Nvidia removes Driver that bypassed the RTX 3060’s Restricted Ethereum Mining

Update: Nvidia has confirmed that it accidentally unlocked the RTX 3060 Ethereum mining through a driver, which has been removed now. Nvidia has also stressed that the limiter wasn’t just “a driver thing.” But is a combined work of “the driver, the RTX 3060 silicon, and the BIOS (firmware) that prevents removal of the hash rate limiter.”

RTX 3060 – Failed to Empower Gamers

Last month, Nvidia released a new RTX 3060 graphics card with a special device to reduce the hash rate of Ethereum mining. It was supposed to restrict mining output by about 50%, but according to multiple reports, cryptominers have managed to get around the security.

How can The Security be Modified?

Nvidia’s security can be bypassed without modifying a driver or BIOS, according to PC Watch, a Japanese website. After PC Watch’s post, ComputerBase has reported that Nvidia’s new 470.05 beta driver is automatically unlocking output for most RTX 3060 owners. These results have been backed up by Andreas Schilling, an editor at Hardwareluxx.

The beta driver appears to improve Ethereum mining efficiency across a wide range of 3060 cards, which is likely not what Nvidia had in mind for its beta drivers. The 470.05 driver is for developers who want to test the performance of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and new features like OpenCL 3.0 support.

Nvidia Wished but Couldn’t Deliver

Nvidia initially limited the mining efficiency of the RTX 3060 in order to discourage cryptominers from buying the cards. Instead, Nvidia has launched a new Cryptocurrency Mining Processor (CMP) for Ethereum miners. The beta driver bypass of Ethereum mining efficiency would undoubtedly increase the cards’ appeal to cryptominers in the near future.

Nvidia seemed to be secure in its software limitations for reducing the RTX 3060’s mining efficiency. Last month, Nvidia’s head of communications, Bryan Del Rizzo, said, “It’s not just a driver thing.” “A stable handshake exists between the driver, the RTX 3060 silicon, and the BIOS (firmware) that prevents the hash rate limiter from being removed.”