Samsung’s 2nm gate-all-around push just gained new momentum. To make its leading-edge foundry business profitable, the company needs a steady stream of customers at 2nm—and it’s starting to happen. After lining up the Exynos 2600 as the first SoC slated for mass production on this node and securing a multi-billion-dollar deal with Tesla, two Chinese clients have reportedly placed 2nm orders for upcoming cryptocurrency mining products. It’s a meaningful step forward, even if the gap with TSMC remains.
The mining manufacturers are said to be MicroBT and Canaan, currently the second- and third-largest crypto-mining equipment makers worldwide. They plan to use Samsung’s 2nm chips as the core processors for next-generation rigs. The industry’s biggest player, Bitmain, has not followed suit; it continues to source from TSMC, likely due to a track record of on-time delivery, access to the latest process refinements, and confidence around yields—an area where Samsung still needs to prove consistency at 2nm.
Production for MicroBT has reportedly already started, while Canaan aims to kick off first silicon in early 2026. Deliveries are expected in the second half of next year. These orders will run through Samsung’s S3 line in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
In terms of scale, the combined orders represent about 10 percent of Samsung’s total 2nm capacity, with around 2,000 300mm wafers produced monthly. The volume isn’t massive, but it’s strategically important: every committed customer helps validate the node, improves learning curves, and positions Samsung to court higher-profile SoC and AI customers.
There are also signs that Samsung is preparing for broader 2nm uptake. Samples of a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 built on a 2nm process were reportedly sent to Qualcomm for evaluation, though a dual-source strategy including Samsung may not materialize until the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 expected in late 2026. On the technology roadmap, Samsung has completed the basic design for its second-generation 2nm GAA and is developing a third iteration, referred to as SF2P+.
Beyond Korea, 2nm production is also planned for Samsung’s Taylor, Texas facility. An equipment team has been formed to deliver and install the tools needed for next-generation wafer manufacturing. Once ready, that site is expected to be capable of producing more than 15,000 wafers per month through 2027.
Bottom line: Samsung is still chasing TSMC at the cutting edge, but wins with MicroBT and Canaan, a maturing 2nm GAA platform, and expanded U.S. capacity point to steady, measurable progress toward competitiveness in the 2nm era.
