SUMMARY
Though cryptocurrencies are seen as viable alternatives to fiat currencies and as proof against inflation, most cryptocurrencies reveal your transaction history and holding to everyone in the network. It poses a privacy issue for users, and Zcash addresses the problem by giving control to its users. Zcash is a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin but with some additional beneficial features. Although the Zcash transaction data is available on a public blockchain like Bitcoin, users can protect their transactions through shielded addresses.
Thus, Zcash has attracted many eyeballs, and Zcash mining is also on the rise. When Antminer Z15 is already ruling the Zcash mining market, the launch of Antminer Z15 Pro is the talk of the town now. This blog will walk you through the Zcash basics and its algorithm, comparing top Zcash miners, a glimpse of Antminer Z15 Pro, and more.
Built on the original Bitcoin code base, Zcash was launched in 2016 as an advanced version of Bitcoin with significant improvements like shielded addresses. Initially, it was called Zerocoin, which became Zerocash and was eventually named Zcash. With shielded addresses, Zcash gives the additional benefit of confidential transactions and financial privacy, unlike Bitcoin. Thus, Zcash is as secure as Bitcoin but with financial privacy. In fact, Zcash was the first project to implement zk-SNARKs, a zero-knowledge cryptographic form that ensures excellent privacy compared to other digital currencies.
The zero-knowledge proof verifies transactions without exposing the sender, receiver and the transaction amount. Users can also choose to disclose selective features like transaction amounts in Zcash transactions for audit or other purposes. Moreover, since its launch in 2016, Zcash has continued to evolve. For instance, Zcash launched a unified address format in 2022, making Zcash transactions easier. Unified addresses enhance the interoperability of Zcash between wallets and exchanges, aiding the best user experience. Zcash is available on leading exchanges and digital wallets.
Like other crypto mining, Zcash mining also needs miners to validate transactions and add them to the blockchain network. Zcash also follows a Proof of Work (PoW) mechanism like Bitcoin to secure the network. PoW mechanism demands high computational power as miners must solve complex mathematical algorithms to identify a block. Miners compete against each other, and the one who solves the algorithm is rewarded with newly minted coins.
Earlier miners used Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to mine Zcash. But, since the launch of the Antminer Z9 mini in June 2018, many ASICs have been launched in the market, aiding network difficulty. Thus, miners started relying on ASIC for Zcash mining. That, in turn, paved the way for many new ASIC Zcash miners. Moreover, mining experts also recommend using ASIC miners for Zcash mining due to network difficulty.
The Equihash algorithm was developed to address the risk of centralized mining. For instance, in Bitcoin mining which uses the SHA-256 algorithm, a single ASIC miner can utilize half of the network’s mining power and take charge of the network if needed.
With the motive of decentralized mining, the Equihash algorithm was developed by Alex Biryukov and Dmitry Khovratovich, a part of the University of Luxembourg research group CryptoLUX. Equihash uses a Proof of Work (PoW) algorithm and provides a decentralized mining process and significant resistance to ASICs. Thus, ASIC miners are specifically designed for Equihash algorithms.
However, the Equihash algorithm demands extreme RAM requirements. Simply put, according to Equihash, the mining amount depends on your hardware memory.
Here are some of the characteristics of the Equihash algorithm:
Thus, overall, Equihash has the potential to evolve and enhance with better features meeting the customized needs of the projects.
Earlier, miners used CPUs and GPUs for mining Zcash. But, once ASICs were launched for Equihash mining, there was no looking back. Let’s discuss some of the Equihash miners used in the past.
Let’s compare Z15 and Z15 Pro to understand the features and functionalities better.
Bitmain launched Antminer Z15 for mining the Equihash algorithm with a maximum hash rate of 420ksol/s at a power consumption of 1510W with a power efficiency of 3.6J/KSol.
Specifications
| Model | Z15 |
| Algorithm | Cryptocurrency | EquiHash | ZEC |
| Hashrate（KSol/s) | 420 |
| Power on wall（Watt) | 1510 |
| Power efficiency on wall @25°C (J/Ksol) | 3.60 |
Hardware configuration
| Network connection mode | RJ45 Ethernet 10/100M |
| Miner Size (Length*Width*Height, w/o package), mm(1-1) | 245*132.5*290 |
| Net weight, kg(2-1) | 5.90 |
Environment Requirements
| Min | Typ | Max | |
| Working temperature（°C) | 0 | 25 | 40 |
| Storage temperature （°C) | -40 | 25 | 85 |
| Operation humidity(non-condensing), RH | 5% | 95% |
Check out: Bitmain Antminer Z15
Bitmain just launched Antminer Z15 Pro for Equihash mining with a maximum hash rate of 840ks0l/s at a power consumption of 2560W with an energy efficiency of 3.15J/KSol.
Specifications
| Model | Z15 Pro |
| Algorithm | Cryptocurrency | EquiHash | ZEC |
| Hashrate（KSol/s) | 840 |
| Power on wall（Watt) | 2560 |
| Power efficiency on wall @25°C (J/Ksol) | 3.15 |
Hardware configuration
| Network connection mode | RJ45 Ethernet 10/100M |
| Miner Size (Length*Width*Height, w/o package), mm(1-1) | 245*132.5*290 |
| Net weight, kg(2-1) | 5.90 |
Environment Requirements
| Working temperature(°C) | 0~40 |
| Storage temperature（°C） | -20~70 |
| Operation humidity(non-condensing), RH | ≤2000 |
Check out: Bitmain Antminer Z15 Pro
The future of Zcash mining depends directly on the Zcash price. The higher the price, the more miners mine and the more the profits. Let’s see the past price history of Zcash to determine the future of Zcash mining.
Source: Coinlore
However, we can’t predict the future of Zcash mining or its price as it depends on factors like market trends, network demands, regulatory environment, etc. Thus, miners should watch the market and play safe as they do with any other investment.
As Bitmain launches Antminer Z15 Pro, here is a comparison of top Zcash miners in the market.
Bitmain Antminer Z15 tops the list for mining the Equihash algorithm with a maximum hash rate of 420ksol/s at a power consumption of 1510W. It offers an energy efficiency of 3.6J/KSol.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Bitmain |
| Model | Antminer Z15 |
| Release | June 2020 |
| Size | 133 x 245 x 290mm |
| Weight | 9000g |
| Noise level | 72 db |
| Fan(s) | 2 |
| Power | 1510W |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Interface | Ethernet |
| Temperature | 5 – 45°C |
| Humidity | 5 – 95 % |
The next best is also from Bitmain. Antminer Z9 Mini, one of the early Equihash miners, still stands the best with a maximum hash rate of 10ksol/s at a power consumption of 300W and an energy efficiency of 30J/KSol.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Bitmain |
| Model | Antminer Z9 Mini |
| Release | June 2018 |
| Chip boards | 3 |
| Noise level | 65db |
| Fan(s) | 1 |
| Power | 300W |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Interface | Ethernet |
| Temperature | 0 – 40 °C |
| Humidity | 5 – 95 % |
Checkout: Bitmain Antminer Z9 mini
Innosilicon’s A9 ZMaster is also one of the reputed Equihash mining machines in the market. It offers a maximum hash rate of 50ksol/s at a power consumption of 620W and an energy efficiency of 12.4J/KSol.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Innosilicon |
| Model | A9 ZMaster |
| Release | June 2018 |
| Size | 125 x 155 x 360mm |
| Weight | 5920g |
| Noise level | 70db |
| Fan(s) | 2 |
| Power | 620W |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Interface | Ethernet |
| Temperature | 5 – 45°C |
| Humidity | 5 – 95% |
Checkout: Innosilicon A9 ZMaster
One of the early launched Equihash miners, Antminer Z9, is still widely used by Zcash miners worldwide. The model comes with a maximum hash rate of 42ksol/s at a power consumption of 970W and an energy efficiency of 23.095J/KSol.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Bitmain |
| Model | Antminer Z9 |
| Release | September 2018 |
| Size | 132 x 226 x 279mm |
| Weight | 4700g |
| Chip boards | 3 |
| Chip count | 48 |
| Noise level | 75db |
| Fan(s) | 2 |
| Power | 970W |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Interface | Ethernet |
| Temperature | 5 – 40 °C |
| Humidity | 5 – 95 % |
Checkout: Bitmain Antminer Z9
Again Antminer Z11 from Bitmain, with a maximum hash rate of 135ksol/s at a power consumption of 1418W and an energy efficiency of 10.504J/KSol, is one of the widely used Zcash miners.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Bitmain |
| Model | Antminer Z11 |
| Release | April 2019 |
| Size | 134 x 242 x 302mm |
| Weight | 5400g |
| Chip boards | 3 |
| Chip size | 12nm |
| Chip count | 9 |
| Noise level | 170db |
| Fan(s) | 2 |
| Power | 1418W |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Interface | Ethernet |
| Temperature | 5 – 45 °C |
| Humidity | 5 – 95 % |
Checkout: Bitmain Antminer Z11
Bitmain’s tweet about the launch of Antminer Z15 Pro has created a buzz among Zcash miners worldwide. Bitmain also posted the specifications of the Z15 Pro and other details like the price announcement date and shipping date.
Bitmain, a Chinese-based company, all its ASIC Miners are made in China. Here is what Bitmain says about shipping and delivery of Antminer Z15 Pro.
CONCLUSION
With the best hash rate, energy efficiency and performance, Antminer Z15 Pro is right from the industry expert, Bitmain. Investing in the Antminer Z15 Pro can help miners to explore the best of Zcash mining and give them a competitive edge in the evolving crypto mining industry. However, researching, weighing the pros and cons, and considering your mining preferences and budget is mandatory before investing in any mining machine.
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