Buying ASIC Miners: New or Used?

The BTC is keeping at a steady price of $110,000+ (exactly $114K, as of late October 2025). And ASICs allow any interested cryptocurrency enthusiast, no matter the knowledge, skill, or experience, to join the pool simply by getting an all-in-one, hash-optimized device. 

If you have been looking for accessible ways to start mining with an ASIC, you might already know about pools, colocations, and cloud hostings. The ultimate cost-saving measure, however, is getting a used ASIC machine, which is re-sold on the market at a depreciated price. 

So the question we’ll try to answer with this article: Is it worth buying an ASIC miner in a new shiny wrapper? Or, perhaps, you’re better off saving with a used machine? Let’s take a look at both considerations and draw an objective conclusion.

New ASIC Miners

Buying a brand new ASIC miner directly from the manufacturer or authorized reseller means you’re getting the latest technology with some of the latest performance and efficiency specs. New ASIC miner releases are meant to deliver higher hashrates per watt, which allows them to outperform older generations by major percentages, across all metrics. 

But more importantly, you gain more peace of mind with a new unit being delivered to your doorstep by the manufacturer or reseller, with a warranty in place. There is no leftover wear and tear on the box, no compromised hashboards, and full transparency in performance metrics in your ASIC. But let’s sum it up.

Advantages of new units

• Maximum performance and efficiency — latest-generation chips enclosed in top-of-the-line ASIC boxes with advanced cooling deliver higher hashrates per watt.
• No wear and tear — fresh components coming straight out-of-the-box are naturally better, guaranteeing stabler work and longer lifespan.
• Warranty coverage — the manufacturer usually provides a 6–12 months warranty for repairs or replacements, with options varying from brand to brand.
• Better firmware and software support — apart from newer components, you also get the newest updates, optimizations, and security patches.
• Higher resale value — if need be, you can easily resell a newer model at a prime cost, especially if you put out your offer before the next generation is released.
• Lower maintenance risk — new ASICs shouldn’t pose issues with overheating, chip degradation, or fan failures for the longest time.

Cost considerations

On another end of the story, one big potential obstacle in getting new miners is their steep price. High-end units like Bitmain’s Antminer S21 or MicroBT’s WhatsMiner M66 can cost thousands of dollars each, sometimes exceeding $5,000 per unit. 

When the crypto market is going through demand spikes (due to growing crypto profitability across the market), the prices can go even higher and make it difficult for solo miners to break even quickly. This is why it’s important to calculate ROI based on your local electricity rate, BTC price, and network difficulty before making any ASIC investments.

Warranty and support

Keep in mind also that new ASIC miners often come with a 6–12 month manufacturer warranty, covering hardware defects and operational failures under standard use. This warranty can be crucial if a hashboard or control board fails early — repairs or replacements can be extremely costly otherwise. 

More than that, by buying ASIC miners with full warranty, you also get: 

• access to official support channels
• easy-to-purchase spare parts
• regular firmware updates directly from the producer

Used ASIC Miners

Purchasing a used ASIC unit allows you to save money due to the older model’s cost depreciation. At the same time, the unit itself may still be well worth it, with competitive performance rates achievable after some fine-tuning and overclocking. 

This is what makes used models so attractive for individual consumers, especially those who would rather invest some time into tinkering than money into overhead investments. However, there’s always a flipside to the bargain, so it’s important to keep both pros and cons in mind.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Lower upfront cost — naturally, older machines are cheaper than new models, sometimes more than half as much.
• Faster ROI — if you keep a used unit running reliably, you can start returning money almost instantly.
• Widely available — used ASICs are pretty easy to find on secondary markets.
• Depreciation already absorbed — the resale value for used models doesn’t really grow over time.
• Good for trying waters — you can use an older ASIC to test your mining options (e.g., coins and pools) or run a small-scale setup before scaling up.
  

Cons:

• Higher failure risk — used hardware may easily come with worn chips, fans, or PSUs from continuous use.
• Lower energy efficiency — older models consume more power per TH, and there aren’t really workarounds for it (except for cheap energy regionally).
• Shorter lifespan — while an older ASIC can still generate a good share of profits, it is limited in its operational time due to existing wear and tear.
• Potential hidden damage — there can be surprises left from overheating or poor maintenance.
• No or limited warranty —due to inherently limited warranted for used hardware, it can be quite costly to repair it.

Price savings vs risks

With used hardware, mind potential hashboard failures, overheating, and PSU issues. Before buying anything, go beyond the sticker price — compare the total cost of ownership, including repairs, downtime, and potential inefficiency.

“ASIC miners are capital equipment, which means they lose value fast as newer, more efficient models hit the market.’

With used ASIC miners for sale, your best bet would be to buy lightly used units, and only from reliable sources. Another pro tip is to avoid cheap yet heavily used hardware from industrial-scale farms — better buy from other solo or small-scale miners who are upgrading.

Safety and Verification

Whichever route you choose to take — ASIC miner new or ASIC miner used scenario — be sure to approach deals with caution and require warranties. 

Avoiding scams and fraud

The ASIC resale market is full of traps. Scammers tend to post fake listings or even complete full shipments of faulty or non-functioning devices. So when choosing a used ASIC miner for sale, make sure to:

1. Always avoid peer-to-peer deals without escrow
2. Never pay in crypto unless you’ve verified the seller
3. Check for serial numbers and original packaging
4. Go through performance logs before completing any transaction

Trusted sellers

Where to buy used ASIC miners? When possible, buy from verified resellers or established mining equipment marketplaces. And if you want a higher level of service at no extra costs, turn to a personalized provider like EZ Blockchain. EZ will help you buy, host, and scale ASICs in one place. 

Financial Considerations

Both new and used ASIC miners can be profitable, ROI-safe investments. But the best choice fully depends on your goals, budget, and electricity rates. New miners are difficult to beat in performance, they pack an official warranty, but they also come at a premium cost. 

A used miner, in turn, you can leverage for quick, cost-efficient entry to the mining market. While it may require more tech effort and risk management, the used ASIC’s ROI is mostly due to its price depreciation.

ROI and depreciation

Deemed as capital equipment that generates valuable assets, ASIC miners lose their own value fast as newer, more efficient models hit the market. A new unit might depreciate up to half of its price within the first year. But the interesting thing is that used machines absorb most of that loss over time. 

In simpler words, you can still get a good ROI but for the trade-off of shorter operational lifespan and higher maintenance costs. A well-maintained used miner can sometimes outperform a new one in ROI terms, provided your electricity costs are low.

Whatever the case, you will need individual calculations here. To estimate the potential ROI, consider:

• Miner hashrate in TH/s (for TeraHash per second)
• Power consumption in W (for Watts)
• Electricity cost in $/kWh (for investments per kiloWatts per hour)
• BTC price and mining difficulty

Energy efficiency comparison

Today’s ASIC miners are tuned for energy-efficient performance, so they beat older models by a mile. For example:

• Antminer S21 designed in 2024: ~17.5 J/TH
• WhatsMiner M30S designed back in 2020: ~38 J/TH
  

So when calculating the ROI, power efficiency should be a priority. Here’s another estimate example:

As you can see, new machines can turn long-term profits at lower electricity costs for hashing. In turn, used ASICs would require significantly cheaper energy for profits higher than break-even points. 

Is it worth buying ASIC miners for your goals? Talk to EZ Blockchain to consult with experts, get a personal estimation, and buy an ASIC that will turn profits. 

FAQ

Should I buy a new or used ASIC?

If you’re new to mining, starting with a used unit from a verified reseller can be a practical way to learn the ropes. For professional or large-scale miners, investing in the latest generation is your bet on long-term efficiency and competitiveness. 

How do I verify used miners are genuine?

Above all, make sure the manufacturer or reseller is legit. Check the serial number with the manufacturer, request performance logs or live hashrate videos, and buy only from verified marketplaces that support escrow protection.

Is the ROI lower for used units?

Not always — used miners have lower upfront costs, but their higher power usage and shorter lifespan can cut down long-term profitability. Especially if your electricity is expensive.

What are the risks of buying used?

With a used ASIC, you may be looking at potential hardware degradation, hidden damage, lack of warranty, and potential scams. So make sure to always inspect or test drive an ASIC before purchase.

Do new ASICs come with warranties?

Yes, most new miners, like those offered by EZ Blockchain, include a 6–12 month manufacturer warranty covering defects and operational failures under normal use.