- Bitmain introduced the S21+ Hyd and S21+ Bitcoin miners at Bitcoin Amsterdam 2024, offering lower performance and efficiency than previous models.
- These miners are set to be delivered between Q1 and Q2 of 2025, reflecting the continued evolution of Bitcoin mining technology.
On October 9, 2024, during the Bitcoin Amsterdam event, Bitmain, a leading manufacturer in the cryptocurrency mining sector, introduced two new ASIC-based Bitcoin miners: the Antminer S21+ Hyd and the S21+. These new miners, while innovative, mark a notable shift from Bitmain’s previous releases in terms of performance and energy efficiency.
The S21+ Hyd boasts a hash rate of 319 terahashes per second (TH/s) with an energy efficiency of 15 joules per terahash (J/TH), while the S21+ delivers a hash rate of 216 TH/s at 16.5 J/TH. These metrics position the new devices as slightly less efficient than Bitmain’s earlier models. In comparison, the S21XP Hydro, released a few months earlier, operates with a remarkable 473 TH/s and an efficiency of 12.7 J/TH. Another recent model, the S21 XP, delivers 270 TH/s with an efficiency of 13.5 J/TH, highlighting the more powerful capabilities of previous generations.
The Shift in Bitcoin Mining Hardware Performance
While the S21+ Hyd and S21+ are set to ship between the first and second quarters of 2025, the release reflects a curious trend in Bitcoin mining hardware. Bitmain has previously led the market with devices offering substantial boosts in both power and efficiency. However, with the introduction of these miners, it seems the focus has subtly shifted.
These devices, while slightly less powerful, still serve a critical role in the Bitcoin ecosystem, ensuring that network security and operational efficiency continue to evolve in response to the ever-increasing difficulty of mining Bitcoin.
Bitcoin mining relies on specialized hardware, and advancements in ASIC technology are central to maintaining the security and efficiency of the Bitcoin network. As mining difficulty rises, updated hardware like the S21+ series ensures that the network remains decentralized and capable of processing transactions securely. The continuous introduction of new models with varying hash rates and energy efficiencies is crucial to meeting these growing demands.
One of the key implications of introducing less efficient miners is their potential impact on the economics of Bitcoin mining. A miner’s efficiency, measured in joules per terahash, directly affects energy consumption and, ultimately, the profitability of mining operations. Higher efficiency miners allow operators to maximize output while minimizing energy costs, a significant factor given the global focus on sustainability and the energy footprint of cryptocurrency mining.
While the S21+ Hyd and S21+ may not be the most efficient devices Bitmain has released, they still push forward the industry’s efforts to create more sustainable mining solutions. As energy costs rise, miners with access to low-cost electricity will continue to benefit the most, while those without such access may face challenges in maintaining profitability.
In the broader context of the Bitcoin mining industry, the introduction of slightly less efficient miners may contribute to centralizing mining activities in regions with access to inexpensive, renewable energy. This could lead to further consolidation within the industry, as only the most efficient operations will thrive in a competitive and resource-intensive environment.
Bitmain’s continued innovation in partnership with industry leaders like Hut8 demonstrates the dynamic nature of the Bitcoin mining landscape. Recently, Bitmain collaborated with Hut8 on the development of a more powerful miner, the U3S21EXPH, which is expected to deliver an unprecedented 860 TH/s. This partnership reflects the ongoing competition within the sector to push the limits of what is possible, both in terms of performance and sustainability.