How to Withdraw Small Ethereum Mining Rewards via Polygon from Ethermine

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With the transition of Ethereum to proof-of-stake, traditional GPU mining is no longer viable on the mainnet. However, for those who still manage legacy setups or explore alternative reward collection methods, understanding how to efficiently withdraw small mining payouts remains valuable. Ethermine.org, one of the most popular Ethereum mining pools before the merge, continues to support payout processing—especially for residual balances or historical miners.

This guide walks you through a cost-effective method to withdraw small ETH earnings from Ethermine.org using the Polygon network, minimizing gas fees and maximizing net returns. While direct ETH withdrawals require a minimum of 0.005 ETH, the associated gas fee (often exceeding 0.001 ETH) can significantly eat into profits. By routing your payout through Polygon (PoS), you can reduce transaction costs and preserve more of your hard-earned rewards.

We’ll cover the full process—from claiming WETH on Polygon to swapping it and transferring it to an exchange like OKX—ensuring you retain control and clarity every step of the way.

Step 1: Withdraw WETH from Ethermine to Your MetaMask Wallet on Polygon

Ethermine allows you to receive payouts directly on the Polygon network in the form of WETH (Wrapped ETH), which is fully compatible with Polygon’s ecosystem.

  1. Log in to your Ethermine dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Payout Settings.
  3. Under "Payment Threshold", select “Withdraw small balances”.
  4. Choose WETH as the payout token and ensure the network is set to Polygon (PoS).
  5. Enter your MetaMask wallet address—this should be the same address used across Ethereum and Polygon networks.

👉 Discover how to securely manage cross-chain crypto withdrawals with ease

⚠️ If you haven’t added the Polygon network to MetaMask yet, do so now:

  • Visit Chainlist.org and connect your wallet.
  • Search for “Polygon Mainnet” and click “Add to MetaMask.”
  • Confirm the network addition with one click.

Once configured, Ethermine typically processes WETH transfers within 24 hours. In practice, many users report receiving funds in under 8 hours. Check your MetaMask balance under the Polygon network to confirm receipt.

Step 2: Swap WETH for USDT on Polygon Using Uniswap

Now that you have WETH in your wallet, it's time to convert it into a stablecoin for easier management. USDT on Polygon offers low volatility and wide exchange support.

Access Uniswap on Polygon

  1. Go to Uniswap Interface.
  2. Connect your MetaMask wallet.
  3. Ensure the network is switched to Polygon in your wallet.

Perform the Swap

  1. Select WETH as the input token.
  2. Choose USDT as the output token.
  3. Enter the amount you'd like to swap.
  4. Click “Swap” and review the details.
💡 You’ll need a small amount of MATIC tokens to pay for gas fees during this transaction—even if you're swapping WETH.

Need MATIC for Gas?

If your wallet doesn’t already contain MATIC:

The transaction usually confirms within 60 seconds. Once done, you may need to manually add the USDT token to MetaMask:

You should now see your USDT balance reflected accurately.

Step 3: Transfer USDT from Polygon to OKX Exchange

Now that your assets are in a stable, widely supported format, it’s time to move them to a centralized exchange for withdrawal or trading.

Get Your Deposit Address on OKX

  1. Log in to your OKX account.
  2. Navigate to Wallet > Deposit.
  3. Search for USDT.
  4. Select Polygon (PoS) as the network.
  5. Copy the deposit address provided (it should match your MetaMask address).

Send USDT from MetaMask

  1. In MetaMask, switch to the Polygon network.
  2. Select USDT and click “Send.”
  3. Paste the OKX deposit address.
  4. Keep the default gas settings unless network congestion is high.
  5. Confirm the transaction.
✅ Note: OKX requires 130 block confirmations on Polygon before crediting your account. This typically takes around 5 minutes.

Once confirmed, your USDT will appear in your OKX balance and can be freely used across spot, futures, or withdrawal functions.

👉 Learn how to optimize crypto transfers between chains and exchanges

Step 4: Withdraw USDT via TRC20 or Other Low-Fee Networks

After depositing USDT into OKX, you’re no longer bound by chain restrictions. The platform automatically manages multi-chain balances.

To withdraw at minimal cost:

  1. Go to Withdraw in your OKX wallet.
  2. Select USDT.
  3. Choose TRON (TRC20) as the network—it consistently offers some of the lowest withdrawal fees (often less than $0.10).
  4. Enter your recipient address (e.g., another exchange or personal wallet supporting TRC20).
  5. Confirm the transfer.

Your funds should arrive within minutes.

While this entire process involves more steps than a direct ETH withdrawal, it proves especially beneficial when dealing with balances just above the 0.005 ETH threshold—where high Ethereum gas fees would otherwise erase most of your profit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why use Polygon instead of withdrawing ETH directly?

A: Withdrawing ETH directly from Ethermine incurs Ethereum mainnet gas fees, which can exceed 0.001 ETH (~$2–$3 at current prices). For small balances, this fee can represent a significant percentage loss. Using Polygon reduces gas costs dramatically, often to just a few cents in MATIC.

Q: Is WETH on Polygon fully backed by real ETH?

A: Yes. WETH (Wrapped ETH) on Polygon is pegged 1:1 with ETH through a trustless bridging mechanism. It can be unwrapped or swapped back at any time using decentralized exchanges like Uniswap or SushiSwap.

Q: Do I need KYC to deposit USDT on OKX?

A: Basic deposits of cryptocurrencies like USDT do not require KYC verification on OKX. However, if you plan to withdraw fiat or access higher trading limits, identity verification will eventually be necessary.

Q: Can I swap USDT-Polygon for ETH later?

A: Absolutely. Using platforms like Uniswap, QuickSwap, or SushiSwap, you can easily convert USDT back into WETH or native ETH at any time, depending on market conditions and your goals.

Q: How long does Ethermine take to send WETH payouts?

A: Ethermine processes small WETH withdrawals on Polygon within 24 hours of request, though actual delivery often occurs much faster—typically within 6–12 hours under normal conditions.

Final Thoughts

While Ethereum mining has largely moved off GPUs, managing leftover rewards efficiently is still relevant for many early adopters and hardware enthusiasts. By leveraging Layer-2 solutions like Polygon, you gain access to cheaper, faster transactions without sacrificing security or liquidity.

Although routing through WETH → USDT → exchange involves several steps, the cost savings make it worthwhile—especially when dealing with micro-balances that would otherwise vanish into gas fees.

👉 Start exploring efficient ways to manage cross-chain crypto assets today

Whether you're closing out old mining operations or optimizing small crypto holdings, this workflow ensures you keep more of what you’ve earned—without unnecessary losses.