MicroBT gearing up to launch latest Whatsminer rig: report

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China-based crypto miner manufacturer MicroBT is set to launch its newest version of the Whatsminer series. According to a 8BTC report, the new Whatsminer M30S claims some of the highest hash rates on the market with relatively comparable energy consumption rates.

Wu Gang, CEO of Bixin and a shareholder of MicroBT, posted on popular Chinese chat app WeChat that Whatsminer would soon launch the M30S, which delivers 81 tera hashes per second (TH/s) with power consumption at 38 watts per tera hashes. If the reported specifications are accurate, the M30S would be superior to Bitmain’s flagship model Antminer S17 Pro in terms of power consumption. 

Wu also added that M30S adopts Samsung’s 8nm chips. Concerns immediately arose whether the company could make the delivery on time. Its chip supplier Samsung can only import a limited number of EUV devices needed by its 8nm chips due to the Japan-South Korea Trade War.

Founded in July 2016 by former Bitman director Yang Zuoxing, MicroBT is considered by some as the most efficient hardware manufacturer and the most competitive challenger of Bitmain in the mining market for its cutting-edge mining rigs. The company made a name for itself in 2017 after its M3 became a hit as its performance could compete with industry best-seller Antminer S9.

Yang’s former ties with Bitmain have been a source of trouble for the CEO. He has reportedly been held by Shenzen police to assist in an open investigation over IP disputes with Bitmain. Yang was accused of taking away all the S9 codes after leaving his job, as well as leaking the code to other mining machine manufacturers, leading to other manufacturers quickly catching up with Bitmain. 

This situation is not the first legal dispute to arise between Yang and his former employer. Bitmain once sued Yang for alleged infringement of a patent that Bitmain was granted for bitcoin miner-related technology. In 2018, Yang’s legal team successfully appealed to have the patent revoked. If the new allegation turns out to be accurate, Yang could face between three and seven years in prison, according to a report by Chinese news publication 8BTC.