How cryptocurrency markets are affecting the GPU industry
As you may know, buying a GPU these days is nearly impossible. That's because prices have skyrocketed, in some cases, even doubled, and stocks running out the second they are shelved. It can even be considered ill advised and a big hassle to be in the market for a graphics card. Moreover, the cryptocurrency mining frenzy seems to be the main culprit. Due to the establishment of mining mega-farms for “crypto-coins” in countries like Russia, China, Iceland, and so on, the local and international markets have been shook.After the mining craze shot up, this very card is being sold for nearly $1500. That's twice the amount it originally cost and as if the cost wasn’t enough, nearly every major PC parts store runs out the second they restock. Some retailers have even taken measures to curb this by limiting the amount of graphics cards sold to one person, and by monitoring transactions that appear suspicious. It seems as if retailers are starting to understand the plight of gamers.
Since GPUs have the raw processing power needed, they are often used for high intensity applications like these. Aaron says the GPUs he requires have doubled up in price, from $500 to $1000 each. The overall cost for the upgrades will be $32,000, money that could be used to paying new student researchers. The price hike could spell trouble, as it may force Aaron to “downscale” and build a smaller telescope. This would not have the clarity or the resolution of a large telescope and may even result in fundamental questions about the universe to be left unanswered.
As of now, the largest company that makes ASICs is Bitmain. Bitmain specializes in manufacturing Bitcoin mining gear and ASIC chips. Their miners are known for their high efficiency and ROI. Bitmain is also home to Antpool, which is one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools in the world. Other companies have also taken ventures and are now making ASICs, with their numbers increasing rapidly.
Sure enough, this shift may mark the end of the GPU shortage. It is only a matter of time before the next generation of GPUs comes rolling out and hopefully, the “freshmen” would be spared.
