Bitmain pushes firmware update: Multiple mining machines' microUSB ports restricted

Bitmain recently pushed a new firmware version to the Antminer series mining machines, which restricts the microUSB interface on the control board. The main models involved include S19k Pro, S21, S21 Pro, and other mainstream Bitcoin ASIC miners, drawing attention from the mining community.

Practical Impact of Interface Restrictions

According to technical disclosures from Altair Technologies, this firmware change directly affects miners’ ability to control their machines directly. The original core functions of the microUSB interface include loading third-party firmware and performing system recovery operations, both of which are crucial for long-term maintenance and operation of the miners. Once the interface is disabled, miners cannot perform autonomous firmware upgrades or troubleshoot system failures through this channel, significantly reducing operational flexibility.

Constraints on Miner Optimization

Deeper impacts include the fact that restricting the microUSB interface effectively cuts off miners’ ability to independently tune the performance parameters of their machines. Many miners rely on third-party firmware to optimize hash rate and power consumption ratios or to adjust the miner’s working state based on local electricity prices. This restriction forces miners to rely more on Bitmain’s official firmware versions, losing autonomous control over device energy management.

Expert Recommendations and Risk Warnings

Technical experts advise that for miners currently operating stably, caution should be exercised when upgrading to this firmware version. Blind upgrades may introduce additional operational complexities and increase dependence on official technical support from the manufacturer. This presents new challenges for cost management in large-scale mining farms.