into continuous income. Understanding the core differences between spot and fixed-term mining is the first step in developing personal strategies.

01 Core Differences

Participating in BTC and ETH cloud mining or hash rate products on Gate essentially involves transforming capital into a hash rate leasing service. The main differences between spot and fixed-term modes lie in the lock-up period, profit calculation methods, and risk exposure.

Spot mining typically has no fixed term, allowing users to subscribe or redeem hash rate or exit the product at any time. Its advantage is high liquidity, enabling quick responses to market changes. For example, when a higher-yield opportunity suddenly appears in the market, users can swiftly shift their funds.

Fixed-term mining requires users to commit to a set investment period, such as 30 days, 90 days, or 180 days. During this period, funds or hash rate are locked. As compensation for reduced liquidity, the platform usually offers a higher estimated annualized return (APR) than comparable spot products.

The choice between the two reflects different trade-offs between liquidity premiums and risk appetite. As a bridge connecting the crypto and mining worlds, Gate provides transparent and selectable options for users with different needs.

02 Strategy Selection

For traders who want to seize market fluctuations at any time, spot mining is an ideal “funds harbor.” It can generate continuous income during sideways or mildly bullish markets, preventing assets from sitting idle.

This approach is especially suitable for crypto market newcomers, who can experience mining yields with minimal barriers—without needing to deeply research miner models, electricity costs, or mining farm operations. Users can flexibly adjust their positions based on market sentiment indices (such as the Fear & Greed Index).

Fixed-term mining, on the other hand, is designed for long-term holders seeking stable compound growth. When users have strong confidence in the long-term price trends of BTC or ETH and do not need to access these funds in the short term, the fixed-term mode can maximize yield accumulation.

For example, before major upgrades on the Ethereum network or during anticipated bull markets following Bitcoin halving cycles, locking in a high-yield fixed-term mining contract may yield excess returns.

03 Platform Advantages

Choosing to mine on Gate offers users more than just a product entry point. As an established exchange, Gate’s core advantage lies in packaging complex mining logic into simple, transparent financial products.

The platform collaborates with top mining pools (such as Fish Pool) to ensure hash rate stability and block production rates, securing sustainable yields from the source. Additionally, Gate’s robust security and risk control systems, along with deep industry experience, provide extra protection for user assets.

For ordinary users, purchasing and maintaining mining hardware independently is a high barrier. For example, the mainstream Antminer S21e in 2025 costs up to $19,450, consumes 11,180 W, and requires professional water cooling and operational expertise. On Gate, users avoid these challenges altogether.

04 Market Outlook

Understanding the overall market environment of mining is crucial for strategic decisions. By 2026, despite phases of net outflows from BTC and ETH spot ETFs, leading to cautious market sentiment, positive signals from institutional levels continue.

On one hand, large-scale venture capital investments (such as the new billion-dollar fund raised by a16z) keep flowing into blockchain infrastructure, fueling long-term industry development.

On the other hand, data from Ethereum validator queues shows that institutions are reallocating assets with a longer-term perspective, indicating confidence in Ethereum’s future. These fundamental factors form the macro backdrop for mining participation.

05 Risk Management

All investment activities carry risks, and mining is no exception. When choosing mining products on Gate, users should focus on two main risk types: market risk and mechanism risk.

Market risk mainly stems from the price volatility of major cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. If the coin price drops sharply in the short term, the fiat value of mining output (denominated in that coin) may significantly shrink, potentially failing to cover the participation costs.

Mechanism risk relates to specific mining targets and modes. For example, participating in cloud hash rate products requires attention to the authenticity and sustainability of the underlying hash rate. Fixed-term products also carry liquidity risk—if extreme market conditions occur during the lock-up period, users may be unable to exit early.

A responsible approach is never to invest all funds into a single strategy or product. Combining spot and fixed-term allocations and dynamically adjusting proportions based on market phases is a more prudent method.

Future Outlook

The total network hash rate of Bitcoin has already surpassed 120 EH/s, and Ethereum’s hash rate has reached around 230 TH/s. In this era dominated by professional mining farms and institutions, it is no longer wise for individuals to directly purchase a nearly $20,000 Antminer S21e.

As mainstream Bitcoin ASIC miners approach 30 W/T, older high-power-consuming miners are rapidly being phased out. The pace of change in the hash rate ecosystem far exceeds ordinary people’s cognitive iterations.