What Is the Significance of the “Nanometer” Rating in Chip Manufacturing for ASICs?

The nanometer (nm) rating refers to the size of the transistors on the chip. A smaller nm rating, such as 5nm versus 10nm, generally indicates a more advanced process, allowing for higher transistor density and improved power efficiency.

This directly translates to a lower Joule per Terahash ratio, which is the key metric for ASIC profitability. The smaller the nm, the more efficient the miner, but also the more expensive the manufacturing.