Bitmain, a leading global manufacturer of Bitcoin (BTC) application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), has officially launched its latest air-cooled BTC miner, the Antminer T21. The announcement was made on Twitter on October 26th, where Bitmain unveiled the Antminer T21 as a new air-cooling miner that can withstand high ambient temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius.
The global release of the Antminer T21 took place at the Blockchain Life 2023 Forum in Dubai, where Bitmain was a prominent “diamond sponsor.” Xmei Lin, Bitmain’s head of marketing, shared this information. The new mining device is expected to start shipping in January 2024, according to Bitmain’s spokesperson.
The Antminer T21 supports the SHA256 mining algorithm, which is used for mining proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, as well as forked coins such as Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Bitcoin SV (BSV). It offers a computing power of 190 terahashes per second and an energy efficiency ratio of 19 joules per terahash.
To sweeten the deal for potential buyers, Bitmain also offered an attractive price protection plan for those purchasing the Antminer T21. This plan is designed to support miners in case of a decline in cryptocurrency prices. Customers who purchase the Antminer T21 before November 25, 2023, can choose to be protected against the downside fluctuation of BTC price for a period of one month, three months, or six months. If the BTC price falls below the agreed strike price during the protected period, customers will receive compensation in cash immediately upon the triggering event.
Bitmain’s Antminer T21 is just one of the many mining devices produced by the company. Other firms, including Canaan, MicroBT, and Bitfury, also manufacture a diverse range of ASIC miners.
Canaan, formerly known as Avalon, was among the first companies in the world to release a Bitcoin mining ASIC in January 2013. This development enabled consumers to mine cryptocurrency on a mass scale due to a significant boost in hashing power compared to GPU and CPU setups. Ten years later, Canaan is still producing new mining machines, recently launching its new A14 series miners on its 10th anniversary.
Despite the continuous release of new mining devices, the ASIC industry has faced challenges in recent years. The price per terahash of ASIC miners has plummeted more than 80% from its peak in 2021 as of late 2022, primarily due to the influx of new miners flooding the market.
In anticipation of the Bitcoin halving in 2024, blockchain technology firm Blockstream sought to raise $50 million in August 2023 to purchase and store mining equipment on secondary markets. This move aimed to capitalize on the potential scarcity of mining equipment caused by the halving event.
Bitmain’s release of the Antminer T21 demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable mining solutions to the cryptocurrency industry. As the demand for mining equipment continues to grow, manufacturers will need to innovate to stay ahead of the competition and meet the industry’s evolving needs.
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