The Bitcoin mining landscape is evolving rapidly, with major advancements in mining hardware driving increased efficiency and profitability. Leading manufacturers like Bitmain, MicroBT, Canaan, and newcomers like Auradine are pushing the boundaries with their latest models. Bitmain’s Antminer S21 and S21 Pro, MicroBT’s Whatsminer M60 and M60S, and Canaan’s Avalon Miner A1566 showcase impressive efficiencies and hashrate capabilities. Among these, the Auradine TeraFlux AT2880 stands out with its exceptional hashrate output, making it the most profitable despite not being the most efficient. This article delves into these cutting-edge mining machines, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry and the ongoing innovation aimed at maximizing mining returns.
Bitmain – Antminer S21, T21 and S21 Pro
MicroBT – Whatsminer M60 and M60s
Canaan – Avalon A1566
Auradine – Teraflux AT2880
1X J/TH Air-Cooled ASIC Miners Compared
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Bitmain – Antminer S21, T21 and S21 Pro
Market leader Bitmain is currently selling two ASIC miners with an efficiency of below 20 J/TH: the Antminer S21 and Antminer T21. The T21 is generally more affordable and can automatically overclock, achieving higher hashrates without requiring power supply upgrades. The T21 might be better suited for professional miners who can meet its more demanding electrical setup and benefit from its overclocking capabilities. Meanwhile, the S21’s lower power consumption and compatibility with residential voltage make it an excellent choice for home miners seeking high efficiency and ease of setup.
Antminer S21
The S21 series offers three variants: 200 TH/s, 195 TH/s, and 188 TH/s, each with an impressive efficiency of 17.5 J/TH. The 200 TH/s model runs at 3500 W. A significant upgrade for this model is the P13-C20 power cord, which operates between 220V and 277V. This means the S21 comes ready to plug in, a convenience not available in earlier Bitmain models.
Antminer T21
The Antminer T21 features a hashrate of 190 TH/s with a standard energy efficiency of 19 J/TH. The T21 uses 3610 W and requires a higher voltage range of 380V to 415V. It uses a P33-P33 power cord and requires a specialized PDU for operation. The machine’s 3-phase power supply ensures automatic phase balancing. By avoiding imbalanced loads on the electricity supply, miners experience less wear and tear on electrical systems and improved energy efficiency. The T21’s higher voltage requirements and the need for a specific PDU interface may be challenging for some miners, especially those without access to industrial-grade power setups.
Unique to the T21 is the HEM mode, which, under optimal conditions (operating temperatures below 30°C), boosts the hash rate to 233 TH/s while increasing power efficiency to 22 J/TH. The miner’s 3-phase power supply provides the 5500 W power that the high-power mode needs.
In November 2023, Bitfarms placed a bulk order for Antminer T21 units. The company purchased 35,888 units of the Antminer T21, with a total valuation of $95 million, to be delivered between March and May 2024. Bitfarms also secured an option to purchase an additional 28,000 units of T21s, scheduled for delivery in the latter half of 2024.
S21 Pro Coming to Market
Just seven months after Bitmain launched the S21, the company announced the Antminer S21 Pro at the 2024 Global Digital Mining Summit (WDMS). The new device is a notable improvement over the S21, being both more efficient and powerful. Bitmain will begin shipping the device in Q3 2024.
Irene Gao, VP of Mining at Bitmain, highlighted that the Antminer S21 Pro boasts a hash rate of 234 TH/s and an energy efficiency ratio of 15.0 J/TH. Gao also emphasized the S21 Pro’s durability, stating, “It has the ability to deal with more challenging environments.” She shared that the device can withstand temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius / 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
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MicroBT – Whatsminer M60 and M60s
The Whatsminer M60 series features MicroBT’s highest hashrate ratings to date. The M60 series is also MicroBT’s most power-efficient line, achieving an efficiency below 20 J/TH. MicroBT released two air-cooled versions, the M60 and M60s. The Whatsminer M60 series has the same form factor as the M50 and M30.
In comparison to earlier models within the WhatsMiner series, the M60S distinguishes itself in the transition to 5nm chip technology. This advancement marks a substantial upgrade over the 7nm chips in many previous models.
Whatsminer M60
The M60 series includes models with hash rate ratings ranging from 156-172 TH/s. The 162 TH/s machine runs at 3104 W with an efficiency of 19.2 J/TH.
Whatsminer M60S
The Whatsminer M60S offers an even higher hash rate output, ranging from 170-186 TH/s. Moreover, the M60S achieves an efficiency of 18.5 J/TH. According to factory specifications, the 186 TH/s version uses 3441 W.
In February 2024, Riot Platforms announced the purchase of 31,500 MicroBT miners with a combined total of 5.9 EH/s. Purchased for $97.4 million, this equates to approximately $16.50/TH. Approximately 14,500 miners will add to their self-mining capacity, while the remaining 17,000 will replace less efficient machines.
Canaan – Avalon A1566
At the Bitcoin Asia 2024 exhibition, Canaan launched the Avalon Miner A1566. This is the second generation of 1xJ/T series products released by Canaan. Boasting a 185 TH/s hashrate with a power consumption of 3420 W and an efficiency of 18.5 J/TH, it is Canaan’s most efficient miner.
The new model is the result of Canaan’s ongoing market research, increased investment in product development, and partnerships to create chips that perform better using the latest advanced processes.
Auradine – Teraflux AT2880
Auradine, a Silicon Valley-based company, aims to offer North American Bitcoin mining operators an alternative to “foreign ASICs,” competing against Chinese manufacturing giants Bitmain, MicroBT, and Canaan. In Q2 2024, their AT2880 air-cooled miner came to market, with volume production set to start in Q3 of this year. The machine is capable of achieving an output of up to 260 TH/s. At 260 TH/s, the AT2880 uses 4160 W and has an optimal efficiency of 16 J/TH.
The TeraFlux miners feature EnergyTune, a program that allows you to quickly power up or down without rebooting the system. You can adjust both the power and hashrate to the desired target, and the system will automatically tune itself. This feature enables rapid demand response.
The new Auradine mining hardware includes a heavy-duty pull handle in front, making it easier to remove from racks. The machine uses dual C19 cables and has only two fans on the PSU, despite the PSU handling substantial power. The fan connectors are external on both the miner and the PSU, allowing you to change fans without removing the miner from the shelf.
Publicly traded Bitcoin mining company Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) was among the backers of Auradine’s first funding round. Marathon revealed in its third-quarter 2023 financial report that it owned $35.5 million of Auradine preferred stock. Marathon was also one of the investors in Auradine’s Series B funding round, which was worth $80 million.
1X J/TH Air-Cooled ASIC Miners Compared
In the overview below, all the miners discussed are listed, highlighting key features and specifications of each miner, like power usage, hash rate output, and efficiency. Some specs that stand out are the high power usage of the TeraFlux AT2880, the >200 TH/s hashrate output of the S21 Pro and TeraFlux AT2880, and the 15 J/TH efficiency of the S21 Pro model.
In the table below, we calculated the profitability of the 1X J/TH machines based on a $50/PH/day hashprice and a hashcost of $0.07 per kWh. When looking at the profitability of these various machines, you can see that the TeraFlux AT2880 is the most profitable. The Auradine machine is not the most efficient, but due to its exceptionally high hashrate output, it is the hardware providing the best profitability.
