ASIC ROI in 2026: S21 XP, S21 Pro, and Whatsminer M60S at Different Electricity Rates
At a hashprice of roughly $31.7 per PH/s per day, ASIC payback has stopped being a question of 'how many years' - for many models and tariffs, it stops happening at all. Here's the real breakeven point and payback period for three popular models based on data from August 12, 2026.
How This Was Calculated
Gross revenue = (hashrate in TH/s / 1000) x hashprice ($31.7/PH/day). Electricity cost = power draw in kW x 24 hours x tariff. Net profit = revenue minus electricity, excluding pool fees (typically 0-2.5%, which reduces income further). Payback period = ASIC price / daily net profit.
| Model | Hashrate | Efficiency | Power draw | Price (secondary market) | Breakeven point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antminer S21 XP | 270 TH/s | 13.5 J/TH | 3645 W | ~$5,700 | $0.098/kWh |
| Antminer S21 Pro | 234 TH/s | 15 J/TH | 3510 W | ~$3,500-5,000 | $0.088/kWh |
| Whatsminer M60S | 186 TH/s | 18.5 J/TH | 3441 W | ~$3,600-6,300 | $0.072/kWh |
Breakeven Point by Tariff
This is the electricity rate at which net profit hits zero - above it, mining is unprofitable regardless of timeframe:
- Antminer S21 XP (13.5 J/TH) - unprofitable above $0.098/kWh
- Antminer S21 Pro (15 J/TH) - unprofitable above $0.088/kWh
- Whatsminer M60S (18.5 J/TH) - already unprofitable above $0.072/kWh
At a typical Russian residential tariff of $0.05-0.06/kWh, all three models stay profitable. At a commercial tariff of $0.10-0.12/kWh, common in many US and European regions, all three models run at a loss at current hashprice.
Payback Period at $0.05/kWh
- Antminer S21 XP ($5,700): net profit ~$4.19/day - payback in about 3.7 years
- Antminer S21 Pro (~$4,200 average price): net profit ~$3.21/day - payback in about 3.6 years
- Whatsminer M60S (~$4,500 average price): net profit ~$1.77/day - payback in about 7 years
These timelines are notably longer than during BTC price rallies - at current hashprice, close to the breakeven point, payback depends heavily on future BTC price growth or network difficulty decline, not just hardware specs.
What This Means in Practice
- Efficiency matters more than hardware price. The S21 XP costs more than the M60S, but its 27% better efficiency means it stays profitable at a significantly higher electricity tariff
- At a tariff above $0.10/kWh, there's little point running these models right now - unless you're betting on future BTC price growth or a difficulty drop
- These calculations are static - hashprice and network difficulty change every two weeks, so payback needs regular recalculation, not a one-time check at purchase
For an exact calculation matched to your ASIC model and tariff, use POOL BTC's profitability calculator. Compare payout income across pools in our payout breakdown, or see the full list of pools in our big pool roundup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the calculations account for BTC price growth?
No, the calculations are static using the current price and hashprice as of August 12, 2026. BTC price growth or a difficulty decline will shorten the payback period; a price drop or difficulty increase will lengthen it.
Why is the price for S21 Pro and M60S shown as a range?
Unlike the S21 XP, secondary-market prices for these models vary more noticeably depending on seller, condition, and region - a range is shown instead of a single figure to avoid false precision.
Is it worth buying an ASIC at current hashprice?
This depends on your electricity tariff and planning horizon. With cheap power (under $0.06/kWh), payback remains reasonable. At commercial tariffs, you should either look for a cheaper location or wait for hashprice to improve.