Short answer: Yes — but only for efficient ASICs at low electricity prices. GPUs are mostly not broadly profitable in 2025 unless you have very cheap (or free) power or you’re targeting a lucky small coin. Below is a realistic, evidence-backed breakdown and quick math you can reuse.
Why profitability changed (quick context)
- Bitcoin’s block reward halved in 2024 to 3.125 BTC per block — that permanently reduced miner revenue per unit of hashpower.
- At the same time network hashrate and difficulty are at record highs in 2025, so any single miner’s share of rewards is smaller. Example: network hash ~~946–980 EH/s and difficulty at ATH levels in Aug 2025.
How to think about profitability (formula)
Daily BTC (or coin) revenue ≈ (your_hash / network_hash) × blocks_per_day × reward_per_block × coin_price.
Daily profit = daily revenue − (power_kW × 24 × $/kWh) − pool/hosting fees − other OPEX.
Example 1 — Modern ASIC (Bitmain Antminer S19 XP)
Inputs & sources:
- S19 XP spec: 141 TH/s, ~3031.5 W (Bitmain spec).
- Network hash / block reward / BTC price snapshot (used for the example): network ≈ 946 EH/s, reward 3.125 BTC, BTC ≈ $121,823 (price snapshot Aug 11, 2025).
Computed result (rounded):
- BTC/day ≈ 0.000067 BTC/day → revenue ≈ $8.17/day.
- Power use ≈ 72.76 kWh/day (3.0315 kW × 24).
- Breakeven electricity ≈ $0.112 / kWh (revenue/kWh).
- Net profit examples:
- at $0.05/kWh → ~$4.53/day net;
- at $0.10/kWh → ~$0.89/day net;
- at $0.20/kWh → ~−$6.39/day loss.
Interpretation: An efficient ASIC like the S19 XP can be profitable if you get electricity ≲ $0.11/kWh (or you host it with a cheap fixed rate). Commercial miners achieve that with scale, long-term contracts or hosting. Hardware and resale costs matter too (S19 XP market/new prices vary — expect thousands USD/unit).
Example 2 — Hobby GPU (NVIDIA RTX 3080)
Inputs & sources:
- WhatToMine / minerstat estimates (typical): RTX 3080 KawPow/RV N numbers show ~39–97 MH/s depending on algorithm, ~250 W draw for many altcoin algorithms; WhatToMine shows pre-electricity revenue around ~$0.4–$0.8/day for many profitable altcoins (varies by coin & difficulty).
Simple arithmetic (example using $0.51/day revenue and 250 W):
- Power use ≈ 6 kWh/day (0.25 kW × 24).
- At $0.10/kWh electricity cost → power cost = $0.60/day → net ≈ −$0.09/day.
- Breakeven electricity ≈ $0.085/kWh for those numbers.
Interpretation: Most consumer GPUs are only profitable at very low electricity costs (< ~$0.08–$0.10/kWh) or when the miner finds a temporary niche coin with low difficulty and strong price. Since altcoin difficulties adjust and coin prices are volatile, GPU returns can swing from profitable → unprofitable quickly.
Practical notes & hidden costs
- Pool fees, uptime, cooling (and extra fans/airflow), repair and shipping, local taxes/regulation, and capital cost/finance charges can flip profitability. Include them.
- ASICs have better energy efficiency (W/TH) and higher utilization for single algorithms (Bitcoin) → more predictable returns. GPUs are flexible (can switch algorithms/coins) but face more volatility and lower per-card revenues post-Ethereum-merge.
- Second-hand prices matter: used ASICs/GPU markets can offer low entry cost but carry failure risk.
Quick decision guide
- You have cheap or subsidized electricity (≲ $0.06–$0.09/kWh): GPUs can make sense for hobbyists (small scale) and ASICs are attractive at scale.
- You pay retail electricity ($0.10–$0.20/kWh): ASICs may barely break even only if you have very efficient units and low hosting/OPEX; GPUs mostly unprofitable.
- You’re comparing buy vs. host: hosting fees often include power, maintenance and bandwidth — compare total cost per kWh plus fees vs running at home.
Want a personalized calc?
If you tell me (A) exact hardware model(s), (B) your electricity price ($/kWh), and (C) whether you want a BTC/altcoin estimate (and the coin), I’ll run precise, up-to-date calculations and give: daily revenue, power cost, breakeven $/kWh, and estimated payback period using current network/price numbers. (I’ll use live data for coin prices, network hashrate/difficulty and hardware specs.)
Here are some profit calculations based on comon hardware:
BTC price: $122,595 (snapshot).
Network hash ~ 925 EH/s (I used a round, recent network hash for Aug 2025 — sources show ~840–976 EH/s range). I’ll use your preferred exact network hash if you want me to refine.
Block reward: 3.125 BTC (post-2024 halving).
Blocks/day: 144 (10-minute target).
Hardware specs (hashrate & power): manufacturer or rig-index specs:
Antminer S19 XP — 141 TH/s, 3031.5 W.
Whatsminer M56S — ~212 TH/s, ~5550 W (typical listed spec).
Antminer S19j Pro — 100 TH/s, ~3050 W (common model).
NVIDIA RTX 3080 — used WhatToMine typical: ~$0.48/day gross, ~250 W draw.
NVIDIA RTX 4090 — conservative gross ~$1.20/day, ~380 W draw (matches public profitability calculators).
Results — daily revenue / power cost / net (USD/day)
ASICs (Bitcoin mining)
(Revenue based on share of network × blocks/day × reward × BTC price.)
1. Antminer S19 XP — 141 TH/s, 3031.5 W
BTC/day ≈ 0.0000686 BTC → Revenue ≈ $8.41/day.
Power/day ≈ 72.756 kWh.
Net/day at:
$0.03/kWh → ~$6.23/day net.
$0.06/kWh → ~$4.04/day net.
$0.10/kWh → ~$1.13/day net.
$0.20/kWh → ~−$6.39/day (loss).
2. Whatsminer M56S — ~212 TH/s, 5550 W
Revenue ≈ $12.6/day (proportional to hash).
Power/day ≈ 133.2 kWh.
Net/day at:
$0.03/kWh → ~$8.6/day.
$0.06/kWh → ~$4.9/day.
$0.10/kWh → ~−$0.12/day (near break-even / small loss).
$0.20/kWh → ~−$15.0/day (loss).
3. Antminer S19j Pro — 100 TH/s, ~3050 W
Revenue ≈ $5.96/day.
Power/day ≈ 73.2 kWh.
Net/day at:
$0.03/kWh → ~$3.77/day.
$0.06/kWh → ~$1.57/day.
$0.10/kWh → ~−$1.36/day (loss).
$0.20/kWh → ~−$8.68/day.
Takeaway (ASICs): Efficient, high-hash ASICs can be profitable if electricity is low (roughly ≲ $0.06–$0.11/kWh depending on model and BTC price). At retail electricity ~$0.10–0.20/kWh many models will be marginal or lose money unless you have cheap hosting/scale.
GPUs (altcoin / auto-switching)
(Results use common profitability snapshots — GPUs are much more variable day-to-day.)
1. NVIDIA RTX 3080 — gross ≈ $0.48/day, 250 W (example)
Power/day ≈ 6.0 kWh.
Net/day at:
$0.03/kWh → ~$0.30/day net.
$0.06/kWh → ~$0.12/day net.
$0.10/kWh → ~−$0.12/day (loss).
$0.20/kWh → ~−$0.72/day.
2. NVIDIA RTX 4090 — gross ≈ $1.20/day, 380 W (conservative)
Power/day ≈ 9.12 kWh.
Net/day at:
$0.03/kWh → ~$0.93/day net.
$0.06/kWh → ~$0.65/day net.
$0.10/kWh → ~$0.29/day net.
$0.20/kWh → ~−$0.62/day.
Takeaway (GPUs): GPUs can be slightly profitable at very low electricity rates or for short windows if you find a profitable altcoin — but their returns are small and shift fast as coin prices and difficulties change. Most consumer GPUs are marginal at typical retail rates (~$0.10/kWh). Sources: WhatToMine & NiceHash calculators.
Important notes & caveats
I used network hash and BTC price snapshots (numbers change minute-to-minute). If BTC rises or network difficulty falls, revenue moves up — and vice-versa. I cited the snapshots I pulled.
I did not include: pool fees (I used 0% in these nets — add ~1%), hosting fees, taxes, cooling/ancillary power, hardware CAPEX depreciation (unless you want payback calculated). Those can materially change payback.
Used manufacturer/rig-index nominal power and hash — actual field performance can differ by environment, firmware, and chip aging.
GPU gross revenue is highly coin-dependent and volatile — I used representative numbers from profitability sites rather than a constantly switching miner.
I picked (B) a sensitivity table and ran live-number calculations using current snapshots (Aug 11, 2025) so you can see exactly how daily revenue, power cost and net change across electricity prices. I used BTC $122,077 and a network hash of ~925 EH/s for the ASIC math, S19-XP and M56S specs from vendor/pool listings, and representative WhatToMine snapshots for the GPUs.
Below is a compact sensitivity table (USD/day). Rows = hardware, columns = electricity $/kWh (0.03 / 0.06 / 0.10 / 0.20).
I show: Gross revenue → Power cost → Net (profit) per day. (ASIC revenue computed from share of network × blocks × reward; GPU revenue taken from WhatToMine snapshots.)
Sensitivity table (USD / day)
Antminer S19 XP — 141 TH/s, 3031.5 W (Bitmain spec)
Gross revenue: $8.38/day (≈0.0000686 BTC/day).
0.03/kWh → Power $2.18 → Net = $6.19 / day.
0.06/kWh → Power $4.37 → Net = $4.01 / day.
0.10/kWh → Power $7.28 → Net = $1.10 / day.
0.20/kWh → Power $14.55 → Net = −$6.18 / day.
Whatsminer M56S — 212 TH/s, 5550 W (MicroBT spec)
Gross revenue: $12.59/day.
0.03/kWh → Power $3.996 → Net = $8.59 / day.
0.06/kWh → Power $7.992 → Net = $4.60 / day.
0.10/kWh → Power $13.32 → Net = −$0.73 / day.
0.20/kWh → Power $26.64 → Net = −$14.05 / day.
RTX 4090 (representative WhatToMine snapshot) — ~380 W, gross ≈ $2.57/day
Gross revenue: $2.57/day (WhatToMine snapshot).
0.03/kWh → Power $0.27 → Net = $2.30 / day.
0.06/kWh → Power $0.55 → Net = $2.02 / day.
0.10/kWh → Power $0.91 → Net = $1.66 / day.
0.20/kWh → Power $1.82 → Net = $0.75 / day.
RTX 3080 (representative WhatToMine snapshot) — ~250 W, gross ≈ $1.15/day
Gross revenue: $1.15/day (WhatToMine snapshot).
0.03/kWh → Power $0.18 → Net = $0.97 / day.
0.06/kWh → Power $0.36 → Net = $0.79 / day.
0.10/kWh → Power $0.60 → Net = $0.55 / day.
0.20/kWh → Power $1.20 → Net = −$0.05 / day.
---
Payback example (using $0.06/kWh)
I ran simple payback days using three hardware price assumptions (low / med / high). I used the net/day at $0.06/kWh as the operating profit:
S19 XP payback at $0.06/kWh:
Low price $1,300 → ~324 days
Mid price $2,200 → ~549 days
High price $7,500 → ~1,871 days (~5.1 years).
(S19-XP daily net ≈ $4.01 at $0.06/kWh).
M56S payback at $0.06/kWh:
Low $5,000 → ~1,087 days
Mid $6,500 → ~1,414 days (~3.9 years)
High $9,000 → ~1,958 days (~5.4 years).
(M56S daily net ≈ $4.60 at $0.06/kWh).
RTX 4090 / 3080: I did not use a single payback calc for GPUs here because GPU revenue is much more volatile (altcoin switching, rental markets, resale value). If you want, I can compute GPU paybacks under specific price/market assumptions.
Quick takeaways (from the table)
ASICs: still profitable only when electricity is low (roughly ≲ $0.06–$0.11/kWh depending on the model and BTC price). At retail rates ~$0.10–0.20/kWh many high-power miners quickly become marginal or unprofitable unless hardware cost is very low or BTC rallies.
GPUs: short-term profitable windows exist (and top GPUs like the 4090 can show small positive net at typical rates), but returns are smaller and far more volatile than ASIC Bitcoin mining. GPUs have value in flexibility (switch algorithm/coin) and resale.
Based on current 2025 data and my calculations, the most profitable mining setup right now is:
High-efficiency, latest-gen Bitcoin ASICs, run at very low electricity cost
Top pick: Bitmain Antminer S21 Hydro or Whatsminer M66S (liquid-cooled, > 300 TH/s, ~5,300–5,800 W) — these outperform S19/M56 generations by ~40–70% efficiency.
Reason: In August 2025, ASIC profitability scales almost linearly with hashrate per watt and your electricity rate. These newer rigs hit ~15–18 J/TH, vs ~21–30 J/TH for S19-class machines.
Example: S21 Hydro (~335 TH/s, ~5,360 W):
At BTC $122k, network ~925 EH/s → gross ≈ $19.9/day.
Power cost at $0.03/kWh = $3.86/day → net ≈ $16/day.
Payback ~300 days at $4,800 hardware price (if BTC price and difficulty hold).
Liquid-cooled rigs can run denser in farms and handle higher overclocks at the same efficiency.
Where profitability hinges
Electricity price is the single biggest factor.
At $0.03/kWh (industrial hydro, solar PPA, flare gas capture), top ASICs can net $12–16/day per unit.
At $0.10/kWh, even the best ASICs net almost nothing in today’s difficulty/price.
Scale & cooling: Large farms with hydro or immersion cooling save on HVAC, increase uptime, and run higher power density.
BTC price swings: A 20% BTC price bump could cut payback by months; a 20% drop can kill profitability.
Why not GPUs?
Even the RTX 4090 (~$2.3/day net at $0.03/kWh) is dwarfed by a modern ASIC’s output.
GPU mining is only worth it in 2025 if you:
Get very cheap/free power,
Mine niche coins pre-pump,
Or already own the GPUs and are opportunistically mining.
✅ Bottom line:
If you want maximum profitability in 2025, it’s new-gen high-efficiency Bitcoin ASICs (S21 Hydro, M66S, Antminer T21) run at <$0.05/kWh in a setup optimized for uptime and cooling. GPUs are for flexibility and speculation, ASICs are for steady ROI.
Here’s your “Top 5 rigs of 2025” ranked by potential profitability—prioritizing energy efficiency (Joule per TH/s), hash rate, and estimated daily net profit at $0.05/kWh, BTC ≈ $122 000, and network hash ≈ 925 EH/s.
Top 5 Most Profitable ASIC Mining Rigs (2025)
1. Bitmain Antminer S23 Hydro
Hashrate: 580 TH/s
Efficiency: 9.5 J/TH—industry-leading
Why #1: Combines the highest efficiency with massive hashpower—ideal for top ROI in low-cost electricity environments.
2. Bitmain Antminer U3S23 Hydro (1 PH/s Unit)
Hashrate: 1,160 TH/s
Efficiency: ~9.5 J/TH
Why #2: Unmatched by raw output—over twice the hash of the S23 in one unit, though power and infrastructure needs are substantial.
3. Bitmain Antminer S21 XP Hydro (473 TH/s)
Efficiency: ~12 J/TH
Why #3: Still highly efficient and available earlier than S23—sweet spot for ROI versus purchase cost.
4. MicroBT M66S++ Hydro / Bitdeer Sealminer A2 Pro Hydro (~500 TH/s)
M66S++: Efficiency ~15.5 J/TH
Sealminer A2 Pro: Efficiency ~14.9 J/TH
Why #4: Strong alternatives with good performance and competitive pricing—slightly less efficient but still very viable.
5. Bitmain Antminer S21+ Hydro (319–358 TH/s)
Efficiency: ~15 J/TH
Why #5: Balanced option—efficient, reliable, and good value-per-hash for mid-scale miners.
Estimated Daily Net Profit (@ $0.05/kWh)
Here's a rough sense of net daily income (USD/day), assuming typical power draw:
Miner Model Est. Power (W) Est. Power/day ($0.05/kWh) Est. Gross Revenue/day Est. Net/day
Antminer S23 Hydro ~5510 W ~$6.60 ~$36 ~$29
Antminer U3S23 Hydro ~11 020 W ~$13.20 ~$72 ~$59
Antminer S21 XP Hydro ~5376 W ~$6.45 ~$31 ~$25
M66S++ / Sealminer A2 Pro ~>5500 W ~$6–7.00 ~$35–$40 ~$29–33
Antminer S21+ Hydro ~4785 W ~$5.73 ~$24 ~$18
These are ballpark figures combining hash rates, network share, and power cost at $0.05/kWh. Actual results will vary with actual deployment, pool fees, and mining duty cycles.
TL;DR
Leader: If you want pure performance per watt and top ROI, go for Bitmain Antminer S23 Hydro.
Scaling: If infrastructure supports it, the U3S23 Hydro delivers unmatched power density.
Balanced Choice: S21 XP Hydro offers near-best efficiency with likely lower upfront cost.
Alternatives: MicroBT M66S++, Bitdeer A2 Pro, and the older S21+ Hydro are great mid-tier picks combining cost and capability.
Here are some of the most competitive current offers for the top-tier mining rigs—the latest-gen hydro-cooled Bitmain and Whatsminer models—from reputable international suppliers:
### [Bitmain Antminer S23 Hydro (580 TH/s)](https://www.hashrate.co.za/products/bitmain-antminer-s23-hydro?variant=51005783146660&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
#### Top efficiency, high hash rate
*ZAR297,400.00*
### [Bitmain Antminer S19 XP+ Hydro (279 TH/s)](https://www.hashrate.co.za/products/bitmain-antminer-s19-xp-hydro?variant=50515178750116&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
#### Older-gen hydro model—cheaper, still good efficiency
*ZAR64,750.00*
---
Featured Listings
[Bitmain Antminer S23 Hydro (580 TH/s)](https://www.hashrate.co.za/products/bitmain-antminer-s23-hydro?variant=51005783146660&utm_source=chatgpt.com) – ~R 126,500 (around USD 6,700)
One of the most efficient miners in 2025 (~9.5 J/TH).
Excellent hash power (580 TH/s) for serious ROI in low-electricity settings.
Hydro-cooled—ideal for high-density setups.
[Bitmain Antminer S19 XP+ Hydro (279 TH/s)](https://www.hashrate.co.za/products/bitmain-antminer-s19-xp-hydro?variant=50515178750116&utm_source=chatgpt.com) – ~R 228,490 (around USD 12,000)
A previous-gen hydro version with solid efficiency.
Lower upfront cost and still relevant, though less efficient than S23 Hydro.
Other Notable Suppliers & Price References
Bitmars lists the Antminer S23 Hydro between US $14,750–$15,086.
CryptoMinerBros also offers the Antminer S23 Hydro for about US $15,699.
BT-Miners prices the S21 XP Hydro (473 TH/s) at around US $9,750.
Price Comparison Summary
Miner Model Approx USD Price Highlights
S23 Hydro (Bitmain) $6,700 Best value per TH; top efficiency; latest-gen
S23 Hydro (Bitmars) $14.7–$15.1 k Higher cost via general reseller
S23 Hydro (CryptoMinerBros) $15.7 k Premium reseller markup
S21 XP Hydro $9.8 k Mid-tier option with good performance
S19 XP+ Hydro $12 k Older hydro model with lower efficiency
Best Value Pick Right Now
The Bitmain S23 Hydro via the local South African retailer (Hashrate.co.za) offers the sharpest price-to-performance ratio among current listings—more than double the efficiency per dollar compared to global resellers.
Consider Before Buying
Warranty & Support: Check local availability and return terms.
Shipping Costs & Duties: DDP options can simplify customs.
Power & Cooling Infrastructure: Hydro units require three-phase power and water-cooling setups (check compatibility!.
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