
Before diving into what ASICs are and how they function, it's helpful to review the concept of cryptocurrency mining. Mining is the process of acquiring cryptocurrencies by solving computational problems on a blockchain network. Miners—the individuals engaged in mining—require substantial computing power. This can come from various sources. For instance, computer graphics cards are suitable for mining. However, the highest level of computational power is achieved with specialized devices designed specifically for coin extraction: ASICs. These devices are also commonly referred to as miners.
Let's take a closer look at what an ASIC miner is. The term "ASIC" stands for Application-Specific Integrated Circuit. This designation applies to devices engineered expressly for cryptocurrency mining. In simple terms, an ASIC miner is professional-grade equipment for mining crypto assets.
ASICs generate significant noise and heat during operation. For this reason, installing them in residential areas is discouraged. It's essential to have proper infrastructure, including adequate ventilation, cooling systems, and sound insulation, to ensure optimal and safe equipment performance.
Below, we review the most popular ASIC miners for cryptocurrencies in 2025. To streamline selection, the BeInCrypto editorial team has categorized miners by the algorithm they are optimized for. This structure enables users to quickly determine which equipment best suits their mining interests.
Bitcoin mining remains the primary use case for ASICs. Bitmain and MicroBT lead this sector, and their flagship models for 2024–2025 have set new efficiency standards for the industry.
The Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro ranks among the most powerful SHA-256 miners for 2025. Released in March 2024, it offers a hashrate of ~234 TH/s at ~3,510 W (efficiency ~15 J/TH). This represents a significant leap from the previous generation (for comparison, the Antminer S19 XP provided 140 TH/s at 3,010 W).
The S21 Pro features a standard enclosure with air cooling (2 fans), generating approximately 75 dB of noise. Dimensions are ~400×195×290 mm, weight ~18–20 kg. The manufacturer specifies 15.0 J/TH energy efficiency, putting it among the industry's most efficient ASICs.
Key strengths include extremely high performance and efficiency, making it ideal for large mining operations with low electricity costs. Disadvantages include its high price and demand for a 220–277 V power supply.
The Bitmain Antminer T21 is a more budget-friendly model from the same generation, launched in early 2024. It provides ~190 TH/s at ~3,610 W, yielding ~19 J/TH efficiency. The T21 is a cost-effective version for miners seeking lower prices while maintaining high hashrate.
In terms of specifications, the T21 is behind the S21 Pro (~20% less hashrate and lower efficiency), but as of April 2025, its price is significantly lower: around $2,500–3,000. The build is similar to the S21 (air cooling, 75 dB noise, 16 kg).
Advantages: lower cost per TH/s, Bitmain reliability. Disadvantages: lower efficiency; the T21 consumes more power per unit of hash, which increases costs where electricity prices are high.
The MicroBT WhatsMiner M60S is the flagship ASIC from Bitmain’s main rival. Released in February 2024, the M60S delivers ~186 TH/s at ~3,440 W (about 18.5 J/TH). With overclocking, it can reach ~192–194 TH/s at up to 3,600 W. This is comparable to the Antminer S21/S21 Pro, though its efficiency (about 18–19 J/TH) is slightly behind the S21 Pro (15 J/TH).
The M60S is more compact (430×155×226 mm, ~13.5 kg), with a noise level of ~75 dB. It features 5 nm chips and an integrated power supply. Key advantages include operational stability and build quality; the WhatsMiner line is known for reliability alongside Antminer.
Drawback: in 2025, MicroBT remains slightly less energy efficient than Bitmain. The WhatsMiner M60S is priced at $3,000–4,000 in April 2025.
The Canaan AvalonMiner A1466 is Canaan’s top model in the Avalon series, released in 2023. It’s designed for Bitcoin mining and delivers ~150 TH/s at ~3,230 W (efficiency ~21.5 J/TH), a notable improvement over the prior A12 line.
The unit measures ~271×192×292 mm, weighing ~13 kg. AvalonMiners are valued for stable performance and relatively low pricing compared to leading brands.
Advantages: good price/hashrate ratio and compatibility with existing farm infrastructure. Disadvantages: lower energy efficiency versus Antminer S19/S21, and louder operation (up to 80 dB).
For mining cryptocurrencies based on the Scrypt algorithm, Bitmain’s Antminer L series is most frequently used, with Goldshell and Innosilicon ASICs also available. In 2025, Scrypt miners have seen a significant performance jump.
The Bitmain Antminer L9 is the leading Scrypt miner, launched in 2024. The L9 achieved a revolutionary hashrate for Scrypt: 17 GH/s (17,000 MH/s) at ~3,450 W. Its energy efficiency is about 0.20 J/MH, nearly twice as efficient as the previous L7 generation. This breakthrough made the L9 the most profitable Litecoin/Dogecoin miner in 2024–2025.
The unit features Bitmain’s standard form factor with two intake and two exhaust fans, noise around 75–80 dB, and a weight of about 14 kg. Key strengths: record performance, improved efficiency (~0.20 J/MH), and dual LTC + DOGE mining support. Weaknesses: very high initial cost and demanding infrastructure needs.
The Bitmain Antminer L7 was the previous top Scrypt ASIC (released late 2021), prior to the L9’s debut. The L7 provides ~9.5 GH/s at ~3,425 W (efficiency ~0.36 J/MH). Even in 2025, it remains effective.
L7 strengths include proven reliability—many farms deploy dozens of units. Prices have fallen sharply: from ~$10,000 in 2022 to around $3,000–4,000 new and ~$2,000 used in 2025. That makes the L7 a compelling mid-range choice for LTC/DOGE. Weaknesses: lower efficiency (0.36 J/MH) and loud operation (~75–80 dB).
Kaspa (kHeavyHash algorithm) surged in popularity in 2023, prompting the development of specialized ASICs. Initially mined on GPUs, Kaspa’s network difficulty spiked with the arrival of ASICs in 2023.
The Bitmain Antminer KS5 Pro is the top Kaspa ASIC from the industry leader. Announced in March 2024, the KS5 Pro processes the kHeavyHash algorithm at 21 TH/s with a power draw of ~3,150 W and efficiency around 150 J/TH, raising the bar for Kaspa mining performance.
It uses the standard Antminer chassis (430×195×290 mm, ~16 kg), air cooling (4 fans, ~75 dB). Key strengths: fastest Kaspa mining speed in 2024/25. Weaknesses: very high price and limited to Kaspa mining only; it cannot mine other major coins. As of April 2025, the KS5 Pro is valued at $15,000–20,000.
The IceRiver KS3 is an ASIC from IceRiver, the first company to launch Kaspa miners in 2023. The KS3 debuted in summer 2023, offering ~8 TH/s at ~3,200 W. Its efficiency (~400 J/TH) trails significantly behind the later KS5 Pro.
IceRiver devices gave early Kaspa miners a head start during the network's growth phase. Weaknesses include high power consumption, narrow specialization, and limited support.
After Ethereum transitioned to PoS, Ethereum Classic became the primary Ethash mining coin. Ethash ASICs are still in use, though the market has contracted.
The Jasminer X16-Q is among the most efficient Ethash ASICs in 2025. Released by Sunlune in 2023, the X16-Q is a server-class, low-noise miner with outstanding energy efficiency. It achieves ~1.84 GH/s (1,845 MH/s) at just ~630 W, with an impressive efficiency of ~0.34 J/MH. Its special soundproofed case keeps noise to ~40 dB.
Key advantages: very quiet operation, high efficiency, and compact form factor. Disadvantages: high price; this is a premium device, costing $5,000–6,000 in April 2025.
The Bitmain Antminer E9 Pro is a Bitmain ASIC for Ethash/ETChash. The E9 Pro improves on previous models: up to ~3.68 GH/s at ~2,200 W (~0.60 J/MH). This far outpaces older Innosilicon units in hashrate. However, the E9 Pro is loud (75 dB, typical for ASICs), making it less practical for home use.
Strengths: Bitmain brand, optimized for Etchash. Weakness: still less efficient than Jasminer (0.6 vs. 0.34 J/MH). The E9 Pro’s price dropped in 2025, with new units available for ~$1,500.
Beyond the main categories above, ASICs are available for a variety of other PoW algorithms used by specific cryptocurrencies.
The X11 algorithm (used in Dash) has long been implemented in ASICs. The most powerful is the Bitmain Antminer D7 (launched 2021), offering ~1.286 TH/s on X11 at ~3,148 W. This is sufficient for mining Dash and several related coins.
Interest in mining Dash is moderate due to the coin’s low price. Even so, the Antminer D7 remains the go-to X11 miner in 2025.
For Equihash, the best-known ASICs are the Antminer Z15 (420 kSol/s, 1,510 W) and the older Innosilicon A9++ (140 kSol/s, 1,550 W). The last major ASIC was the Z15 in 2020; no new models have emerged since. The Z15 achieves ~420,000 Sol/s at ~1,510 W (efficiency ~3.6 J/KSol) and remains the top choice for Zcash mining.
Both algorithms are often supported by the same ASIC, as they’re used in combination miners. Example: Goldshell HS6 (2022): Handshake mode delivers ~4.3 TH/s at 3,250 W, while Siacoin mode offers ~10.6 TH/s at 2,350 W. The HS6 is the most powerful miner for Handshake.
To calculate ASIC miner profitability:
Electricity cost = (W × 24 h × 30) / 1000 × electricity rate.
Revenue: use calculators such as NiceHash or ASICMinerValue; input hashrate and power draw.
ROI = Device price / (Revenue − Electricity cost).
Add 10% to the payback period to account for potential increases in network difficulty.
Compare models not only by ROI, but also by their resale value on the secondary market.
It's crucial to note that mining profitability fluctuates constantly due to factors like crypto prices, network difficulty, and electricity rates. Regular recalculation and adjusting your projections to reflect market conditions is recommended.
Before purchasing an ASIC, conduct independent research on future prospects. This will require, among other things:
You’ll also need to set up an installation site and learn about connection and maintenance procedures. Consider adequate ventilation, soundproofing, and electrical capacity.
Some companies offer rental space for ASICs and often provide maintenance services as well, which may be convenient for those lacking infrastructure.
You can find ASIC mining equipment on several platforms. The first option is buying directly from the manufacturer, which ensures authenticity and official warranty. The second is purchasing from authorized vendors—prices may be higher, but delivery is faster and may include local support. The third is purchasing a used ASIC miner.
Used ASIC miners are available on various marketplaces or specialized mining equipment platforms. This is suitable for those not seeking the latest models, as manufacturers rarely sell obsolete units. Older hardware is typically found only on the secondary market.
When buying used equipment, thoroughly check the hardware condition, request proof of operation, and, if possible, review its usage history to assess remaining lifespan and maintenance needs.
The top ASIC miners for 2025 are the Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro, Bitmain Antminer KS5 Pro, and Bitmain Antminer L9. These models deliver exceptional energy efficiency and peak mining performance for Bitcoin and Litecoin.
Popular ASIC models mainly differ in hash rate and energy efficiency. The Antminer S19 Pro delivers 110 TH/s at 29.5 J/TH, while the AVALONminer 1246 offers balanced performance. Your choice should depend on your budget and mining objectives.
Profitability depends on hashrate and energy efficiency. Models like the Bitdeer Seal Miner A2 Pro Hydro (500–530 TH/s, 14.9 J/TH) deliver excellent returns. Return on investment will fluctuate with Bitcoin price and local energy costs.
A high-quality ASIC miner in 2025 typically costs $8,200–10,000. Pricing depends on the model, manufacturer, and technical specs. Professional Bitmain models average around $9,200.
The most efficient ASIC miners—such as the Antminer S19 Pro—consume about 3,250 W at 29.5 J/TH. These devices are optimized to maximize mining output per watt.
Purchase from reputable platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Alibaba. Look for sellers with strong reviews, original certifications, and manufacturer warranties. Avoid suspiciously low prices, which may indicate refurbished or counterfeit equipment.
Evaluate hash power, power consumption, and thermal efficiency. These factors will determine your mining performance and operating costs.
ASIC miners typically last 2 to 5 years, depending on maintenance and operating conditions. With proper care, some devices can exceed this range.
SHA-256 ASICs are used for Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. Scrypt ASICs are suitable for Litecoin. X11 ASICs mine Dash. Each ASIC type is tailored to specific algorithms, determining which coins your hardware can mine.











