The recent decline in Bitcoin (BTC) price has pushed the majority of Bitcoin mining machines into unprofitable territory, according to data from Antpool. Nearly all Antminer models, except the newest generation, are now operating at or below break-even levels.
Based on Antpool’s profitability data, only three models — Antminer S23 Hydro, Antminer U3S23H, and Antminer S23e U2H — remain consistently profitable. These machines belong to Bitmain’s S23 series, launched last year and only began shipping this month. Even so, their profit margins are modest, averaging around $0.016 per terahash (TH/s) per day.
In contrast, many widely used models — including older Antminer units, Whatsminer M6 series, and several lesser-known brands — are now running at a loss. Even the Antminer S21, once considered a high-efficiency flagship, is reported to be barely profitable. Antpool and Antminer are both closely affiliated with Bitmain, one of the world’s largest mining hardware manufacturers.
Falling BTC Price Meets Rising Competition
Bitcoin recently fell below $75,000 before rebounding slightly toward the $78,500 region. This decline has reduced mining rewards relative to electricity costs, tightening margins across the industry. The pressure has intensified despite a temporary decline in network hashrate, partly caused by severe cold weather in parts of North America that forced some mining facilities to scale back or shut down operations.
However, the broader trend remains highly competitive. Bitcoin’s total hashrate is still hovering near record highs, with a new monthly average peak of 927.7 EH/s. While short-term drops in hashrate can slightly improve rewards per active machine, this effect has not been enough to offset the impact of lower prices and rising operational costs.
Profitability Gap Widens Across Hardware
Among current devices, Antminer S23 Hydro leads in efficiency, generating approximately $18.53 per day per unit. Meanwhile, the Antminer S21 earns only about $0.12 per day, and the Whatsminer M63S is estimated to be losing around $0.47 per day per machine.
Longer-term data paints an even more challenging picture. Average monthly mining revenue per TH/s has been declining steadily since August last year, with profitability trending toward the $1 per TH/s threshold. This continues a broader downturn that began after the 2022 market collapse — and notably, miners faced a “profitability crisis” even during Bitcoin’s record-high prices last year.
Miners Look Beyond Bitcoin
In response, many large mining companies have begun diversifying into high-performance computing (HPC) and AI services, aiming to reduce dependence on increasingly competitive Bitcoin mining operations.
Reflecting these pressures, shares of several publicly listed Bitcoin mining firms fell early this week, including MARA Holdings (-2.5%), Cleanspark (-6%), and HIVE Digital (-10%).
This article is provided for informational purposes only and reflects personal research. It does not constitute investment advice. Readers should conduct their own due diligence, and the author assumes no responsibility for any investment decisions.
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