In the beginning there were only CPUs, then GPUs, to Bitcoin mining. Then came the mighty Asic in 2013, and with it, the “shoe box” form factor, which has become symbolic of the Bitcoin mines sector.

What’s coming then? Will the shoe box design continue by default for Bitcoin Mining Asics? Or will another form factor that looks like more traditional data center -servers win out?

ASIC producers are increasingly investing in the latter-or at least that a hydro-cooled server stand design becomes a significant part of Bitcoin mining fleets. In addition, they lean into “direct-to-chip” cooling for further efficiency gains.

Last September, Bitmain announced its model U3S21EXPH (a bit of a mouthful, EH?) Developed in a partnership with HUT 8. Its U3 design means a device takes three seats in a traditional server stand. Microbt soon followed his M63 Hydro series, just as Bitdeer’s Sealminer A2 Hydro Unit.

Subsequently, Auradine released its server rack model, AH3880, this March. Its U2 design, which occupies two server seats, is a little smaller, but it packs more hash rate per day. Space of 600 th/s (or 300 th/s per castle) versus Bitmain’s 860 th/s (286.66 th/s per castle).

Shoe box out

So what’s the matter with the change from the traditional shoe box? For Auradin, it’s about the customer’s demand.

“[Our new model is] Based on a lot of feedback that we got from our miner customers … we have worked with miners, even throughout the design process, ”said Auradine CSO Sanjay Gupta at the latest mining.” They indicated to us that they were looking for a high quality hydro -based mines. “

In his partnership with Bitmain for U3S21EXPH, “HUT 8 was instrumental in the custom design for the infrastructure, especially the U -Form factor, which is compatible with HPC style architecture,” HUT 8 -Leader of Investor relations Sue Ennis told Blockspace Last September. (More about the high -performance computer angle later).

The advantage of a server stand ASIC lies in standardization. Bitcoin mine workers are increasingly marshes in steps with the traditional data center industry, and this industry could see 40% adoption of direct fluid-to-chip cooling in 2026, according to data center developer Cyrus One.

If miners adopt this design, they can theoretically optimize their supply chains by converting on server design that will be the best practice in the Big-Boy Data Center sector.

This can make the building and repair of Bitcoin mines easier. And it can also make mining companies more quick if they want to flex out of bitcoin mining and for other types of calculation.

Enter AI and HPC

As with so much mining today, of course, Specter of AI threatens in the background.

If miners construct their data centers with traditional server compensation design, there is a minor pain point if they want to retrofit these places for AI and HPC loads. Of course, they still need to increase Sinws, the muscles and veins of their operations with more robust networks and electrical infrastructure, but server racks would provide a backbone to AI/HPC services that require less restructuring than older Bitcoin mines. As Ennis expressed it, the “U -Form factor … is compatible with HPC style architecture.”

Gupta that repeated this, said in our mining interview that “[The U form factor has] been used for the AI ​​Data Center. It’s easy to adjust. It has a tall [power] Density to that … [it] is also extremely relevant to AI data centers and we look at a common strategy between AI for HPC and Bitcoin mining. So the U -Form factor works well with it. “

Who buys it?

Perhaps it is unnecessary to say that the server stand factor for Bitcoin mining is still in its infant, and although there is a promise that such a design could win, there is no guarantee.

To start with Bitcoin mining workers, not only need to rework the inside of their mines, but also completely redirect their electrical infrastructure (which will be unlikely on existing mines).

Clollas Brad Cuddy, who runs hydro-cooled Asic-Mine Workers, Blockspace told in September last [server rack] Form factor. “But he said that U3S21EXPH’s voltage area is incompatible with certain electrical infrastructures used by miners with other Bitmain models.

“The limited range from 380 to 415 volts reduces its compatibility for retrofitting. I would have liked to see the tension area go up to 480 volts to allow for more interoperability with current infrastructure installations,” he said.

As such, we are likely to see miners integrate these devices in new places. Hytte 8 takes this approach with plans to host 15 EH/S by U3S21EXPH units for Bitmain (with the opportunity to buy) at its Vega, Texas place, which will start working in the 2nd quarter.

So far, Hytte 8 is the only public buyer of Bitmain’s U3S21EXPH. Gupta did not reveal which miners are under contract for its AH3880, but he said they include several industrial scales private and public miners. It would not be surprising to see Mara, one of Auradine’s most important partners, who has also invested up to $ 50 million in the company, adopts the model.

Should Hut 8’s Vega place run smoothly on Bitmain’s model, and if we assume that Mara wants to insert Auradine’s, public miners can lead where others will follow and we could see a new form factor slowly seep into modern mining design.