With a cost of $3000 per machine, this is a hefty initial outlay, particularly in a bear market. However, what is likely to put off all but the most deeply invested miners is the fact that it’s only possible to order this Scrypt miner in batches of three at a time.
It runs on 1500w of power with a hash rate of 1230Mh/s. The Innosilicon A4 LTCMaster is Litecoin mining hardware only for the most hardcore miners. However, the initial outlay of nearly $1,000 means that it will swallow up profits for longer than the Antminer.
Therefore, it may provide a more profitable option than the Antminer hardware over a longer period of time. Reflecting its status as a more serious piece of kit, the Bittech L1 consumes 2600w of power to run a hash rate of 2600Mh/s. It’s a more sophisticated piece of Litecoin mining hardware, albeit at a far higher price than the Antminer ASICs. The Bittech L1 is a brand new Scrypt ASIC released in August of this year. If buying on Amazon, it may be possible to obtain a bundle with the power supply included. Models shipped directly from Bitmain do not have a power supply, so you must purchase it separately. It’s important to check whether or not the power supply is included when purchasing the Antminer 元+ or 元++. There are two models of the previous version, the Antminer 元+, that run on 850w with a hash rate of 600Mh/s, or 800w for 504Mh/s. However, there are older versions still on sale. The Antminer 元++ is the newest version of the Antminer Scrypt ASIC. Bitmain is the provider manufacturing and selling the Antminer hardware. This makes it excellent value for the money among Scrypt ASICs. Although another model of Litecoin mining hardware operates with a higher hash rate (see below), the Antminer 元++ currently retails for less cost on Amazon at under $400. It runs on 942w of power at a hash rate of 580mH per second. Among the options available, the consensus is that the best Litecoin mining hardware available on the market today is the Antminer 元++ ASIC.īalancing value for money against power consumption and hash rate (the speed at which the miner can mine the next block), the Antminer 元++ is definitely worth considering – particularly for those newer to the mining game. There are far fewer options for Litecoin mining hardware compared to what available for mining bitcoins. However, in 2018, it’s the only possible way that a miner can realistically compete for block rewards. Of course, this is a more expensive option than was previously available when GPU mining was possible. Since ASIC use has become so predominant in cryptocurrency mining, it is unfortunately no longer competitive enough to mine Litecoin in 2018 using a CPU or GPU.įor this reason, anyone looking at the best Litecoin mining hardware for 2018 needs to purchase a Scrypt ASIC miner. This means you could also put a Scrypt ASIC to use mining other cryptocurrencies that use the Scrypt algorithm, for example, Dogecoin.Įven as late as 2017, it was still possible to mine Litecoin using a CPU or GPU. Litecoin mining hardware operates on the Scrypt mining algorithm. The next halving of Litecoin block rewards will be on August 7, 2019. Like Bitcoin, Litecoin undergoes a halving periodically, which helps the coin keep its value. Block rewards for mining Litecoin are currently 25 LTC per block. Therefore, there are four times as many opportunities to mine a Litecoin block than a Bitcoin block. Litecoin block mining happens every two and a half minutes in contrast to Bitcoin where a block is mined every ten minutes. Notably, Litecoin mining operations are somewhat less saturated than Bitcoin ones. However, mining Litecoin has some differences that could be advantageous.
While the value of Bitcoin is significantly higher than Litecoin, it may seem like Bitcoin is the more attractive option. Check a profitability calculator and make sure you know what you are getting into. Additionally, you want to ensure that the profits you earn cover the costs of investing in your equipment. If the price of the coin you are mining goes down, you may end up paying more for the energy to run your mining rig than you will gain from the profits it generates. This can be the case when mining Bitcoin, Litecoin, or any of the other cryptocurrencies.īefore investing in any mining hardware, be aware of the risks. The energy costs in many countries mean that the costs of running a rig can outweigh the profits available. The prolonged bear market has made it difficult for miners in 2018. If you think you’re about ready to invest in Litecoin mining hardware, then you’re in the right place, as our guide rounds up the best options available in 2018. Not only does it involve financial outlay on the mining setup, but you should also understand the game enough to remain sufficiently competitive. Mining the major cryptocurrencies using hardware these days can take some serious investment.