How to Choose Your First Miner
There are roughly 30 ASIC models actively sold in 2026 across half a dozen manufacturers. Most beginners don’t need to evaluate them all — the right miner for you is determined by three inputs in sequence.
Step 1 — Establish your electricity rate
Before opening a single product page, find out what you actually pay per kWh. Look at your last electricity bill. Take the total cost and divide by the kWh consumed; ignore the headline rate and use the all-in number including fixed charges, taxes, and grid fees.
| Your $/kWh | What you can run profitably |
|---|---|
| ≤ $0.05 | Anything currently sold. Margins are healthy. |
| $0.05–$0.10 | Latest-generation ASICs only (Antminer S21, Whatsminer M60S, equivalent). Avoid older S19-era hardware. |
| $0.10–$0.15 | Hydro-cooled flagships only (S21 XP Hyd, M63 Hyd). Hosting is often more economical than home. |
| > $0.15 | Bitcoin mining at home is generally unprofitable. Consider hosting in a low-cost region or different algorithms (Kaspa, Aleo) with shorter payback windows. |
This single number eliminates 80% of the catalogue for most buyers.
Step 2 — Pick your algorithm focus
Bitcoin (SHA-256) is the default for a reason: it’s the most liquid, the most stable, and the network has the longest track record. For 95% of first-time miners, the answer is “Bitcoin.” But there are reasons to consider alternatives:
- Kaspa (kHeavyHash) — faster block times, more frequent payouts, different difficulty dynamics. IceRiver KS6 / Bitmain KS5 series.
- Aleo (Blake3) — newer chain, higher reward variance, more speculative. IceRiver AL3 or Goldshell AL Pro.
- Litecoin/Dogecoin (Scrypt, merged) — established, lower revenue per dollar of capex than Bitcoin in most conditions. Antminer L9.
- Alephium / RandomX (Monero) — niche, smaller markets, limited liquidity for the mined coins.
If you don’t have a specific reason to mine an alternative coin, mine Bitcoin. Diversification at this level is not a strategy — it’s just owning more equipment.
Step 3 — Pick your hardware tier
Within Bitcoin SHA-256, the catalogue stratifies into three tiers:
Entry: 90–140 TH/s, $1,500–$2,500
Older models (Antminer S19j Pro+, Whatsminer M50S+) at lower price points. Efficiency is in the 25–30 J/TH range. Reasonable as a learning purchase if your power is cheap. Marginal payback windows; fewer years of useful life remaining.
Mid: 150–250 TH/s, $3,000–$5,000
The Antminer S21 XP (270 TH/s, 13.5 J/TH) and Whatsminer M60S (186 TH/s) define this tier. Best dollar-of-revenue per watt for most home and small-commercial setups. The default recommendation for a serious first miner.
Pro / hydro-cooled: 350–500 TH/s, $7,000–$12,000
S21 XP+ Hyd, M63S Hyd, and similar. Lower J/TH (12–14), but require liquid cooling infrastructure. Only economic at scale or when your power is exceptionally cheap. Skip on a first purchase.
Step 4 — Home or hosted
This is a separate decision documented in our Home Mining vs Hosted Mining article. The short answer: if you have power below $0.06/kWh and tolerable noise/heat conditions, run at home. If your power is above $0.10/kWh, hosting is usually cheaper.
Step 5 — Run the numbers
Use our profitability calculator with the specific model you’re considering and your actual electricity rate. The output you want to see:
- Daily net > $3 (anything below means you’re paying yourself less than $90/month for the operational hassle).
- Payback period < 18 months (anything longer assumes the next halving doesn’t kill margins, which is risky).
If those numbers don’t appear on the model you’ve shortlisted, either step down to a cheaper rig or postpone until power costs or BTC price shift.
Step 6 — Where to buy (and what to watch for)
Five things to check before sending money to any reseller:
- Escrow option for first orders. Reputable resellers offer it; we offer it. If a vendor refuses, walk away.
- Warranty terms — clearly stated, in writing. Manufacturer warranties are typically 6–12 months on new units, voided by liquid cooling or by tampering. Resellers should pass through manufacturer warranty plus their own RMA process.
- Shipping insurance. A 6 kg miner getting damaged in transit is uninsured loss without it. Confirm freight insurance before you wire payment.
- Public pricing. Resellers quoting wildly different prices to different customers — or quoting only “DM for price” — are usually flexing on margin. Posted prices, even if higher, mean the vendor expects to compete on service.
- Real customer references. Ask for two recent buyers willing to confirm receipt. If a vendor can’t produce them, that’s information.
When you’ve narrowed down to a specific model, the catalogue shows current stock with hash rate, efficiency, and condition (new / refurbished). Bulk orders of five or more get a quote workflow with tiered pricing.