ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
TL;DR
An ASIC is a chip designed for one specific task — in Bitcoin: computing SHA-256 hashes for mining.
ASICs appeared in Bitcoin mining around 2013, making consumer-hardware (CPU, GPU) mining unprofitable. Modern ASICs (Antminer S21, Whatsminer M60S+) reach 200+ TH/s at 20-30 J/TH. Generation differences are huge: a 3-year-old model can become unprofitable overnight after a halving.
Example
Antminer S21 XP Hyd: 473 TH/s at 14.5 J/TH, around €6,000 per unit in 2026. Expected operational life: 3-5 years for efficient running.
Frequently asked questions
Which ASIC manufacturers exist?
Bitmain (Antminer, dominant), MicroBT (Whatsminer), Canaan (Avalon), Bitdeer. Tier-1 manufacturers hold >95% market share.
Related terms
Further reading
- → Our service: Bitcoin sector