This week, Bitmain launched its latest bitcoin mining machine, the Antminer U3S21EXPH, boasting an unprecedented 860 terahash per second (TH/s). This new rig outperforms its direct predecessor, the Antminer S21 XP Hydro (473 TH/s), by 81.81%, and is a staggering 477,677% more powerful than the original Antminer S1 (0.18 TH/s) released in November 2013.
Evolution of ASIC Mining Power: From 0.18 TH/s to 860 TH/s
The Antminer S1 was Bitmain’s first application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miner, delivering just 180 gigahash per second. Over the following years, the company rapidly iterated: the S2 (1 TH/s), S3, S4, S5, and eventually the S9 series (10–14.5 TH/s) that once powered more than half of the Bitcoin network’s hashrate. Competitors such as Kncminer, Butterfly Labs, and Bitfury have since faded, while Canaan and Microbt remain active players.
By September 2024, Bitcoin’s network hashrate hit an all-time high of 693 exahash per second (EH/s), according to the seven-day simple moving average from hashrateindex.com. In contrast, the 14 TH/s Antminer S9 now loses about $2.70 per day at $0.04/kWh, given the current hashprice of $0.0438 per TH/s. The once-dominant S9 has become unprofitable under typical electricity costs.
Performance and Profitability of the U3S21EXPH
Bitmain’s previous flagship, the S21 XP Hydro, delivers 473 TH/s, while its closest rival, Microbt’s M63S+, reaches 450 TH/s. The new U3S21EXPH adds 387 TH/s on top of the S21 XP Hydro, making it 81.81% faster. At $0.04 per kWh, daily gross profit is estimated at $34.36, excluding the unit’s purchase cost. Based on Bitmain’s pricing of older models at $23–$27 per TH/s, the U3S21EXPH could retail for approximately $19,780.
Is There a Performance Ceiling?
The jump from 473 TH/s to 860 TH/s demonstrates that ASIC mining machines have not yet hit a performance ceiling. With Bitmain, Microbt, and others pushing the limits of chip design and thermal management, the Zettahash era—where network hashrate exceeds 1 Zettahash (1,000 EH/s)—seems imminent. However, questions remain: will physical constraints such as power consumption, cooling, and chip fabrication eventually halt this rapid advancement? Only time—and the next generation of miners—will tell.
What do you think about the evolution of Bitmain’s mining devices? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.