The journey towards profitability for Samsung’s foundry sector is dependent on attracting a diverse range of clients for its advanced 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) manufacturing process. Currently, the Exynos 2600 stands as the pioneer System-on-Chip (SoC) to be mass-produced using this cutting-edge lithography. Notably, Tesla has secured a major multi-billion-dollar partnership with Samsung as part of this venture. Recent reports, however, highlight that two Chinese firms are set to order Samsung’s 2nm GAA chips for their forthcoming cryptocurrency mining products, indicating progress in Samsung’s strategy, although it still faces stiff competition from industry leader TSMC.
Bitmain Remains Unconvinced by Samsung’s 2nm GAA Chips, Continuing Partnership with TSMC
According to the Korean news source Hankyung, the two Chinese companies venturing into the use of Samsung’s 2nm GAA technology are MicroBT and Canaan. These companies rank as the second and third largest manufacturers in the cryptocurrency mining sector, respectively, while Bitmain holds the top position. Despite the emerging orders from MicroBT and Canaan, Bitmain has yet to engage with Samsung, preferring to maintain its collaboration with TSMC. This preference likely stems from TSMC’s reputation for timely deliveries, access to the latest technology, and its proven ability to manage production challenges, including high yield rates—an area where Samsung’s new GAA technology still needs validation.
The production phase for MicroBT’s orders has commenced, whereas Canaan aims to initiate production of its initial silicon by early 2026, with deliveries slated for the latter half of next year. Both companies’ orders are set to be manufactured at Samsung’s S3 facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
The current orders account for approximately 10% of Samsung’s total capacity for 2nm production, which operates at a rate of about 2, 000 300mm (12-inch) wafers monthly. Though this volume might seem modest, it underscores Samsung’s commitment to competing directly with TSMC. The company is actively pursuing any opportunity to expand its customer base for this state-of-the-art lithography.
In a previous update, it was noted that samples of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, manufactured on the 2nm process, had been sent to Qualcomm for testing. It is anticipated that a dual-sourcing strategy involving Samsung may only materialize with the release of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, scheduled for late 2026. To keep pace with TSMC, Samsung has reportedly completed the foundational design of its second-generation 2nm GAA process and is also progressing towards the development of a third iteration, referred to as SF2P+.
Samsung’s manufacturing strategy for the 2nm GAA technology includes plans for its facility in Taylor, Texas. Recent reports indicate that ASML is assembling a team to facilitate the installation of equipment necessary for the production of next-generation wafers. With this setup, the Texas plant is projected to achieve a production capacity exceeding 15, 000 wafers monthly through 2027.
For more details, refer to the source: Hankyung
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