MicroBT Whatsminer M20S Recycling, Resale Value, and Disposal (2026)
Last updated: 30 April 2026
MicroBT Whatsminer M20S: recycling, resale, and end-of-life options
Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on April 2026
The MicroBT Whatsminer M20S (MicroBT, released 2019) is a SHA-256 ASIC weighing 13 kg, with a hashrate of 68 TH/s at 48 J/TH energy efficiency. This guide covers what to do with one at end of life: resale, scrap recovery, hosting, or controlled disposal.
Current resale market
Status: Uneconomic outside hosting. Common in Latin America secondary market.
Typical secondary-market resale: $200-380 USD. Original release price was $4000.
Active marketplaces for resale:
- Compass Mining - hosted-mining marketplace, accepts hardware trade-ins
- Kaboomracks - Telegram-based bulk-rig broker
- SunnySide Digital - secondary-market reseller
- [Direct manufacturer trade-in] - Bitmain, MicroBT, Canaan all run periodic buyback programmes
Scrap recovery value
If the unit is end-of-life, scrap recovery is the only legal path in most jurisdictions. Approximate recoverable materials per 13 kg unit:
- Aluminium chassis and heatsinks: ~70% of weight (9.1 kg) - LME spot ~$2.40/kg = ~$22
- Copper wiring and bus bars: ~5% of weight (0.65 kg) - LME spot ~$9.50/kg = ~$6
- PCB with gold connectors and tantalum capacitors: mixed-grade scrap, ~$8-25 per unit at integrated smelter
- Steel frame and fasteners: small amount
Total scrap recovery value: typically $15-50 per ASIC at modern integrated smelters (Aurubis, Umicore). Value is a fraction of any working resale price - sell working units before scrapping.
Hosting alternative
If your power cost is above $0.06/kWh and the unit is uneconomic at that price, hosting in a low-cost region (Texas, Paraguay, Ethiopia, Iceland) may extend earning life by 6-18 months. Hosting providers typically charge $0.06-$0.09/kWh fully landed. Check the J/TH efficiency against current Bitcoin difficulty before signing a hosting contract.
Legal disposal routes
ASICs are classified as WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) under EU Directive 2012/19/EU and most national equivalents. Disposal must go through a registered WEEE processor in:
- EU and UK: WEEE-registered ATF (Authorised Treatment Facility)
- US: R2 or e-Stewards certified electronics recycler
- Canada: provincial-EPR registered facility
- Australia: NTCRS registered processor
Cannot legally be placed in regular waste in any of the above jurisdictions.
Bitcoin e-waste data context
Per Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance research (2021, updated through 2024), the Bitcoin network generates an estimated 30.7 kt of e-waste per year from ASIC obsolescence. The MicroBT Whatsminer M20S contributes to this where it is scrapped rather than refurbished or hosted in a lower-cost region.
Sources
- MicroBT product specifications
- Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance: Bitcoin Mining Resource Centre
- LME copper, aluminium spot prices
- EU WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU
- Compass Mining secondary-market price tracker
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a MicroBT Whatsminer M20S worth on the secondary market?
Typical secondary-market resale is $200-380 USD as of April 2026. Original release price was $4000. Active marketplaces include Compass Mining, Kaboomracks, and SunnySide Digital.
Is the MicroBT Whatsminer M20S still profitable to mine with?
Uneconomic outside hosting. Common in Latin America secondary market.
How much scrap value does a MicroBT Whatsminer M20S have?
Approximately $15-50 per unit in recoverable aluminium (9.1 kg), copper (0.65 kg), and PCB precious metals. Working resale value is always higher than scrap, so sell first if the unit still functions.
How do I legally dispose of a MicroBT Whatsminer M20S?
As WEEE-classified electronic equipment, the MicroBT Whatsminer M20S must go through a registered WEEE processor (EU/UK), R2/e-Stewards certified recycler (US), or country-equivalent facility. Cannot be placed in regular waste in any major jurisdiction.