The path to profitability for Samsung’s foundry business means that it needs to secure a plethora of customers for its 2nm GAA process. So far, the Exynos 2600 is recorded to be the first SoC to be mass produced on this lithography, with Tesla also having secured a multi-billion-dollar deal with the Korean giant. Now, the latest report states that two Chinese clients have lined up to place 2nm GAA orders for their upcoming cryptocurrency mining products, suggesting that Samsung is slowly progressing in the right direction. However, it is far from a position where it can give TSMC a run for its money.
The top Chinese cryptocurrency mining equipment manufacturer, Bitmain, is currently not sold on the idea of using Samsung’s 2nm GAA chips, and is sticking with TSMC
The two Chinese cryptocurrency mining equipment manufacturers, according to Korean media outlet Hankyung, are MicroBT and Canaan. Both customers will reportedly use Samsung’s 2nm GAA chips as the ‘brains’ of their upcoming cryptocurrency mining hardware. MicroBT and Canaan are currently the world’s second and third largest manufacturers of this specific paraphernalia, with Bitmain being the largest entity in this space.
However, BITMAIN has yet to place any orders with Samsung, with the report stating that the company is sticking with TSMC, likely due to receiving timely orders, having access to cutting-edge technology, and its ability to overcome poor yields, which is an obstacle that Samsung has yet to prove with its 2nm GAA node.
The chip maker has already commenced production of MicroBT’s orders, with Canaan planning to put its first silicon into production in early 2026. Deliveries are expected to happen in the second half of next year. Both cryptocurrency mining companies’ orders will enter production at Samsung’s S3 line in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
These orders equate to around 10 percent of the company’s total 2nm production capacity, with around 2,000 monthly 300mm (12-inch) sheets getting produced. Even though the volume isn’t significant, it is proof that Samsung wants to be on equal footing with TSMC and is aiming to secure as many customers as possible for the bleeding-edge lithography.
Earlier, we reported that Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 samples on the 2nm process were sent to Qualcomm for evaluation purposes, but a dual-sourcing approach that includes Samsung might only happen with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 launching in late 2026. To keep pace with TSMC, Samsung was earlier reported to have completed the basic design of its second-generation 2nm GAA process, and is also developing the third iteration, also known as SF2P+.
The 2nm GAA technology will also witness a production plan at Samsung’s Taylor plant located in Texas. Only recently, ASML was reported to form a team that would be responsible for the delivery and installation of necessary equipment to commence next-generation wafer manufacturing. With this step completed, the U.S. facility is capable of producing more than 15,000 wafers per month through 2027.
News Source: Hankyung
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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