IceRiver has quietly become the go-to brand for mining altcoins that Bitcoin ASICs can't touch — Kaspa, Alephium and Aleo. The catch is that every IceRiver model is locked to one coin, and the naming (KS, AL, AE) tells you which. This guide decodes the range, compares the models we stock, and gives you honest 2026 profitability — because small-cap coin mining can swing from profit to loss faster than Bitcoin.
IceRiver in 2026: which coin does each series mine?
- KS series = Kaspa (kHeavyHash). From pocket-sized home units to multi-terahash rigs like the KS5L.
- AL series = Alephium (Blake3). The AL2 Lite home unit up to the AL3 flagship.
- AE series = Aleo (zkSNARK proof-of-work). The AE1 Lite was among the first home Aleo ASICs.
One thing to clear up: the IceRiver XP0 is sometimes mislabelled as an Alephium miner. It actually mines Xphere (XP) on the XPHash algorithm — a separate coin. Don't buy it expecting Kaspa or Alephium.
Kaspa miners: IceRiver KS5L vs iBeLink BM-KS Max
| Model | Coin | Hashrate | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IceRiver KS5L | Kaspa | 12 TH/s | 3,400 W | $499 |
| iBeLink BM-KS Max | Kaspa | 10.5 TH/s | 3,400 W | $1,799 |
The KS5L at $499 is the value hero — more Kaspa hashrate per dollar than anything else here, though its 3,400 W draw means it needs cheap power. The iBeLink BM-KS Max costs more per terahash but is built like a tank with a durable 4-fan design — buy it for reliability, the KS5L for value.
Alephium miners: IceRiver AL3 vs AL2 Lite
Both mine Alephium on Blake3. The AL2 Lite (2 TH/s, 500 W, $1,119) is a genuinely quiet, apartment-friendly home miner. The AL3 (15 TH/s, 3,500 W, $1,594) is the flagship — far more output and better efficiency (about 233 J/TH), but it belongs in a hosted or farm environment, not a bedroom.
Aleo mining with the IceRiver AE1 Lite
Aleo mining is proof generation rather than classic hashing, and the AE1 Lite (300 M/s, 500 W, $528) is the cheapest way in. At 500 W it's home-friendly, and at $528 it's a low-risk way to get exposure to an emerging zkSNARK network.
Coin snapshot: Kaspa, Alephium and Aleo (June 2026)
These are small-cap, high-volatility coins — treat every figure as a snapshot. In mid-2026 Kaspa (KAS) traded near $0.030–0.032, Alephium (ALPH) near $0.034, and Aleo (ALEO) near $0.043. Network difficulty on all three has been climbing as more miners join, which gradually compresses per-unit rewards even when prices hold.
Profitability reality check
Assumptions: gross revenue from June 2026 calculators, nameplate power, 30-day month, 24/7 uptime, electricity only. Small-coin profitability is volatile — a 2x price move flips the whole table.
| Miner | Gross/day | Net/mo @ $0.02 | Net/mo @ $0.10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| iBeLink BM-KS Max (Kaspa) | ~$3.50 | ≈ +$56 | ≈ −$140 |
| IceRiver KS5L (Kaspa) | ~$3.85 | ≈ +$67 | ≈ −$129 |
| IceRiver AL3 (Alephium) | ~$3.50 | ≈ +$55 | ≈ −$147 |
The pattern is the same across the board: modestly profitable at ~$0.02/kWh, loss-making at typical home power. If you don't have very cheap electricity, these only make sense in a low-cost hosting facility. Never treat small-coin mining as guaranteed income — it's a calculated bet on the coin appreciating, with the hardware acting as an accumulation tool.
Why mine Kaspa, Alephium or Aleo instead of Bitcoin?
The honest case: far lower entry cost ($499–1,799 vs $3,000+ for a competitive Bitcoin ASIC), lower power per box, and early-stage upside on emerging networks where a small miner can still matter. The risks: thinner liquidity, harder cash-outs, faster hardware obsolescence, and single-coin lock-in. Mine these as diversification or a speculative play, not as a safe income appliance.
How to choose: buyer guide by coin and budget
- Best Kaspa value: KS5L ($499) — most hashrate per dollar.
- Premium Kaspa: iBeLink BM-KS Max ($1,799) — build quality and reliability.
- Quiet home Alephium: AL2 Lite ($1,119) — 500 W, apartment-viable.
- Serious Alephium: AL3 ($1,594) — max output, hosted only.
- Aleo exposure: AE1 Lite ($528) — cheapest entry.
Mine altcoins without the home power bill
Every 3,400 W IceRiver needs cheap electricity to profit. Host yours with us from $0.018/kWh in Kaspa-friendly facilities and keep 100% of what you mine.
Browse the full IceRiver and iBeLink range on our miners page.