Zcash Zooms Past Bitcoin: Miners in a Frenzy! 💰🚀

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In a turn of events as unexpected as a sober evening at the Drones Club, the latest metrics reveal that mining Bitcoin has been relegated to the runner-up spot in proof-of-work (PoW) profits, pipped at the post by the enigmatic privacy coin, Zcash.

ZEC’s Profits: A Bonanza for the Digitally Discreet

The digital currency Zcash (ZEC), a darling of the discreet and the devious, has been on a tear of late, adding 18.7% against the U.S. dollar today. Despite a 14% dip this week-a mere hiccup in its ascent-its current price of $586 marks a 125% surge over the past 30 days. This meteoric rise has propelled the Zcash network to the zenith of the PoW heap, with its Equihash algorithm outpacing Bitcoin’s SHA256 in terms of profits. A triumph, one might say, for those who prefer their transactions as opaque as a London pea-souper.

The Bitmain-crafted Antminer Z15 Pro, a veritable workhorse at 840 KSol/s, is projected to rake in $50.58 per day at an electricity rate of $0.04 per kilowatt hour (kWh) as of Sunday, Nov. 23. Its less formidable cousin, the original Antminer Z15, chugging along at 420 KSol/s, is set to pocket an estimated $25.15 daily under the same conditions. Even this lower-tier model, for the moment, outshines the top-earning BTC machine, the Antminer S21e XP Hydro 3U. A humbling spectacle, no doubt, for the once-unassailable Bitcoin.

Zcash’s hashrate at record highs
Zcash’s hashrate soars to unprecedented heights. Image source: 2miners.com. 🌟📈

It’s also plausible that some of the older, less glamorous Equihash ASICs are dusting themselves off and rejoining the fray-including Innosilicon’s A9 and A9++ ZMasters. A nostalgic return, perhaps, for these digital veterans.

The “Sol/s” metric, a measure of how many Equihash solutions a miner can churn out and verify per second, is the key to this drama. Once a miner hits 1,000 KSol/s, they ascend to the lofty realm of 1 GSol/s. Presently, the entire network is gliding at all-time highs, oscillating between 14 and 15 GSol/s. On Nov. 21, the Zcash network breached the 18 GSol/s barrier, setting a new record. A feat as impressive as a perfectly executed backhanded compliment at a society dinner.

Some of the same mining titans who power BTC are now turning their attention to ZEC. ViaBTC currently reigns supreme, commanding a hefty 32.7% of the network’s computational might after mining 327 of the last 1,000 blocks. F2pool follows in second place, securing 157 blocks and 15.7% of the network. Antpool and 2miners trail with 9.76% and 8.77%, respectively. Zcash’s breakout has thoroughly reshuffled the PoW pecking order, boosting profits and attracting the sector’s heaviest hitters. With ZEC scaling new heights, the network’s computational ascent shows no signs of abating as competition intensifies.

FAQ 🚦

  • What’s driving Zcash mining profits?
    Zcash’s 125% monthly price surge and soaring hashrate have sent miner revenue through the roof. 💸🔥
  • Why is Bitcoin now second in PoW profitability?
    ZEC’s Equihash algorithm currently outpays Bitcoin’s SHA256 machines. A bitter pill for the Bitcoin faithful. 😢
  • How much can Zcash miners earn today?
    Top ZEC rigs like the Antminer Z15 Pro can generate over $50 per day at low electricity rates. Not a bad day’s work. 💼💰
  • Which mining pools dominate Zcash right now?
    ViaBTC leads the pack, followed by F2pool, Antpool, and 2miners. A veritable oligarchy of hash power. 🏆

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2025-11-24 19:13