ASIC Mining Hardware Liquidation Guide (2026): Resale, Hosting, Recycling

ASIC mining hardware liquidation - 2026 guide

Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on April 2026

Cryptocurrency mining hardware (ASICs) has a sharply finite economic life: as network difficulty rises and energy efficiency standards improve, older models drop out of profitability and have to be liquidated. This hub covers the four main routes - secondary resale, hosting in low-cost regions, scrap recovery, and controlled disposal - across 22 ASIC models from the major manufacturers.

ASIC model summary table

| Model | Year | Hashrate | J/TH | Current resale (USD) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Bitmain Antminer S21 | 2024 | 200 TH/s | 17.5 | $3200-4000 | | Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro | 2024 | 234 TH/s | 15 | $4800-6200 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M60 | 2024 | 170 TH/s | 18.5 | $3300-4200 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M60S | 2024 | 186 TH/s | 18.5 | $4400-5700 | | Canaan Avalon A1466 | 2024 | 150 TH/s | 21.5 | $2400-3200 | | IceRiver KS5L (Kaspa) | 2024 | 12 TH/s | 280 | $1100-1900 | | IceRiver KS0 (Kaspa) | 2023 | 0.1 TH/s | 650 | $30-60 | | IceRiver KS5 (Kaspa) | 2023 | 21 TH/s | 142 | $1400-2400 | | Goldshell LT7 (Litecoin/Doge) | 2023 | 9.05 TH/s | 360 | $900-1500 | | Bitmain Antminer S19 XP | 2022 | 140 TH/s | 21.5 | $1800-2800 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M50 | 2022 | 114 TH/s | 26 | $1100-1700 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M50S | 2022 | 126 TH/s | 26 | $1400-2100 | | Canaan Avalon A1366 | 2022 | 130 TH/s | 26 | $1300-1900 | | Goldshell Mini-Doge | 2021 | 0.185 TH/s | 1622 | $60-120 | | Bitmain Antminer S19 | 2020 | 95 TH/s | 34.5 | $400-650 | | Bitmain Antminer S19 Pro | 2020 | 110 TH/s | 29.5 | $550-900 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M30S | 2020 | 88 TH/s | 38 | $350-550 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M30S+ | 2020 | 100 TH/s | 34 | $450-700 | | Canaan Avalon A1166 | 2020 | 81 TH/s | 41 | $180-320 | | Bitmain Antminer S17 Pro | 2019 | 53 TH/s | 39.5 | $180-350 | | MicroBT Whatsminer M20S | 2019 | 68 TH/s | 48 | $200-380 | | Bitmain Antminer S9 | 2017 | 14 TH/s | 92.85 | $60-150 |

Liquidation route 1: secondary-market resale

The fastest route is sale to a secondary-market broker. Active marketplaces:

• Compass Mining (https://compassmining.io) - hosted mining + hardware sales
• Kaboomracks (Telegram broker) - bulk rig deals 10+ units
• SunnySide Digital (https://sunnyside.digital) - reseller
• Direct manufacturer trade-in - Bitmain, MicroBT, Canaan periodic buyback programmes
• eBay - retail-tier transactions, lower prices but immediate liquidity

Liquidation route 2: hosting in low-cost-power region

For units that are uneconomic at your local power cost but still functional, hosting in regions with cheap power can extend earning life by 6-18 months:

• Texas (US): ERCOT grid, $0.04-$0.06/kWh hosted rate
• Paraguay: Itaipu hydro, $0.04-$0.05/kWh
• Ethiopia: Hydroelectric expansion, $0.03-$0.05/kWh
• Iceland: Geothermal, $0.05-$0.07/kWh, geographic remoteness offsets gain
• Kazakhstan: $0.05-$0.07/kWh, regulatory uncertainty as of 2024

Compare hosting cost to break-even-power-cost for the model (function of J/TH and BTC price).

Liquidation route 3: scrap recovery

For end-of-life ASICs (typically generations 3+ behind current flagship), scrap recovery is the legal route. Material breakdown per typical 13kg ASIC:

• Aluminium chassis: ~9 kg, $22 at LME spot
• Copper wiring: ~0.7 kg, $7 at LME spot
• PCB precious metals (Au, Pd, Ta): $8-25 per unit at integrated smelter

Total: $35-55 per unit at modern integrated facilities (Aurubis, Umicore, Boliden).

Liquidation route 4: controlled disposal

ASICs classified as WEEE under EU Directive 2012/19/EU. Must go through:

• EU/UK: registered WEEE Authorised Treatment Facility
• US: R2 or e-Stewards certified electronics recycler
• Canada: provincial-EPR registered facility
• Australia: NTCRS registered processor

Cannot be placed in regular waste in any of the above jurisdictions.

Bitcoin mining e-waste context

Per Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (2021 study, updated through 2024), the Bitcoin network generates 30.7 kt of e-waste per year from ASIC obsolescence - approximately equivalent to the total annual IT and telecommunication equipment waste of the Netherlands.

Sources

• Bitmain, MicroBT, Canaan, IceRiver, Goldshell published specifications
• Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance: Bitcoin Mining Resource Centre
• Compass Mining secondary-market price tracker
• LME spot prices for aluminium, copper
• EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU