TL;DR
- Microbt releases the Whatsminer M30S++ capable of 112 TH/s, making it one of the most powerful mining rigs on the market
- Canaan unveils the Avalonminer 1246 (A1246) with 90 TH/s, featuring the new A12 chip architecture
- Strongu enters the market with the Hornbill H8 Pro at 84 TH/s, adding competitive pressure in the ASIC space
- Bitcoin mining profitability surges as BTC trades above $19,100, with top rigs earning around $10 per day
- Supply shortages persist across manufacturers as demand for next-gen miners outpaces production capacity
The bitcoin mining hardware industry enters a fierce competitive cycle as three major manufacturers roll out next-generation ASIC miners during the final quarter of 2020. With bitcoin trading at approximately $19,191 on December 7, mining profitability reaches levels not seen since the pre-halving era, fueling unprecedented demand for high-efficiency equipment.
Microbt Claims the Hashrate Crown With Whatsminer M30S++
Microbt unveils the Whatsminer M30S++, a machine the company dubs the “hash king,” capable of processing up to 112 terahash per second (TH/s). The new device represents a significant jump from the previous M30S+ model, which maxed out at 100 TH/s using 8nm Samsung chips. The M30S++ leverages upgraded Samsung 12nm semiconductors and consumes 3,472W of power, offering miners a compelling efficiency ratio at current bitcoin prices.
The Whatsminer M30S++ sells for $3,900 per unit on Microbt’s official store. Notably, the company recently reduced its delivery timeline from a 120-day wait to just two weeks after full payment, signaling improved production capacity. At electricity rates below $0.06 per kWh and current BTC prices, the M30S++ generates substantial daily returns for mining operations.
The device itself is considerably smaller than competing models from Bitmain and Canaan, giving it an advantage in data center density — a critical factor for large-scale mining farms managing thousands of units in constrained spaces.
Canaan Responds With Avalonminer 1246
Canaan, one of the earliest bitcoin mining rig manufacturers, releases the Avalonminer 1246 (A1246) with a hashrate of 90 TH/s and power consumption of approximately 3,420W. The machine features Canaan’s proprietary A12 chip, believed to be built on a 12nm process. A third-party test report by Cybtc.com verified that the A1246 consistently delivers on its 90 TH/s claim, with the hash rate quickly reaching 90.05 TH/s under normal operating conditions.
Pricing for the A1246 requires a direct consultation with Canaan, though secondary market listings show units selling between $2,369 and $2,725 per miner. The Avalonminer 1246 is physically larger than the Whatsminer M30S++, featuring four 12038 cooling fans, making it comparable in size to Bitmain’s flagship S19 Pro.
Strongu Rounds Out the Field With Hornbill H8 Pro
Strongu, a smaller but increasingly competitive player in the ASIC market, launches the Hornbill H8 Pro with 84 TH/s hashrate and 3,360W power consumption. While not matching the raw hashrate of Microbt or Bitmain offerings, the Hornbill H8 Pro provides an accessible entry point for miners seeking next-generation performance without the premium price tag of top-tier models.
Bitmain S19 Pro Remains the Benchmark
The Bitmain Antminer S19 Pro, released in May 2020, continues to serve as the industry benchmark at 110 TH/s. At current market conditions with electricity rates at $0.06 per kWh, the S19 Pro generates approximately $10 in daily profit per unit. The competitive pressure from Microbt’s 112 TH/s M30S++ now challenges Bitmain’s dominance, pushing the entire industry toward greater efficiency and output.
Mining Rig Shortage Deepens Amid Price Rally
The surge in bitcoin’s price — up over 150% in 2020 and approaching its all-time high near $19,918 — creates a cascading effect on mining hardware availability. Multiple manufacturers report being sold out of next-generation devices, with wait times stretching months for some models. Mining farm operators scramble to secure equipment before the next difficulty adjustment erodes profit margins, creating a secondary market where ASIC prices carry significant premiums.
Why This Matters
The simultaneous release of three competitive ASIC models signals a maturing mining hardware industry that responds rapidly to market conditions. As bitcoin approaches $20,000, the economics of mining shift dramatically — rigs that were marginally profitable at $10,000 BTC become highly lucrative, driving both hardware demand and network hashrate upward. The increasing hashrate strengthens Bitcoin’s security guarantees while concentrating mining operations among those with access to the latest, most efficient hardware. This hardware arms race ultimately determines which miners survive the next bear market and which are forced to capitulate when margins compress.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Mining profitability calculations depend on multiple variables including electricity costs, hardware efficiency, network difficulty, and bitcoin price. Readers should conduct their own research before making any mining investment decisions.
M30S++ at 112 TH/s was genuinely ahead of anything Bitmain had. MicroBT ate their lunch for 18 months until the S19 XP closed the gap
supply shortages were brutal. ordered three M30S++ units in december 2020 and didnt receive them until april. by then difficulty adjustments ate most of the margin
112 TH/s on the M30S++ is insane for 2020. Whatsminer really went all in that quarter
kris_p the Avalon A1246 at 90TH was decent but Canaan firmware was a nightmare. half my units needed manual firmware flashes out of the box
Petter J. the A1246 firmware issues were legendary. canaan shipped units that needed manual flashes before they could even boot. M30S++ was the only one that worked out of the box
whatsminer m30s++ at 112TH was the king for like 6 months. then bitmain caught back up but microbt proved they could compete
Microbt was eating Bitmains lunch in 2020. the M30S++ was genuinely ahead of anything Antminer had at that point
jwanic the M30S++ efficiency was unbeatable but those units ran hot. replaced like 40 hashboards in 2021 warranty period alone
s9_repair_guy M30S++ hashboards were notorious for thermal failures. MicroBT pushed the efficiency curve but those units ran way past their thermal envelope
ran three M30S++ units at 112 TH/s when BTC was 19191. each one pulled about 3400W and made maybe 12 bucks a day after electric. wild times
Canaan A1246 at 90 TH/s was always playing catch up to MicroBT. the 22 TH/s gap was brutal for anyone who bought Canaan stock
the H8 Pro at 84 TH/s was basically an afterthought. strongu never recovered from this launch, they disappeared from the market within 18 months
the strongu hornbill at 84 TH/s was always the value play. microbt had the hashrate crown but strongu boards lasted longer in humid environments
M30S++ at 112 TH/s was genuinely ahead of anything Bitmain had. MicroBT ate their lunch for a solid 18 months until the S19 XP closed the gap
everyone forgetting the Strongu Hornbill H8 Pro. 84 TH/s was mid-tier even in 2020 but the price point made it viable for residential miners with cheap power
Hideo S. residential was only viable in China with 0.03/kWh industrial rates. europe at 0.25+ meant you were mining at a loss on anything below 90 TH/s
112 TH/s at a time when BTC was sub 20k. anyone who bought these in dec 2020 was mining at a loss for about 5 minutes before the bull run kicked in
$10/day profit on those rigs sounds great until you factor in the electricity bill at scale lol
at scale with cheap power in Sichuan or Kazakhstan those margins were juicy. residential miners were the ones getting squeezed
sichuan power was dirt cheap until the crackdown in 2021. those kazakhstan operations got hit too when the government started cutting internet during protests
ASIC_bro_ $10 a day minus $4 in electricity at 0.05/kWh in Sichuan. residential rates in Europe were 0.30+ so nobody outside China was profitable on these
Helga B. 0.05/kWh in Sichuan vs 0.30+ in Europe meant every European residential miner was burning money. the geography arbitrage was brutal in 2020
supply shortages were insane. ordered 3 M30S++ units in december, didnt receive them until april. by then difficulty ate most of the margin
was trying to get my hands on an S19 Pro around this time, sold out everywhere. supply chain was brutal
Daiki N. supply chain was insane. S19 Pros were going for 3x retail on the secondary market by Q1 2021. microbt and bitmain could not make them fast enough
112 TH/s on the M30S++ was the headline number but sustained output was closer to 104. MicroBT marketing vs reality was a consistent gap